Tiffin Police roll out revamped D.A.R.E. curriculum to elementary schools with 1Ohio opioid funds support

Tiffin police presented a modernized D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) curriculum to the City Council and described plans to expand the program in city schools with initial funding from 1Ohio opioid funds.

The presentation matters because it outlines an education and prevention program that city officers will deliver in schools, seeks to strengthen police–community relations and requests continued funding and administrative support from the city.

Chief Polley introduced the program and recognized department award recipients before turning the presentation over to the two D.A.R.E. officers, Chris Perry and Alec Traxler. Chief Polley said the modern D.A.R.E. curriculum has moved from lecture-based lessons to interactive, skill-based instruction developed with behavioral-science input. He described the newer approach as focusing on “self awareness, empathy, responsible decision making, relationship building, and effective communication.”

Officer Chris Perry and Officer Alec Traxler described curricular changes and classroom practice. Traxler said the new model emphasizes student-led lessons, stating the program is “80/20” — with students doing about 80% of the lesson work and officers guiding activities. Officers said lessons cover vaping, alcohol, bullying and cyberbullying, mental-health awareness and scenarios such as when to call 911. Take-home packets allow students to practice lessons with parents; teachers can tailor lessons by age and need. Traxler said he is currently teaching first- and second-grade classes and Perry teaches fourth-grade classes at Calvert Elementary; class lengths run about 45 minutes for higher grades and about 25 minutes for lower grades, and the current module runs roughly 10 weeks.

Councilmember John Hayes asked about evaluation metrics. Officers said they collect classroom grades and use anonymous question boxes and periodic evaluations; higher-grade students compete in essay contests that feed back into D.A.R.E. America’s evaluation process. Chief Polley added the department plans community surveys and some longitudinal tracking that will be more anecdotal than strictly scientific.

Funding and scheduling were discussed. Chief Polley said the program’s restart was jump-started with 1Ohio opioid funds; the department estimated an initial startup target of $15,000–$20,000 and said that sustaining citywide coverage of three schools might require about $20,000–$25,000 per year. Officers said they are meeting with the school superintendent about expanding into Tiffin City Schools in the fall and that additional training and supplies are funded through the opioid funds so students and schools will not pay.

Ending

Council members complimented the emphasis on bullying and cyberbullying and asked that the department return with metrics as the program expands. Funding is already appropriated in the budget amendment adopted at the meeting, and officers said they will pursue school-level agreements and training to broaden the program.