Brookhaven School District board members made quick work oftheir agenda on Tuesday, but not before approving the use offederal funds to improve the quality of education at areaschools.

Board members approved the Title VI and Low Income School Program,which is federal money awarded to the school district based onaverage income and the number of children receiving free or reducedschool lunches. The district has been awarded roughly $76,600,which officials are planning to spread out among the areaschools.

Lea Barrett, Brookhaven School District superintendent, said theywill spend $30,000 on kindergarten through fifth-grade children’safter school programs, about $15,000 on summer school and theremainder of the money will go to Brookhaven High School forprofessional development.

The board also approved of the Alexander Junior High SchoolImprovement Plan.

The school board received about $51,000 in federal funds for oneyear in the two-year program. Also, the funds must be used atAJHS.

“Some of their math scores were not strong and because of thatwe’re receiving some money to get scores up,” Barrett said.

The money, which has already been used for this school year, hasrecently been awarded and will be used to reimburse the schooldistrict.

The board has used the money to acquire and incorporate the use oftechnology in the classroom, such as instructional tools, and tohire advisers for teachers.

“If the administration and the teachers don’t work (together),teaching can be an isolated act,” said Barrett. “This additionalmoney has allowed us to provide assistance for teachers.”

Barrett also said the additional funds have helped improve theacademics at AJHS. Thanks in part to the financial support, AJHSjumped three categories to the Successful academic level.

“That’s why we’re going to continue what we’re doing,” saidBarrett. “Because we know it works.”