STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM DARE PROGRAM

With recent reports of drugs, alcohol and violence in Saline schools, local
residents were emboldened with hopes for the future when more than 400
fifth-graders graduated from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program
Feb. 28 at Heritage Elementary School.

The program, headed by Saline Police Officer David Ringe, aims to prepare
students with the knowledge needed to resist drugs, alcohol and violence.

"I've seen a great improvement where there is more emphasis, not only on
the drug prevention side, but also about the prevention of violence," Ringe
said. "It's teaching these kids how to become excellent decision makers."

In addition to Ringe, the program included a group of "distinguished
guests" made up of 14A District Court Judge J. Cedric Simpson,
Superintendent Beverley Geltner, Mayor Gretchen Driskell and Police Chief
Paul Bunten.

Fourteen students were recognized for outstanding DARE essays. Of those,
Grant Geiger, Etienne Herrick, Kaileigh Keller, Saralyn Klepaczyk, Kanella
Smyrnis, Delpanie Wu and Jacob Zeiher read their speeches aloud to a crowd
of almost 800. In their essays, students detailed the importance of DARE
and the affect it has had on their lives.

"Each of the kids that spoke, spoke so well about the things they've
learned and I think the lessons are deeply embedded," Saline Council
Trustee Terri Sibo said. "We need to make sure that those messages are deep
within them so they can resist the pressure to do those things, because
there is a lot of pressure."

Aside from preparing students for the peer-pressure they will face in
middle and high school, DARE also encourages students to talk to their
parents about problems that may arise.

"It really helps prepare (students) for the future and helps them respond
to peer-pressure," Driskell said. "It creates an opportunity for the kids
and the parents to talk about the risks at home. It's very supportive, and
really important to our society."

The main goal of the DARE program is to educate young students about the
risks involved with drugs and alcohol. An important offshoot of the
program, Heritage Principal Steve Laatsch notes, is that Ringe acts as a
role model for students.

"The kids take it seriously and they see (Ringe) as a role model that shows
that you can have fun and that there are lots of things kids can do that
don't involve drugs, alcohol or violence," Laatsch said.

The reason that DARE has had so much success in Saline is because of
community involvement and the reiteration of information as students
progress through middle and high school, Laatsch said.

"It carries over into middle school and high school because we have lots of
activities that kids can do, such as SADD (Students Against Destructive
Decisions) that they can get involved with," Laatsch said. "It really does
work well in communities that support it as a whole program. Whereas in
schools where DARE is only the focus in schools and not in the community,
it's not as effective."

Some, though, feel that there needs to be a greater emphasis in high
school. One resident, citing recent problems at the high school level,
encourages the DARE program to continue into high school.

"I'd love to see it continue through the high school, where it's really
badly needed because drugs have always been there and there are some
serious problems coming through," said Asta Soltis, a Saline resident and
parent of three DARE graduates. "I know some kids that are involved and
something on the high school level is needed because kids forget."

Overall, the graduation was highly successful, according to organizers and
supporters. Bunten said the program had one of its best years.

"The things that these kids learn, they can carry with them for a long
time," he said. "Quite honestly, the program isn't going to help 100
percent of kids, but if we can help just a few, it's worth it to me. If you
can impact just one life of one person at a time, it's very valuable."