D.A.R.E. Still Out of Hopatcong Schools

It seems more and more likely that for the first time in years the won't host the Drug Awareness Recognition Education, or D.A.R.E., program.

Board of Education President Cliff Lundin said at Monday night's meeting that borough officials once again said the municipality couldn't afford to move an officer from the roads and to a school for the 10-week program.

Lundin said a Monday afternoon meeting between himself, school board member Sue Madar, community policing officer Robert Haffner and Mayor Sylvia Petillo yielded few results. Several weeks ago, that the borough police department, due to retirements and tight budgets, couldn't give the schools an officer to conduct the program.

"The borough is simply saying the borough can't do it," Lundin said.

The Board of Education president said he was worried about the effect it could have on students.

"I have grave concerns about that action," he said. "We all acknowledge there is a drug problem in Hopatcong. There is a drug problem in Sussex County. THere is a drug problem in every community we know of. It's not just Hopatcong. I don't know if the D.A.R.E. program works or if it does not work, but I don't want to give up trying."

School and borough officials consulted D.A.R.E. America, which holds the program's copyright, asking if it has developed an abbreviated version. The company said the program could only be utilized in its full form, Lundin said.

That doesn't mean the district won't have a drug-awareness program, however, Lundin said.

"We agreed that we would epode it a little bit further," Lundin said. "I don't think we can give up. I still think that contact between cops and kids, and in a positive light, is important.

"So it's not a dead issue. We're all facing very hard budget times. But the D.A.R.E. program might be going along the wayside."

The loss of the program would be another hit to the district's drug-awareness outreach. Over the years, budget cuts have forced school resource officers from the hallways.

It also comes after Petillo, Councilman Mike Francis and Police Chief Robert Brennan each said the borough was facing .

What do you think about Hopatcong schools without a D.A.R.E. program? Tell us in the comments.