05-22-2002 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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C. Education specialists also feel is it beneficial by providing multiple messages by multiple messengers about prevention topics. • Law enforcement personnel delivering the program provide unique insights into the topic that would not occur if educators were the only parties delivering the prevention message. • The presence of law enforcement personnel in schools in a non - threatening situation has benefits not capable of measurement in terms of building better relationships between police and kids. 4 Education specialists have told us that for every one dollar spent on prevention programs; we save three dollars in future costs. • DARE elicits a strong emotional response by its supporters due to pro- active approach, society's concern with prevention of drug and alcohol abuse, and the positive experience between kids and law enforcement. C. Roseville School District informed me they received very few calls when the program was eliminated in Roseville over a year ago. • The School Districts feel the SRO's and school safety are a far higher priority for than DARE. C. One law enforcement officer told me that he really believes that we will be losing out with the elementary and intermediate school aged children if law enforcement can't provide early intervention and prevention techniques that schools are not as readily equipped, nor experienced enough, to provide on drugs, alcohol, gangs, violence, assaults, etc I believe it is time to determine whether we should continue funding the DARE program or not. I see two schools of thought. One is the program has immeasurable benefits that addresses a serious concem within our society. Continuation is essential to prevent this problem from growing. The other is the program has been deemed ineffective by its creator. Therefore, it does not warrant further funding. If the Council supports the continuation of the program, then our future course of action is relatively simple. However, if you favor its discontinuance or just want to evaluate it further, we need to develop an action plan that will Lead us to the final decision. It would seem to me this decision should involve discussion with the schools to gain further insight into their perspective and to discuss potential alternatives to ensure we are not ignoring the problem. I would suggest a workshop with representatives of the Roseville School District and St. John's and the Sheriff's Department as the first step. cc: George Altendorfer, RCSD Dr. John Thein, Roseville Area Schools Mary Kay Rowan, St. John's Principal 2