Mayfield Heights Mayor to Apply for Schools Drug Prevention Grant

Though it's a program mayors in Ohio wish they didn't need, most acknowledge school drug prevention as a necessity.

That's why Mayfield Heights Mayor Anthony DiCicco made sure to get city council's approval to apply for a state grant to cover the costs of prevention officers and programs in the school district. He received approval this week, in time to meet next Friday's deadline.

The unspecified grant amount would help pay the salary of a resource officer at Mayfield Middle School and a D.A.R.E. officer at Mayfield High School.

"It's very important that these officers can get involved in these kids' lives at a point where, hopefully, it makes a difference in making good decisions going forward," DiCicco said.

He described the resource officer is another set of eyes and ears in the middle school who "establishes a nice presence there without being intimidating."

According to Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, schools that receive the grant must conduct at least two approved presentations, including "Prom Promise," school assembly and classroom presentations on drug use prevention and Red Ribbon Week events.

The grant covers up to 50 percent of the salary for D.A.R.E. and resource officers according to the attorney general's website. It does not include insurance, retirement, unemployment taxes, vehicles, supplies, food and beverage, prizes, awards, telephone or Internet costs.