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Ask the Superintendent - Dec. 13, 2006
Roy,
I finally got to write you this note for your "Ask
the Superintendent" column. Many parents, especially
me, are wondering about the breakdown and demise of
DARE. It's a shame and a real loss to our current
5th graders that they will NOT benefit from a formal
Drug Awareness Resistance Education program this
year. In the past, Village of Goshen Police Officer,
Marty Knapp, through a grant, provided a 9 week
education to 200+ 5th graders at Goshen Intermediate
School on drugs, their effects, substance abuse,
resistance and peer pressure. The DARE program ended
with a skit created by the students, as well as a
formal graduation.
I understand Officer Marty, as the student know him,
is currently full time at Goshen High School as
School Resource Office, and therefore, unavailable
to teach DARE. What happened to the grant monies
obtained for DARE? If DARE grant ran out, did anyone
submit a new grant for funds to continue providing
this valuable education to our 5th graders? If a new
grant is submitted, is it possible the current 5th
graders could receive a formal drug education in the
6th grade? There are other Law Enforcement Agencies
who can teach DARE. Anyone look into that?
I am aware that Goshen Intermediate School plans to
incorporate pieces of drug awareness education into
their health curriculum later in the spring.
However, the presence of a "Police Officer" has such
a great impact and truly impresses upon our youth
the consequences of their actions and the outcome of
any choice made involving drugs. These 10 and 11
year olds also walk away with a relationship with a
Police Officer. Priceless!
I'd appreciate your response in your column. Please
know, if you need, I'd be willing to get information
or make phone calls necessary to benefit the
children. Thank you for your time and consideration
to this worrisome situation.
MaryAnn Garcia
Your understanding is absolutely accurate in that
Officer Marty Knapp is currently the full-time
School Resource Officer at Goshen High School. Last
year we were fortunate to have two Village police
officers in our school district. Officer John Manna
was the School Resource Officer at the High School,
and Officer Marty Knapp was the DARE Officer at
Goshen Intermediate School and spent time in the
other buildings as well. These police officers were
funded by two separate grants, neither of which was
related to DARE. To the best of my knowledge, the
District has never received any grant money
specifically for DARE. Historically, the DARE
Program was sponsored using funds in cooperation
with the Village Police Department, local donations,
and the school district’s ability to apply Federal
Safe and Drug Free School grant money. The DARE
police car is an excellent example of local
donations. The helmets and T-shirts that the
students received at the end of their DARE course,
is another example of community donations and our
ability to use Drug Free School funds to the
program. Recently the Federal government has ruled
all school districts may no longer use Safe and Drug
Free School funding for DARE.
As the 2005/06 school year was coming to a close, a
decision had to be made with regard to the future of
DARE. We were going to have only one police officer
in our schools. Additional academic requirements and
State testing were placed upon the teachers and
students at the Intermediate School. It was decided
to incorporate a portion of the Drug Awareness
Resistance Education into the new health curriculum
at Goshen Intermediate School. This unit will be
taught later in the spring. I do agree, however, the
presence of a police officer has a huge impact and
does impress upon our students the consequences of
their actions and choices made involving drugs. I
can remember, what I will call “pre-DARE”, when the
late Village Police Chief John Egbertson and I
worked in concert to have a police officer visible
in the elementary schools so students would feel
comfortable talking to an “Officer Marty.” The DARE
Program grew out of that concept.
The School Resource Officer, (Officer Marty) is a
police officer for the entire school district. He
just happens to have an office at the High School.
He will continue to spend time in the Intermediate
School. He was there this past week talking to
“kids” in fourth grade classes. Both Village Police
Chief Jim Watt and I agree it is essential for all
of our students to see an “Officer Marty” as often
as possible.
All sixth grade students at the C. J. Hooker Middle
School receive 10 weeks of health instruction by a
certified health teacher and 20 weeks of health is
incorporated into the schedules of all eighth grade
students. The topics of drugs, alcohol and tobacco
are included in the curriculum.
Once again I would like to thank Mary Ann Garcia for
her submitting her questions and using my column to
share her concerns.
Roy Reese
Superintendent of Schools
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