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The village (Seneca Falls) has cut off its financial support for the school district's Drug Abuse Resistance Education program.
Mayor Diana Smith mailed Superintendent Gerald Macaluso a letter last Friday saying the village is not willing to continue to incur excessive overtime costs associated with the program.
She says Police Chief Frederick Capozzi talked to Macaluso a few times during the past year about cost considerations associated with continuing the program as it's scheduled.
"That schedule creates an excessive amount of overtime for both the D.A.R.E. officer and others who cover his absence in the schedule," Smith says.
Capozzi declined to comment.
Macaluso, who received the letter Tuesday, said he is looking at alternate sources to sponsor the program, but wasn't at liberty yet to say what they were.
"I can fully understand the village's financial condition, and in no way, fashion or form does the district hold the village responsible for this situation whatsoever," he said.
Sgt. Chuck Lafler, who has been the district's D.A.R.E. officer for 16 years, said Thursday that he has talked to Smith since learning about the letter and she has indicated she's willing to look at other options.
On Wednesday, Smith issued an e-mail statement saying "I know the board shares my gratitude to Sgt. Lafler for his years of dedicated service as D.A.R.E. officer. He has benefited hundreds of students with his personal involvement, but after examining the overall costs which exceeded $12,000 annually, we felt obligated to discontinue our D.A.R.E. program.
"Having learned that the sheriff's department provides a D.A.R.E. program that is funded by county taxes, we felt taxpayers should not pay twice for this service, especially at a time when we are actively seeking ways to reduce the tax burden."
Lafler said he understands the budget issues, but that Smith agreed the program would be most effective if delivered by village police; he said that's best because he knows the kids and their family dynamics, and they know him.
"Above and beyond the time I'm in the classroom with the kids, I spend a lot of time with them on the streets and in the home setting," Lafler said. "We need to keep in mind that one of the objectives of the D.A.R.E. program is to involve law enforcement, the parents and the school district working together to provide an educational experience that will continue to encourage kids to make good choices.
"With that in mind, the mayor has agreed to take a couple of steps back to get together with me, school administration and the chief of police to discuss creative options wherein we can deliver this program."
Sheriff Leo Connolly said his department is willing to help in any way possible to fill any void.
"We currently have three D.A.R.E. officers who do an excellent job in the Seneca County schools," he said. They are Kipp Goodman, John Cleere and Melinda Scego, the latter of whom lives in the village.
"D.A.R.E. is a very important program, and it is frequently a child's first contact with a police agency ...," Connolly said. "It is a program designed to help them make the right choices, and it extends not only through the school, but into their personal lives as well."
Newshawk: Stoner4Life - 420 Magazine
Source: Finger Lakes Times (NY)
Pubdate: Fri, 08 Sep 2006
Author: Denise M. Champagne
Copyright: Finger Lakes Times 2006
Contact: fltimes@fltimes.com
Website: https://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1206
Mayor Diana Smith mailed Superintendent Gerald Macaluso a letter last Friday saying the village is not willing to continue to incur excessive overtime costs associated with the program.
She says Police Chief Frederick Capozzi talked to Macaluso a few times during the past year about cost considerations associated with continuing the program as it's scheduled.
"That schedule creates an excessive amount of overtime for both the D.A.R.E. officer and others who cover his absence in the schedule," Smith says.
Capozzi declined to comment.
Macaluso, who received the letter Tuesday, said he is looking at alternate sources to sponsor the program, but wasn't at liberty yet to say what they were.
"I can fully understand the village's financial condition, and in no way, fashion or form does the district hold the village responsible for this situation whatsoever," he said.
Sgt. Chuck Lafler, who has been the district's D.A.R.E. officer for 16 years, said Thursday that he has talked to Smith since learning about the letter and she has indicated she's willing to look at other options.
On Wednesday, Smith issued an e-mail statement saying "I know the board shares my gratitude to Sgt. Lafler for his years of dedicated service as D.A.R.E. officer. He has benefited hundreds of students with his personal involvement, but after examining the overall costs which exceeded $12,000 annually, we felt obligated to discontinue our D.A.R.E. program.
"Having learned that the sheriff's department provides a D.A.R.E. program that is funded by county taxes, we felt taxpayers should not pay twice for this service, especially at a time when we are actively seeking ways to reduce the tax burden."
Lafler said he understands the budget issues, but that Smith agreed the program would be most effective if delivered by village police; he said that's best because he knows the kids and their family dynamics, and they know him.
"Above and beyond the time I'm in the classroom with the kids, I spend a lot of time with them on the streets and in the home setting," Lafler said. "We need to keep in mind that one of the objectives of the D.A.R.E. program is to involve law enforcement, the parents and the school district working together to provide an educational experience that will continue to encourage kids to make good choices.
"With that in mind, the mayor has agreed to take a couple of steps back to get together with me, school administration and the chief of police to discuss creative options wherein we can deliver this program."
Sheriff Leo Connolly said his department is willing to help in any way possible to fill any void.
"We currently have three D.A.R.E. officers who do an excellent job in the Seneca County schools," he said. They are Kipp Goodman, John Cleere and Melinda Scego, the latter of whom lives in the village.
"D.A.R.E. is a very important program, and it is frequently a child's first contact with a police agency ...," Connolly said. "It is a program designed to help them make the right choices, and it extends not only through the school, but into their personal lives as well."
Newshawk: Stoner4Life - 420 Magazine
Source: Finger Lakes Times (NY)
Pubdate: Fri, 08 Sep 2006
Author: Denise M. Champagne
Copyright: Finger Lakes Times 2006
Contact: fltimes@fltimes.com
Website: https://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1206
