Hillsborough Schools $100 Million Richer TAMPA (WUSF) - After a nine-month application process, the Hillsborough County School District finally has a reason to let out a sigh of relief.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced today that the school district will receive $100 million in grant money, the highest of four education-based grants. The money will support the initiative to place effective teachers in every classroom.

Hillsborough School spokesman Stephen Hegarty says the grant is just the beginning of a long and work-intensive process, one that will require increased communication between schools and teachers.

"We are about to start communicating in great detail with teachers about exactly what this thing looks like, where we're headed and we need their help in making this thing work and in formulating it," says Hegarty. "You know, this is not a completed project by any means."

Additional funding will help develop a more meaningful teacher evaluation system within the district. © Copyright 2012, WUSF