NORTH FORT MYERS-Fla.-Principal Douglas Santini is thrilled North Fort Myers academy is one of four Lee County schools that will benefit from the federal funds. Lehigh Senior High, Cypress Lakes Senior and Bonita Springs Middle School will also get a piece of this year's $257-thousand dollar grant.

Santini said, "We do a shakespeare play every year, this is high level, and only old english so all of our students will study shakespeare in our schools. This is just one example. Our kids are really going to get a high level education."

The Lee County Schools Superintendent Dr. Joseph Burke says the grant will primarily be used for project aim or "arts integration for motivation." The effort will target low income students as well as students who don't do well in reading and math. A total of 45-hundred students will benefit. Dr. Burke said, "This is basically professional development for teachers of art, music, drama- all of the arts."

Schools districts in California, Nevada and New York are also receiving money as part of this year's federal grant of 1.2 million dollars. Principal Santini said getting the money approved was a labor of love for educators. "The grant was put in two years ago and we were told we would not get it and all of a sudden this year we got it so this is good."