Pubdate: Sat, 29 Nov 2003
Source: Daily Telegram, The (MI)
Copyright: 2003 The Daily Telegram
Contact:  http://www.lenconnect.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1556
Author: David Panian

FUNDING OFFERED BY ANONYMOUS BENEFACTOR FOR TECUMSEH DARE

TECUMSEH -- An anonymous benefactor has donated $26,000 to restart the
Tecumseh Public Schools' DARE anti-drug program.

The amount covers the school district's share of the Drug Abuse
Resistance Education program, which is operated jointly with the
Tecumseh Police Department. The district and police department share
the salary of the officer that conducts the program. The district cut
funding for the program as part of budget cuts necessitated by the
rejection by district voters of the Headlee override request in June.

"Ever since then I've been trying to find a funding source," Tecumseh
Police Chief Mack Haun said.

He sent requests to several area foundations asking for a one-time
donation, and recently received approval from one donor.

"Starting in January we're going to do the DARE program for the rest
of the (school) year," Haun said.

Marian Horowitz, executive director of curriculum and school
improvement for the Tecumseh schools, said the district previously had
funded DARE with a combination of general fund dollars and a federal
safe and drug-free schools grant. The general fund money was cut,
leaving only this year's grant for $12,279.

Horowitz said the district used the grant money for "Second Step," a
nationally recognized violence prevention program that focuses on
low-level violence such as bullying. She said DARE and Second Step
will compliment each other well.

DARE is a program in which police officers teach elementary school
students how to say no to using drugs and alcohol. The Tecumseh
program includes follow-up lessons in middle school and high school to
counteract the effects of peer pressure, Haun said.

"The interaction of the police officer with the children is
invaluable, especially at a young age," Haun said. "He's teaching a
program, but the kids will talk to him about problems at home and with
other kids." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake