The Borough of Northampton is expected to continue offering the D.A.R.E. program for sixth grade students at the Colonel John Siegfried Elementary and Good Shepherd Parochial schools during the 2013-14 academic year.

Entering its 10th year, the Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education class is taught over a 10-week period by borough Police Chief Ron Morey. Students have said they enjoy the chief's style, which includes a mixture of seriousness and humor.

Despite funding cuts at the state level, borough council, the mayor and administration have decided to continue the program.

When D.A.R.E first began, it was a program intended mainly to educate students on drug and alcohol abuse. Bullying, an issue which generates much public attention resulting in suicides and criminal behavior across the nation, has recently been added to he curriculum.

Councilman Anthony Lopsonzski Sr., a retired borough police officer and the department's first D.A.R.E. officer, spoke at the recent council meeting.

Council Vice President Robert McHale, whose daughter was enrolled in one of the first D.A.R.E. classes, said his daughter to this day still talks about the course and its benefits.

Council President John Yurish spoke of the benefits of offering a D.A.R.E. program at the elementary school level.

Along with classroom aids and D.A.R.E. T-shirts, stuffed lions are awarded to winners of the essay contests. A graduation ceremony also takes place at the two schools. Each student receives a certificate of completion and the winners of the essay contest read their entries to the students and families attending the program.

At the recent council meeting, Yurish gave out pins to four students who read their winning D.A.R.E. essays. The students included Emily Slane, Olivia Geczi, Brooke Brida and Madison Saladino.

The Northampton Veterans of Foreign Wars Home Association has helped defray costs of the D.A.R.E. program.