07-24-2002 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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515 Little Canada Road, Little Canada, MN 55117 -1600 (651) 766 -4029 / FAX: (651) 766 -4048 www.ci.lit:tle- canada.mn.us MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Fahey & Members of the City Council FROM: Joel Manson, City Administrator DATE: July 19, 2002 RE: DARE Program Update MAYOR Michael 1. Fahey COUNCIL Beverly Scalze Jim LaValle Matt Anderson Rick Montour ADMINISTRATOR Joel R. Hanson The Contract Group met on July 1 e. Some of the key points of this discussion were: • Expansion of DARE to middle schools will be very difficult due to curriculum issues. Apparently, the Mounds View School District has indicated it is unlikely they would allow the inclusion of DARE into the middle school. • There are some difficult logistical issues to resolve to bring DARE to the middle schools. They included: 1.) Who will pay for the additional students that would need to be served that are not from the contracting jurisdictions? 2.) How would you handle middle school DARE for those kids who did not have elementary school DARE? • Shoreview indicated (and Arden FIills and North Oaks will likely agree) they would not support the added cost to bring the program to the middle school level. (Keep in mind that they are considering the increase they are being asked to absorb for 2003 as part of this equation. Whereas, the concept discussed at our workshop was the cost would be the same for us to get DARE into the middle school because we have already absorbed the added cost.) The basis for this position is the school district has made the decision to not fund DARE. • Shoreview stated that they are not interested in absorbing any additional costs for this program in the 2003 budget year, especially in light of the uncertainties this budget is facing. Therefore, even if the Sheriff's Department used DARE fiends to subsidize them in 2003, the same issue will be faced again in 2004. • We also discussed that it may be better to make the tough decision now knowing it is highly unlikely conditions will change appreciable for 2004. (i.e. if we will end up eliminating the program in 2004, then maybe we should do it now for the 2002/2003 school year.) • Our concern about the equity of using DARE funds for only three jurisdictions was acknowledged by the other members. • If DARE were to be discontinued for the 2002/2003 school year, then we need to provide the school districts with as much notice as possible so they can plan for curriculum adjustments that will be necessary. At the conclusion of our discussion, it was decided to take this matter back to our respective City Councils and have them indicated a preference for one of the following three options: