CITY, SCHOOL OFFICIALS NAME HEIR TO DARE

Toledo officials yesterday announced a new drug and alcohol education
program to replace Drug Abuse Resistance Education, a national anti-drug
program they dropped in June.

Keep A Clear Mind is different from DARE because it requires parental
involvement. "Not only will students receive this lifesaving information at
school, the lessons will be reinforced at home," Mayor Jack Ford said.

The four-lesson program for fifth graders will start in January at 15
Toledo Public Schools, four Washington Local Schools, and about seven
Catholic schools. School officials have not chosen the buildings for the
pilot program, which lasts four weeks.

Police Chief Mike Navarre said his school resource officers will facilitate
the program, which was developed 14 years ago at the University of
Arkansas. The children will be given booklets with take-home activities
that involve the students and their parents.

The lessons include information about alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and
tools to avoid drugs and alcohol. At the end of each booklet is a contract
children and adults sign that state they will say no to alcohol, tobacco,
marijuana, and drugs.

Each time, adults certify that the children have finished the booklet. The
students will have incentives to complete the program, such as treat
coupons. The program is expected to cost less than $10,000 and be paid for
from the drug forfeiture fund.

Dr. Eugene Sanders, superintendent of Toledo Public Schools, said he
supports the program. "For a child's development, home, school, and
community are the three elements that lead to success," Dr. Sanders said.

When the chief announced he was dropping DARE, he cited evidence that the
program is ineffective at altering youths' behavior as they get older.
Despite DARE America's announcement last year that it was developing a
curriculum, along with a study indicating the lecture series approach
doesn' t work, officials in many area communities have kept the program.

Chief Navarre said his staff looked at a number of programs, including one
they developed. Staff talked with numerous school officials and those
affiliated with drug and alcohol treatment and prevention programs before
deciding on Keep A Clear Mind.