The Culpeper County School system will have a total of $4.1 million in stimulus funding to work with for the fiscal year 2010.

The school board voted, Monday, to approve 1.9 million in Title 1 federal spending. That amount will be added to $2.2 million in state funding that was approved in March as part of the school county operating budget, said chairman George Dasher.

The first approved stimulus amount saved 46 existing jobs in the county school system while the $1.9 million allowed for 14 new positions that have already been filled.

The recently approved amount will be used for Title 1 funding and Monday the school board voted to request authorization from the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors.

The Title 1 funds are earmarked for programs that help economically disadvantaged students, improve relations and interaction with parents as well as incorporate the No Child Left Behind policy. Many early learning math and reading programs are implemented through Title 1.

The $2.2 million was already part of the approved $70.6 million operating budget which will be adjusted to reflect the new grant funds.

All of the funding is part of the nation's economic stimulus package, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

In other news, the school board discussed ways to improve the communications in the Phoenix School. The alternative education school houses about 15 students in the annex between Culpeper Middle and Culpeper High schools. A recent situation in which a student brought a gun to the school was referred to.

The school board's finance committee will meet October 8, at 5 p.m. at the school board office.

The regular monthly school board meeting will be held October 12 at the county administration office at 7 p.m.