diff --git a/lib/grader_script.rb b/lib/grader_script.rb
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/grader_script.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+module GraderScript
+
+  def self.grader_control_enabled?
+    if defined? GRADER_SCRIPT_DIR
+      GRADER_SCRIPT_DIR != ''
+    else
+      false
+    end
+  end
+
+  def self.stop_grader(pid)
+    if GraderScript.grader_control_enabled?
+      cmd = "#{GRADER_SCRIPT_DIR}/grader stop #{pid}"
+      system(cmd)
+    end
+  end
+
+  def self.stop_graders(pids)
+    if GraderScript.grader_control_enabled?
+      pid_str = (pids.map { |process| process.pid.to_a }).join ' '
+      cmd = "#{GRADER_SCRIPT_DIR}/grader stop " + pid_str
+      system(cmd)
+    end
+  end
+
+  def self.start_grader(env)
+    if GraderScript.grader_control_enabled?
+      cmd = "#{GRADER_SCRIPT_DIR}/grader #{env} queue &"
+      system(cmd)
+      cmd = "#{GRADER_SCRIPT_DIR}/grader #{env} test_request &"
+      system(cmd)
+    end    
+  end
+
+end