NASHUA — School officials have given administrators the green light to pursue a grant that could provide a payoff of $30 million to the district.

“This is a significant grant. There will be intense competition,” said Superintendent Mark Conrad as the board voted unanimously to join an estimated 900 school districts applying for 15-20 Race to the Top cash awards from the U.S. Department of Education.

The goal of the grant is to focus on accelerating student achievement and increasing graduation rates, explained Conrad. That could include broadening the district’s preschool program and possibly creating a childhood learning center, updating high school competencies or expanding project-based learning into the local middle schools, he said.

This is the first time the grant money is being offered to individual school districts where at least 40 percent of the student body is eligible for free and reduced-price lunches. In Nashua, about 40.8-41.8 percent of students are eligible, said Conrad.

The grant application must be submitted by the end of October; winners will be announced at the end of the year.

Robert Sherman, president of the Nashua Teachers’ Union, was present Monday to voice support for the grant application. The union is hoping the grant process will broaden professional development opportunities for city teachers and create a new teacher evaluation system.

Sherman is suggesting that the writing committee of the grant consist of three members of the administration and three union members, with a majority vote needed for any proposals or recommendations.

“The Nashua School District needs to let the teachers implement methods and techniques that support the core curriculum standards,” he said in a written union proposal regarding the grant application. “The (district) will allow teachers to develop innovative classroom methods and techniques that enhance student achievement for the grant.”

While no formal ideas have been created on how to spend the grant money, some concepts have been floated in recent weeks, said Conrad.

The grant process will help with district’s strategic planning, even if the district is not awarded any money, maintained Thomas Vaughan, board member.

“I think that we have a very good chance of getting this grant,” he said.

David Murotake, another board member, agreed, adding the city’s school district is a visionary institution with a lot of momentum.

“We think this aligns well with the strategic plan,” Conrad told school officials.

Still, Conrad emphasized that if the district was fortunate enough to obtain a grant, the project or projects created with the available funds would have to be sustainable after the money was depleted.

At least one board member, William Mosher, said he was skeptical of federal government and its grants. Mosher said he worries about hidden agendas, adding he is cynical about the process.

khoughton@newstote.com