Reduction To Affect DARE Program There are fewer St. Paul police officers in the public schools this year, and a program to deter drug abuse by elementary students left with them. Although the district has a plan to make sure students are educated about ways to resist drugs, finding a way to return the police presence to last year's level will be more difficult. On Tuesday, St. Paul Police Chief John Harrington sat down with the St. Paul Board of Education to talk about the changes. Police presence has declined from 16 officers to a dozen. The city's seven high schools kept their officers, but the other five officers split their time among eight middle schools and junior highs, leaving no time for DARE, or Drug Abuse Resistance Education, in the elementary schools. [continues 393 words]
Pleas From Parents Keep DARE Afloat. Parents' Pleas Save Dare From Dying The DARE program will remain in the Rosemount-Eagan-Apple Valley school district's classrooms, the result of parents who were upset by the decision to cut the anti-drug program two months ago. District administrators have found the $50,000 needed to pay for the program and the school board voted earlier this week to keep the program in the district's 18 elementary schools next year. "It was a battle, but it was a battle that was well heard," said Leslie Whitley, a parent at Echo Park Elementary who was among a group of more than 20 who came to a board meeting Monday night. Several parents made impassioned pleas to keep the anti-drug education program alive. [continues 392 words]
