District weighs DARE program, time sacrifice

The Journal staff

West Bend It's a matter of time.

As West Bend school officials consider introducing the anti- drug DARE program this fall, there is universal support for the curriculum, tempered with concern for the time it would take from academics.

DARE, or Drug Abuse Resistance Education, is a cooperative effort between local law enforcement departments and schools. The national program is based in California.

"It isn't that we oppose DARE, but what do we take away to fit it in?" asked Al Pauli, principal of McLane Elementary School. "We continually hear back to basics, then we continually add things to the school day. It becomes a judgment call."

If the program is introduced this fall, a West Bend police officer would teach lessons in preventing drug abuse to fifth graders at McLane and the district's five other elementary schools. The West Bend School Board will discuss launching a one-year pilot program at its March 27 meeting.

The West Bend Police Department has allocated money to hire an additional officer for the DARE program. Chief James Schwartz has asked the school district to apply for a $50,000 grant from the state Department of Public Instruction.

The grant would cover the costs of launching DARE, including the officer's salary. The money also would pay for materials used in the program.

There would be no cost to the district.

Trial Basis Suggested

This week, the board's instructional committee unanimously recommended that the district offer the program on a trial basis next fall. After reviewing evaluations from students, teachers, parents and administrators, the board would decide whether to make the program permanent.

"The people are pretty comfortable with the curriculum. The only issue has been the time," said Patricia Herdrich, administrator of instruction.

Pauli said McLane's fifth- grade teachers decided early this year to do away with the 15-minute morning recess to give them more time to teach.

"That's 45 extra hours a year," Pauli said. "This program takes away 18 hours of that."

Teachers need more time to deal with new programs like hands-on science, an approach that emphasizes experiments and practical applications of scientific principles, he said.

"It's good for kids but it does take more time," Pauli said.

This is not the first time the issue has come up. A DARE program was offered on a trial basis at Decorah Elementary School during the 1991-'92 school year. The School Board decided not to implement the program because of concerns about taking away classroom time.

Other districts share those concerns. In Cedarburg, where DARE has been offered for several years, the program is under review.

"I think it's a program that's valued by the school staff, parents and students, but it does take a lot of time out of our instructional day," said Carol Hertz, director of curriculum and instruction.

Because Cedarburg groups fourth and fifth graders together, the program is offered every other year to avoid duplication. DARE is designed for fifth-grade students.

It was last offered during the 1993-'94 school year. Because officials were concerned about it taking too much time away from academics, the number of lessons was cut from 18 to 12.

"Time has always been a consideration," Hertz said.

If DARE is offered by the district next fall, Pauli said his staff would adjust.

"You juggle your priorities. You rely on the expertise of the fifth-grade teachers," he said. "Perhaps you can't go over something in as great a depth."

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