CCP 06-10-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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. . . ~ EN HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: Agenda Item 9.B June 6, 2002 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Joe Lynch, City Administrat SUBJECT: Future of DARE Program As you know, the future of the DARE program through the Ramsey County Sheriff's Department has been under discussion for the past several months. Continuation of DARE has now reached a critical point within our contract jurisdiction group. The importance of this decision has been triggered by the fact that the Mounds View School District will be using their allotted levy dollars to fund a school resource officer ("SRO") instead of a DARE officer. As a result, Arden Hills, Shoreview, and North Oaks, need to decide whether we are willing to fund the greater share of DARE costs through our current contract. White Bear Township and Vadnais Heights have been absorbing this cost for a few years due to a change in the White Bear Lake School District funding. For your information: o The total DARE program cost is approximately $163,000. o Revenues of$41,227 come from the school district's levy to offset this cost. o The net cost for 2002 is approximately $122,000. o Arden Hills net cost for 2002 is approximately $9,851. o Arden Hills net cost for 2003 would be approximately $34,579 (this includes the loss of police pension aid for DARE deputy and an approximate $10,000 revenue loss from the school district levy). o DARE revenues will drop by $25,000 due to the Mounds View School District decision. o DARE America has stated its program is ineffective and is in the process ofrevising it. o The DARE program in the elementary school is currently a 17 week program. o The new elementary DARE curriculum will be a 9 week program. o It is unlikely we will be able to get DARE in the middle schools due to the heavy demand for other programs related to graduation standards. (Educators who support DARE state they will not add it to their curriculum until its effectiveness is scientifically proven for the middle schoo Is.) o The Ramsey County Sheriff's Department strongly supports the continuation ofthis program. o The Sheriff's Department has indicated a willingness to make up the difference in the calendar year 2002 based on the Mounds School District decision to go to SRO. Council needs to decide whether or not the City of Arden Hills wishes to continue to participate in the DARE program at additional cost to the City of Arden Hills.