Collaboration and a commitment to helping minority and white students succeed academically helped Seattle win a $250,000 renewable grant from the National Education Association (NEA), the group's president said.

Seattle Public Schools is one of three districts nationwide that received the money.

Officials say it will help pay for cultural training for teachers at eight ethnically diverse schools in Southeast Seattle.

If the district meets its goals, the grant is renewable for four more years, for a total of $1.25 million.

"I think it says that Seattle is making a tremendous effort in trying to close the achievement gap between minority students and white students," said Reg Weaver, NEA president.

The achievement gap exists all over the country, Weaver said, but many districts didn't have programs that could use the money to solve the problem. Schools in Milwaukee and Chattanooga, Tenn., also received grants, the first NEA has awarded for this purpose.

In Seattle, the money will help train teachers at eight schools to learn customs and effective ways to communicate more effectively with people of different cultures.

The schools involved are: The African American Academy; Brighton, Dunlap, Emerson, Wing Luke and Rainier View elementary schools; Aki Kurose Middle School; and Rainier Beach High School.

The Seattle Education Association lobbied heavily for the grant. President Wendy Kimball said the money would help teachers but "it's not substantial enough to make systemic change."

That would require more government money, she said.

At a presentation Tuesday at Rainier Beach High, Seattle Schools Superintendent Raj Manhas said the money will help, but he told students their role is "critical."

"We want you to be successful in every angle, for every way, so that you can be the future leaders of this country," he said.

Emily Heffter: 206-464-8246 or eheffter@seattletimes.com

King-Minor merger

before board tonight

The principals of Martin Luther King and T.T. Minor elementary schools plan to present their plan for consolidation to the Seattle School Board at its regular meeting tonight, said Seattle School District spokesman Peter Daniels.

The board meets at 6 p.m. at district headquarters, 2445 Third Ave.

Martin Luther King would close next school year under the plan, and students from both schools would attend T.T. Minor this fall. Principals of the two schools first announced the idea in February.

Daniels said the administration supports the plan, but he said it's the last such consolidation proposal Superintendent Raj Manhas will be willing to consider for next school year.

The district is setting up criteria for closing some district schools for the 2007-08 school year, and it could be confusing to parents, Daniels said, if schools strike out on their own and make separate plans.

The two principals' plan to combine their Central Area schools is subject to public hearings and board approval.

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