BERKELEY – A sea of kids in red shirts clapped and cheered each other on as they all graduated from the DARE program at Berkeley Township Elementary School.
Officer Mikki Baranyay said that 268 5th grade students completed the 10-week program and took the pledge to stay away from drugs and alcohol.
Like a high school graduation, the kids were all called on stage class by class. Additionally, each class named a DARE role model – one student who exemplified the lessons being taught. Even further, the mayor and Township Council donated two bicycles to students who went above and beyond.
Baranyay is taking over the program from Sgt. Scott Selby, who’s been doing this for 19 years.
Baranyay said that Selby has been a mentor, friend, and confidante – someone who can be counted on. When she first started shadowing him, she said he was like a celebrity in the school. Kids would come up to him and tell him proudly about how they’ve been using the tools he taught them.
Selby said the transition from him to Baranyay has been seamless. DARE is just one part of her duties. As School Resource Officer, she is in the schools every day.
It’s part of community policing, Baranyay explained. Officers want to get to know children and be a positive influence early on. Police want to earn the trust of these kids and let them know that it’s OK for them to talk about anything happening in their lives. They want to make sure that the first experience with a police officer is in a good situation rather than an officer responding to a bad situation.
“Sgt. Scott did a great job and I look forward to Officer Mikki continuing his legacy in making our program the best in the state,” Mayor Carmen Amato said after the ceremony.
He was attending his last graduation as mayor, as he is seeking a state senate seat. He told the kids that it’s a changing world out there.
“You’re going to make the right decisions going forward,” he said. “Don’t let bad people influence you. Make smart choices. I really am proud of every one of you.”
Principal Daniel Prima opened the event and thanked all the families for supporting their kids in this endeavor.
Superintendent Jim Roselli said the school opened in 2005, and DARE started soon after with Selby.
“I hope you remember these lessens and all the good times you had here at Berkeley Township Elementary School,” Roselli said.
Joseph Vicari is the director of the Ocean County Commissioners but he was the Berkeley superintendent when BTES was being built. He honored Selby by making him Commissioner Director for the day.
“I hope someone here is the next mayor or commissioner,” Vicari told the kids. “That’s what we’re doing here – we’re training future leaders.”
There was a lot of transition. Baranyay was a former student of Roselli’s when he taught at the Clara B. Worth School. Selby’s father was Amato’s high school football coach.
Board of Education President Jennifer Bacchione urged the children to be strong and help each other out. Her husband, Councilman John Bacchione, was also in attendance with Councilmen Michael Signorile and Thomas Grosse. Councilman Angelo Guadagno was in the crowd, as he is a 5th grade teacher there.
