Last week’s announcement that the Eudora public schools had received a $750,000 federal grant as part of the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative is welcome news.

By working with various agencies, including local law enforcement, community groups and the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, the Eudora schools were able to identify a need and some solutions that apparently resonated with those reviewing applications at the U.S. Department of Education.

The federal initiative is aimed at preventing violence and substance abuse among the nation’s youth. Hopefully, the successful grant application isn’t an indication that Eudora has an unusual problem in either of those areas and that district’s efforts will be focused on the other goals of the program, which include providing social and emotional support to improve students’ lives.

Eudora was the only school district in Kansas to get a Safe Schools/Healthy Students grant this year. Congratulations to those involved in the project. Perhaps their success will be an inspiration to other Kansas districts that could benefit from this funding.