Pubdate: Tue, 13 Jul 2004 Source: Daily Herald (IL) Copyright: 2004 The Daily Herald Company Contact: http://www.dailyherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/107 Author: Darryl Mellema Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) NEW ANTI-DRUG PROGRAM UNVEILED FOR DISTRICT 303 There was only one question from the public for new Schools Superintendent Barbara Erwin at Monday's St. Charles Unit District 303 board meeting and it concerned whether or not the district had a growing drug problem. Erwin's candid reply was that, yes, the district has a drug problem because all communities have a drug problem. "Drugs are not the problem," Erwin said. "Denial is the killer. Some schools are willing to push drugs outside the four walls and then it's a problem for the police." Later in the meeting, the district unveiled its pilot program to address drugs in the schools. The district's new initiative is Too Good for Drugs, a program created in 1978 by the Mendez Foundation. Too Good for Drugs will be piloted this fall with fifth-graders at Corron, Fox Ridge, Norton Creek and Wasco elementary schools. The DARE program will continue at all other elementary schools. "There's more flexibility for us in terms of the way we can teach it," St. Charles Police Chief James Lamkin said. "It has a lot of the same core values as DARE had. It will still keep us in the classroom and still give us a chance to interact with the kids." One of the key components in the Too Good for Drugs program is a testing prior to and at the completion of the program, said Stacy Anderson, district student assistance coordinator. Anderson and Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education Melanie Raczkiewicz were among the team that researched alternatives to the DARE program. "It allows some sort of measurement tool," Anderson said. "We can measure the intentions of children entering and exiting the program. It will give us some data to analyze in assessing the success of the program." The decision to search for and to begin a pilot program does not indicate failure of the DARE program, said Kane County Undersheriff Mike Anderson. "It's been positive," Anderson said. "I have kids who've gone through the DARE program and it's always been a positive. Hopefully, the new program will give us the opportunity to enhance it a little bit. It will give us a little more flexibility." Anderson said new police officer training for DARE would have to take place out of state. He also cited the ability of Too Good for Drugs to be expanded to a kindergarten-to 12th-grade program as another benefit. The DARE program is limited to fifth-graders. In addition to the St. Charles Police Department and the Kane County Sheriff's Office, police departments in South Elgin and West Chicago will be partners in the Too Good for Drugs program. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin