A large donation will help fund three new major improvements at Eudora schools. 

The Jim Hoover family and Kaw Valley State Bank donated $50,000 to the Eudora Schools Foundation — the single largest gift in the foundation’s history, according to a news release. 

The donation will help fund an electronic marquee at Eudora High School, a scoreboard at Eudora Middle School’s outdoor athletic field and a playground fence at the outdoor classroom at Eudora Elementary. 

Each project was identified as a need by district administrators at their corresponding buildings. The playground fence is expected to increase safety at the elementary school. 

The new scoreboard will help enhance outdoor student athletic events at the middle school. And the digital marquee board at the entrance of the high school will help share messages from the school district to the community. 

“My Dad loved Eudora and loved helping others, especially children,” said Jason Hoover in a statement. “He would be proud of these projects and the impact they will have in Eudora schools.” 

Each project is expected to be finished in the next several weeks, according to a news release from the Eudora Schools Foundation. 

Eudora Schools Foundation Executive Director Shanda Hurla said in a statement the foundation was grateful to the Hoover family and Kaw Valley State Bank for the gift. 

“Time and time again they support wonderful initiatives in our community and schools. Jim Hoover was a remarkable individual and placed a high importance on supporting children in our community,” Hurla said in a statement. “We are fortunate to see the impact of his generosity throughout Eudora and our schools. We are thankful for the Hoover family’s and Kaw Valley State Bank’s continued generosity.”

Outgoing Eudora Schools Superintendent Steve Splichal said in a statement that the Hoover family was “very open and willing to work with us” while determining the right projects for the school district. 

“It is easy to see that our students have been the primary focus in each of the projects identified,” Splichal said. “The generosity of the Hoover family will leave a legacy for years to come. Furthermore, this is yet another tremendous example of the unique partnership that we have between the Eudora School District and the Eudora Schools Foundation.”

Reach reporter Nicole Asbury at [email protected].

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