District gets grant for tobacco prevention

Laguna Beach Unified School District will receive nearly $175,000 for tobacco prevention programs at its four schools.

The district was awarded a $174,585 Tobacco-Use Prevention Education grant, which will be divided evenly over three years, district special education and student services director Irene White wrote in an email.

District officials worked with the Orange County Department of Education to apply for the money, which will be used to support existing programs, White said.

The first installment of $58,195 will be available July 1.

The idea is to give students developmentally appropriate material at the right time, White said. One strategy is repeating messages to help kids develop decision-making and problem-solving skills, she said.

—Bryce Alderton

Twitter: @AldertonBryce