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Volume 54, Number 178 830-379-2234
T h e Vo i c e of Seguin To d a y
Seguin PD announces possible end of the DARE program Police, school officials to begin search for future replacement, efforts to continue kids on the right path By Cindy Aguirre-Herrera (Seguin) -- Finding a new way of reaching kids in local classrooms and keeping them away from negative influences is currently in the works for the Seguin Police Department. Over the last several years, the police department has hosted the D.A.R.E. Program at local elementary schools. The Drug Abuse Resistance Education, is "an education program that seeks to prevent use of controlled drugs, membership in gangs and violent behavior." During that time, the program has served local fifth grade students right in the classrooms of each of their respective campuses. Seguin Police Chief Terry Nichols says the DARE program is currently underway this fall thanks to longtime instructor Hope Vasquez. However, he says Vasquez's recent decision to retire from the department has prompted the department's decision to perhaps consider other programming or options for local students. "Hope Vasquez has done a wonderful job with the DARE program for many years and she announced in July that she wanted to retire from law enforcement. So, what we had to do was do some quick juggling and what we did was we
created a position, an elementary school coordinator position in the budget, to transition her of a law enforcement role with the city and into a civilian role so we could continue the DARE Program for a year. We just didn't want to go cold turkey and drop it immediately. We don't have anybody trained to do it. We wanted to take a pause and look at this. So yes, she is delivering the curriculum as she has the past 15 years -- I believe that she has been with the city doing the program and we will see after this year, the elementary school coordinator position that we put in the budget -- will cease to exist. Again, we'll look over the next year what we will have there. It maybe something entirely different. It might be a school resource officer or two. It may be someone assigned to teach in the schools at the seventh grade level or the eighth grade level or ninth grade level. Again, we just don't know yet. We're looking,' said Nichols. Nichols says he understands the value that the DARE Program has had in the Seguin community and ensures that the PD and local schools
will be implementing the best program for students. "DARE has been a very integral part of the Seguin community for a longtime, 25 years and I think successful and obviously very, very popular in our community but the science out there about it is mixed but that really doesn't matter for our community. It's very popular here. I think something you have going on for
on the safety of our children and the education of our children? So, yes, I think it's a good time to take a look back. We are doing DARE this year. I think there are some rumors floating around out there that that is not happening but no, DARE is being taught this year and it's giving us a good 12 months to work with the school district, police department -- working in conjunction with the supertindent a n d the
2 5 years, you need to come and look at something with fresh eyes from both the police department perspective, the school district perspective. Is this the best for Seguin? Is there a better way to spend our time, energy, our limited funds and keeping the focus
district to come up with a plan. What is the best thing to do that can benefit our kids and our community whether it be DARE or some other program that is newer, more innovative, safety related. We don't know what that's going to look like yet," said Nichols. See DARE, page 2
The Schriewer Team
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