POMEROY — The Meigs Local School District has been awarded two new five-year 21st Century Grants and received a renewal on another one put in place last year for a total of $600,000 with the funds designated for after-school programs in the 2012-13 school year.

Announcement of the designated funding obtained through a competitive grant process with the Ohio Department of Education is geared for students in need of special assistance in learning, according to Superintendent Rusty Bookman who made the funding announcement at Tuesday night’s meeting of the Meigs Local Board of Education.

Bookman said receipt of the grant money means that after-school programs will be offered in all three buildings, primary-intermediate, middle school and high school.

The elementary school completed one five-year Century Grant funded program last school year and was renewed for another five years with renewal each year renewal to be contingent on student progress. At the high school the program was initiated last year and will enter its second year this fall, while a new program will be started in the middle school.

The money is distributed $200,000 for the first three years, drops to $150,000 for the fourth year, and to $100,000 the last year of the grant funding. It is designated for hiring a coordinator and teaching staff, and providing enrichment activities, snacks and transportation, along with activities involving parents. Sessions run Monday through Thursday for two hours after school is dismissed in the afternoon.

In addition to the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant of $600,000, the other state and federal grant awards to the district included Title 1, $1,040,368; IDEA-B Special Education, $464,872; Race to the Top, $245,870; Title II-A Improving Teacher Qaulity, $190,316; Carl D. Perkins, Secondary, $71,546; Title VI-B Rural and Low Income, $28,867; Early Childhood Education (preschool) $120,000, and ONE Net Ohio program, $7,200.

In other financial matters, the Board approved the Master District Software Service Agreement and the fees involved, and entered into a contract with the Athens-Meigs Educational Service Center to provide services related to special and gifted education for the coming school year at a cost estimated to be $438,695.

Present at the meeting was a parent who asked about advanced placement classes at the high school. Bookman reported that a class in chemistry will be started this fall and that another class is under consideration.

Personnel matters taken care of during the meeting included accepting the resignations of some and the hiring of others. Mark Weber resigned as agriculture education instructor, FFA Advisor, and quiz team advisor at Meigs High school effective at the end of this month. Gail Hughes resigned as a bus driver, as did Juanita Lambert who is retiring as a bus driver, both effective on Aug. 17.

Hired during the meeting were Joshua Eddy on a purchased service contract as a tutor for a health handicapped student, Brent Bissell as a physical education/health teacher on a one-year contract at Meigs Elementary and Meigs High Schools,and Samantha Carroll as a language arts teacher on a one-year contract at Meigs High School.

Hired as substitute custodians for the school year were James Tony Carnahan, Kelly Counts, Michael Dill, Bryan Enright, Larry Gibbs, Kristopher Ginther, Steven Hoover, Carla King, Tamara Marshall, Roger Mowery, Oliver Norris, Timothy Norris, Russell O’Brien,Charles Rathburn, Gregory Satterfield, Timothy Spires, Adam Tillis,Timmy Tillis, and Wesley Wright.

In athletic positions , Arson Crow was hired as 7th grade football coach, and Tyler Brothers as a volunteer football coach for the 2012 season. Cary Betzing was employed as 8th grade girls basketball coach and Jay Humphreys as 7th grade basketball coach.

Other personnel hired included Jennifer Henson as lead mentor in the resident educator program with Denise Arnold, Vicki Hughes, Christine Miceli and Amy Perrin as resident educator mentors.

Approval was given to applying to the Ohio Department of Education for approval for a district operational waiver to allow for up to 24 hours of professional develo99pment for school employees to address and implement a district and school building improvement plan.