Pubdate: Fri, 13 Dec 2002 Source: Post-Standard, The (NY) Copyright: 2002, Syracuse Post-Standard Contact: http://www.syracuse.com/poststandard/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/686 Author: Teri Weaver Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) SCHOOLS MAY PAY TO KEEP DARE After County Legislature Cut Anti-Drug Course, Some Districts Plan to Fund It Some school officials in Onondaga County are looking to their own budgets to restore an anti-drug course that has been taught by sheriff's deputies. This fall, the county legislature cut DARE - Drug Awareness Resistance Education - out of the sheriff's department's 2003 budget to save $428,600, although sheriff's officials say the saving would be far less. So sheriff's officials, along with schoolteachers, parents' groups and administrators, are looking at school budgets and even PTO fund-raisers to keep the program going. "The schools have been devastated at the prospect of taking away the DARE program," Sandy Laurenti, a Lyncourt teacher who has spearheaded the effort to restore DARE. "I can't begin to tell you the difference it makes when an officer comes in and teaches the class." Laurenti presented the idea to the legislature's Public Safety Committee Thursday. It was approved 5-0, with Legislator Sam Laguzza, D-Syracuse, abstaining. The county legislature will vote on the idea Monday. DARE is a 17-week nationwide program in which uniformed deputies or police officers teach about the dangers of drug use. Typically, the deputies teach fifth-graders, although the program is changing next fall to a 10-week program that would be taught in various grades. The course is one hour each week. Lyncourt, North Syracuse and Marcellus school districts have sent the county letters saying they plan to pay for DARE next year. Three other districts - LaFayette, Tully and Baldwinsville - as well as St. Daniel School on Roxford Road in Lyncourt, said they were interested but needed to find a way to pay for the class time. The county legislature cuts did not affect some school districts, such as the Syracuse school district, where municipal police departments provide and pay for the instruction. If all school districts with DARE officers from the sheriff's department choose to continue the program, the county could expect to collect $56,478.53. The sheriff's department based the charge for each district on the number of children served. The charge takes into ac-count each instructor's salary, benefits and vehicle costs, said Chief William Peverly, who serves as one of the chief administrative officers in the department. The schools that want DARE for the spring would have to pay for 17 weeks. Those who want the class for next fall would only pay for 10 weeks, Peverly said. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake