Plans are under way to raise money for the new bleachers at Sharpsville High School's football stadium.

School directors Monday officially recognized the bleacher fund-raiser committee, which is made up of residents who will submit ideas to the board for approval.

Superintendent Dr. Derry Stufft said the board has applied for a $300,000 state grant to pay for the bleacher project. Stufft said state Rep. Michael Gruitza, Hermitage, D-7th District, has endorsed the grant application. Stufft said he hopes to get word on the grant by the end of the month.

In a related matter, the board approved the Blue Devil logo for use on the National City Education Credit Card. The district will get an annual check for 0.4 percent of each purchase made with the card.

If 100 people get the cards and each charges an average of $3,000 annually, the district would get $2,400, said Karen Mitchell, branch manager for National City Bank in Sharpsville. Stufft said the district plans to put that money toward the bleachers.

In November, the board awarded a $280,197 contract to Jim Santini Builders, Washingtonville, Ohio, to install the bleachers, which are to be ready for football season.

Last week, the board approved a $575,000 loan, $280,000 of which is earmarked for the bleachers. The remainder will go toward renovations at Seventh Street Elementary School, architect's fees and the capital improvement fund.