Manassas Journal Messenger | Supervisors to hear about “Be Aware”

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors will hear a presentation from the Prince William County police about a new program to teach children Internet safety and how to avoid gangs, drugs, alcohol and tobacco during the next board meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

The Basic Elementary Addiction, Wellness & Abuse Resource Education, or “Be Aware” program will replace the Drug Awareness Resistance Education or D.A.R.E. program.

The D.A.R.E. program, which started in 1987, does not allow the flexibility to meet the needs of individual schools or students, said County Executive Craig Gerhart.

Students today face different challenges than they did when the police started the D.A.R.E. program nearly two decades ago, and each school has different needs based on the community they serve, Gerhart said.

The Be Aware program is set up in modular sections that offer bullying prevention, personal safety and conflict resolution information. Each section can stand on its own or be taught as part of the wider curriculum in any grade level.

The police department is prepared to offer the program this school year.

Also on the board’s agenda is a motion to authorize a public hearing at the request of Robert and Janet Wilcox who own the property at 13108 Foxhall Road in the Woodmont States subdivision in the Occoquan District

The Wilcoxes have renewed their request for a public hearing to remove the “park” designation on their property so they can build a single family home.

In exchange the Wilcoxes would agree, among other things, to pay for sewer and water leading to the house, pay the county $3,972 to be used for public parks and recreation purposes and $8,939 to be used for public school purposes.

The board will also vote to hold a public hearing to consider restricting parking of boat trailers and other similar vehicles on Seymore Road, Rodes Drive, Siebels and Shields ways in Gainesville.

A vote to change the scope of the Old Bridge Road Sidewalk Project to an asphalt trail between the west end of Oakwood Drive to Old Bridge Elementary School will also be before the board Tuesday.

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors will meet at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Board Chamber at the McCoart Center at 1 County Complex Road.