Pubdate: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 Source: Kelowna Capital News (CN BC) Copyright: 2006, West Partners Publishing Ltd. Contact: http://www.kelownacapnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1294 Author: Jennifer Smith Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) DARE PROGRAM TO RETURN NEXT FALL Grade 7 middle school students in the Central Okanagan may receive another round of Drug Abuse Resistance Education beginning next fall. DARE program coordinator Kerry Solinsky said the Kelowna RCMP are looking to expand the program, although they must train more officers before making the move. "We need to expand our instructor base. So, I'm hoping for the new school year," said Solinsky. The DARE team numbers 11 officers--10 active--but the department is losing two at the end of the year. Two officers are training this month to teach the Grade 5-level program and one office is already trained to teach the higher level. Solinsky said transfers in and out of the department this summer should determine whether expansion is feasible. The Grade 7 program repeats the same messages as the Grade 5 program but is geared to a higher level learner. Central Okanagan Parent Advisory Council president Valerie Broman said she has received nothing but praise from parents on the program. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman