The Aptakisic-Tripp School District 102 Board of Education announced plans Monday night to replace its D.A.R.E. program with a new class called C.O.D.E., which stands for Community Organized Drug Education.
C.O.D.E. will involve pupils more and will include more lessons, said Officer Jim Yester of the Buffalo Grove Police Department.
There will be 30 lessons over a six-week period. Pupils will test out vision goggles, which simulate the blurred vision of a drunk. They will write a code of conduct for themselves, and parents will be invited to a family forum at the school.
Meridian Middle School Principal Susan Mann said the C.O.D.E. program emphasizes all-around health and relationships, instead of just drugs and alcohol prevention.
“It causes the students to be more involved,” Mann said.
About 100 pupils will participate in a pilot program this spring. All pupils are expected to participate starting in spring of 2000.
