WATERLOO --- Waterloo middle schools are replacing the DARE program with another anti-drug curriculum, but officials stress that police officers will not be left out of the classroom.

Local police departments' school resource officers have always taken the lead in teaching the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program. As Waterloo Community Schools switches to LifeSkills Training this year, the officers will continue teaching in collaboration with others.

Debbie Lee, the district's secondary curriculum coordinator, told the Board of Education last week that when administrators began looking at plans to replace DARE two years ago the officers said they would teach any curriculum chosen.

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