05-22-2002 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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515 Little Canada Road, Little Canada, MN 551.17 -1600 (651) 766 -4029 / FAX: (651) 766 -4048 www.ei.little- canada.inn.us MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Fahey & Members of the City Council FROM: Joel Hanson, City Administrator DATE: May 17, 2002 RE: Future of DARE Program MAYOR Michael 1. Fahey COUNCIL Beverly Sealze Jim LaValle Matt Anderson Rick Montour ADMINIS'T'RATOR Joel R. Hanson As you know, the future of the DARE Program through the Ramsey County Sheriff's Depaihnent has been under discussion for the past couple of years. The discussion started when the effectiveness of DARE when presented at only the elementary school level was being questioned. We focused on the need to expand to the middle school level to reinforce the earlier teachings. If that was not possible, continuing with just the elementary program may not be justified. The continuation of this program has now reached a critical point within our Contracting Jurisdiction group. This has been triggered by the fact the Mounds View School District will be using the vast majority of their allotted levy dollars to fund their School Resource Officers (SRO's) instead of DARE. As a result, Shoreview, Arden Hills, and North Oaks will need to fund a greater share of the DARE program costs through the Sheriff's Contract. (White Bear Township and Vadnais Heights have been absorbing this cost for a few years now. We our on the second year of doing as a result of Roseville School District's decision to shift the majority of their levy dollars to SRO's.) Some facts /opinions regarding the DARE Program are as follows: • Within our Sheriff's Budget, the total program cost is about $163,000. Revenues of $41,227 from school district levies offset it. The net cost for 2002 is $121,823. • DARE revenues will drop by about $25,000 due to the Mounds View School District decision. • Little Canada's net cost in 2002 is $18,499. • DARE America has stated its program is ineffective and is in the process of revamping it. • Elementary DARE is currently a 17 -week program. • The new DARE curriculum will be a nine -week program at the elementary level. • The Roseville School District has a middle school curriculum focused on the prevention of tobacco and alcohol usage. • It is unlikely we will be able to get DARE into the middle schools given heavy demand for other programs related to graduation standards. (One educator who supports DARE stated they would not add it to their curriculum until its effectiveness is scientifically proven.) • As part of our funding, we are also providing the DARE program at St. John's. • The Sheriff's Depot tment strongly supports the continuation of this program. 1