ATTEMPTS TO SAVE DARE CONTINUE

Plans are still in the works to attempt to resurrect the DARE program
for Pierre elementary schools.

Pierre City Police Commission Larry Weiss met with Ruth Smith,
principal of McKinley and Washington schools; Todd Douglas, Pierre
School Board member and First National Bank official; Pierre Police
Officer Lesa McFarling; Pierre Public Safety Director Al Aden and Deb
Gallagher, a parent who is spearheading the private sector's attempt
to save

the program.

Douglas said that he believed he could raise part of the $10,000
needed to keep the program for Drug Abuse Resistance Education if the
city could come up with 10-20 percent.

"This would allow the city to feel more in partnership in keeping the
program," said Weiss.

Smith said that she and other elementary principals would need to know
by the first part of December to be able to include the DARE program
as part of the curriculam.

Weiss said that he would discuss the matter with fellow city
commissioners while Douglas worked on finding funding from the private
sector.

Another meeting is planned for Nov. 22.