Journal-News.com

HAMILTON — A grant that could net the Hamilton City School District $850,000 over the next five years will be used to finance salaries, professional development, supplies, materials and equipment for the HOPE in the Neighborhoods Program — an extension of HOPE School.

Board members on Tuesday voted to accept the 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant, awarded by the Ohio Department of Education, as well as more than $515,000 in competitive grants — which includes the first year of funding from the 21st Century grant — and more than $7 million in non-competitive grants.

"To be successful in grant seeking, you need to do a lot of planning and gathering of information," said Everett Mann, administrative assistant for business and planning.

Goals of the HOPE in the Neighborhoods Program include helping students earn sufficient credits for graduation, pass the Ohio Graduation Test and develop skills needed for gainful employment.

Administrators say they hope to serve 300 students and their parents through the program that will partner with The Booker T. Washington Center and the Boys and Girls Club.

In other business:

• Board members approved a 5 cent increase to the base cost of school lunches.

• Superintendent Janet Baker announced that the scheduled date for the first game on the new Hamilton High School Virgil Schwarm Stadium turf field is Aug. 10.

Two scrimmage games are scheduled — Hamilton High School versus Winton Woods and Badin High School versus Madison High School.