In a bold move Monday night, the Board of Education reinstated the JROTC program in Butler County and voted to retain its instructors.

Audible sighs of relief could be heard throughout a packed boardroom when the announcement was made.

Although how the funding to retain the program would be obtained wasn’t clarified, parents and students alike were grateful that a vital part of the county’s school curriculum was saved from the budget cutting board.

The program’s new lease on life was gained through a near-revolt that included Sen. Richard Shelby, hundreds of area residents, students and teachers.

The program offers many students, who would otherwise have no access to colleges, the opportunity to extend their educational experience through JROTC scholarships.

Several area JROTC graduates have continued their careers into the regular armed services and have made quite a name for themselves.

Proponents of the program tout its adherence to the values of dedication, leadership and discipline as vital components of its members’ education – values that are important to our community.

We give our kudos to the board for their wise investment in a program that brings out the best in our young people and gives them a bright future beyond our community’s bounds.