James M. Singleton Charter School students are among beneficiaries of a new federal grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Dryades Y/James M. Singleton board members announced Tuesday.

The $25,750 grant, awarded to the Dryades Y, is for a mentoring program that will reach students from a mix of schools, Gregory Phillips, board’s chief operating officer, said.

Called a Building Futures Mentoring Program Grant, it helps local organizations train mentors in programs that reach underserved at-risk and high-risk youth, according to information on  the U.S. Department of Justice website.

“It’s a real good program,” Phillips said at a board meeting Tuesday.

Phillips added that with upwards of 500 kids coming through the YMCA doors every day, finding those who need mentoring is easy.

The Dryades YMCA is one of three Y’s nationwide selected for the federal grant. Each organization was eligible for up to $53,000, according to information handed out during the board meeting.

Phillips said he hoped for additional money from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Program in years to come.

“Hopefully we can turn this into a big program,” Phillips said.

In other news, Singleton ended January with more than $226,000 in excess revenue, according to budget information provided by chief financial officer Catrina Reed.

Reed said the budget balance was improving after the board cut staff in September.

The Lens reported in October that the school fell 70 students below the projected enrollment for the 2013-14 school year, requiring the staff cutbacks.

Eight teachers were let go, according to documents given to The Lens in October.

Auditors faulted the school for a lack of supervisory review and financial oversight of expense reports in the 2012-13 school year.

Those problems have been corrected, auditors reported to the board.

Della Hasselle

Della Hasselle, a freelance journalist and producer, reports environmental and criminal justice stories for The Lens. A graduate of Benjamin Franklin High School and the New Orleans Center for Creative...