Pubdate: Mon, 13 May 2002
Source: Burlington Post (CN ON)
Copyright: 2002 Burlington Post
Contact:  http://www.burlingtonpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1528
Author: Tim Whitnell
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)

YOUTH PROGRAMS COULD SURVIVE LOSS OF FUNDING

Community Support May Be Sought

Losing school board funding shouldn't sound the immediate death knell 
of three popular programs for Halton students.

However, it likely means organizers of those programs will have to 
scramble to make up the difference or perhaps scale back what is 
offered in schools.

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) initiative for Grade 6s, 
and s well as the Celebrating Literacy and the Food For Thought snack 
and breakfast programs for elementary schools are all poised to lose 
significant funding.

Halton District School Board staff announced last week they are 
recommending the three programs have their combined funding removed 
as a cost-saving measure. The board paid out $125,000 in those areas 
this school year.

Halton police, which administers the DARE program, and the Halton 
Social Planning Council, which oversees Celebrating Literacy and Food 
For Thought, are concerned about the school board's intentions and 
the possible after effects.

"When schools have to cut loose a resource like this it is a tragedy. 
I would say we regret what is happening to education in our 
community," said planning council executive director Joey Edwardh.

"Whatever the reason for it, hungry kids don't learn well," said 
Edwardh. The Food For Thought program, ironically, expanded by three 
Halton schools just last week, to more than 20 across the region.

"Right now, (we) are not an organization that has its own resources, 
it leverages resources. Very basic funding ($90,000 for each of the 
last two years) was given by the board that allows us to leverage 
funds in the community. That's the chunk that keeps it alive," she 
said.

"We have to turn this challenge back to our community. Nobody wants 
this program to disappear," she said. "We'll convene some meetings 
and see if we can develop some interim funding."

The hundreds of parent volunteers associated with the two programs 
affected will be notified of the situation, said Edwardh.

As for the fate of DARE, Halton police Sgt. Joe Prasad, co-ordinator 
of the program, said he also isn't sure what will happen next should 
it lose $80,000 in public school board money.

"Obviously, we're disappointed and we'll have to see where we go from 
here.... We are at the crossroads with this knowledge. The chief 
strongly believes we need officers in the schools as a proactive 
stance.

"Every Grade 6 child in the public and Catholic boards in Halton is 
exposed to it."

Prasad said the program costs half a million dollars to run annually. 
The DARE Halton fundraising committee generates much of the funding 
through events such as an annual golf tournament, while the Halton 
Catholic District School Board donated about $75,000 this year, he 
said. Halton police service covers about 40 per cent of DARE's costs.

"We have a specific fundraising committee. We'll have to visit large 
corporations and ask for help," Prasad said of a probable initial 
plan of action.

One piece of good news for DARE is that the Catholic board has no 
immediate intention of altering its funding commitment.

"We were aware that the (public) board was considering reducing its 
support for this program..." said Catholic board business 
superintendent Joe Birett.

"... although we discussed the merits of doing that, we didn't feel 
that was an appropriate thing to do until we knew what the funding 
was and what the total balance was on the budget."

The Catholic school board's budget has yet to be approved.

The DARE program 'graduates' about 5,000 students each year, said Prasad.

A police officer comes into a Grade 6 class for one hour per week for 
16 weeks. Pupils have to write an essay along the way. A 'graduating' 
ceremony attended by parents and senior police officials is held at 
the end of the program.

Although the provincial government announced Friday that it would be 
providing $350 million in additional funding for Ontario school 
boards next year, at press time the Halton District School Board 
didn't know how much of that money would be coming its way.

The board is in the midst of tense budget deliberations and expects 
to have trouble staying within its means, so it has identified areas 
where savings can be made. Board officials have continued to harp 
about what they say is the inadequacy of the provincial government's 
education funding formula.
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MAP posted-by: Josh