1976-1979-ZBA APPEALS - BLACKBOOK (2)

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i 3 - Re: Appeal of Dynamic Action Residents Enterprise, Inc. (Continued) to whether or not the constant turnover is the result of more "serious" delinquent youth being placed at DARE rather than the "milder" delinquent. The Department of Youth Services' evaluation of the Mashpee DARE program during Feb-Mar 176 states that DARE is inappro- priate to service seriously delinquent youth which would indicate that the DARE staff in Mashpee is not qualified to deal with "serious" delinquent youth and the evidence leads the Board of Appeals to believe that "serious" delinquent youths are housed at the facility. 5. There has been a decided increase in unlawful and nuisance acts performed by DARE residents requiring police inter- vention. Some offenses have been of a serious nature and reflect the inability of DARE staff to monitor youth activities and enforce regulations and policies governing the activities and behavior of the residents. From June of 1975 to June of 1976 the police have been called in on various complaints a total of 20 times for complaints ranging from breaking and entering, vandalism, drug offenses to missing persons. This has placed an undue and increased burden upon municipal services facilities to wit: the police department. Further, there have been complaints made by area residents as to uncontrolled noise, late at night and during the early morning hours. 6. The constant turnover of DARE residents has imposed a financial and administrative burden on Mashpee School Department. All DARE residents are adolescents with social and/or educational problems. Consequently, a heavy demand has been placed on the School Department professional staff for educational evaluation and guidance. DARE residents consume 508 of the professional service, leaving the other 508 to be apportioned among the 367 children in grades K thru 6. The effort put forth by the school department for the DARE residents is often unrewarding. Records verify that frequently DARE residents do not attend school after extensive evaluation. Others are evaluated, attend school spasmotically, , then leave school permanently. It is not unreasonable to assume that many children in the public school system are being "short changed" of valuable professional service because of the impact of DARE residents.