Pubdate: Mon, 26 Apr 2004
Source: Dispatch, The (IL)
Copyright: 2004 Moline Dispatch Publishing Company, L.L.C.
Contact:  http://www.qconline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1306
Author: Kristina Gleeson

MOLINE SCHOOL BOARD TO VOTE WHETHER TO CUT DARE PROGRAM TONIGHT

Moline School Board members will vote tonight on whether to eliminate the 
district's Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or DARE, program.

The board meets at 6 p.m. at the district administrative offices, 1619 11th 
Ave., Moline.

Strict learning standards set by the federal No Child Left Behind Act and 
the desire to trim district spending have made renewing the program's 
annual contract questionable this year.

The vote may be close. Three board members are leaning toward keeping the 
program, two toward getting rid of it. Others' views were not available.

How much the district pays for its DARE program was not available late Sunday.

DARE America has mandated condensing the program's curriculum, which would 
decrease the 17 weeks the program is now taught.

Some board members want to give the new curriculum a chance and start 
gathering hard data about its effectiveness.

"The difficulty is you don't know the effectiveness of" DARE, said board 
vice president Jeff Scherer.

Board member Ruth Ann O'Brien was pleased to see DARE America handing some 
more time over for academic use.

Students who don't receive anti-drug messages at home benefit from the 
program, she said. It's important they continue receiving those messages, 
whether through DARE or another program, she added.

"This program might meet a need that can't be met otherwise," agreed board 
member Karen Buchanan.

However, board member Don Kurrle questioned students' benefits from the 
program. "They look forward to DARE because it's kind of a fun playtime," 
he said.

Mr. Kurrle said teachers could use the time now spent on DARE on academics 
instead.

He also said the program is needed in the middle schools and junior highs, 
not just in kindergarten through 5th grade.

DARE America has recommended local chapters do just that, but the district 
isn't considering that option for next year, according to assistant 
superintendent of curriculum and instruction Les Huddle.

"Every minute we devote to the DARE program is taking time away from 
curricular issues that we should be addressing," board president Robert 
Tallitsch said.

Superintendent Calvin Lee said he would recommend continuing the program, 
and studying data as it relates to the district.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart