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The Chesterfield County School District received $447,468.41 last week from the South Carolina State Forestry Commission.

This annual contribution amounts to 25 percent of the forestry commission’s profits for the year, said Chesterfield County secretary for the superintendent Pasty Haddock, mostly from the sale of pine trees. This money also atones for the 46,000 acres of state forestry land in Chesterfield County that is not subject to property taxes.

As pubic schools in Chesterfield County are predominately funded through property taxes, “The money is an essential part of the school district’s budget each year,” said Haddock. So, in essence, South Carolina pine trees not only provide shade, better air quality, a home for woodpeckers and other birds, and pine straw for gardening — they also help educate our children.

Chesterfield County voters in district nine will elect a replacement for Council Porter’s seat on the school board Tuesday, Nov. 13, one week after the general election. Porter, a retired educator and coach, served the school board for nearly two decades. He passed away at the age of 82 earlier this year.

Wayne Chapman and Johnnie McLendon are campaigning for that position on the board. The special election will follow the same guidelines as any other election, with polls opening at 7 a.m. and closing at 7 p.m.

Last Monday, board members approved a recommendation from Chesterfield County School Board Member Jamie Wayne to name the basketball court at Cheraw High School in honor of “Coach” Council Porter. They also decided to name the media center at Petersburg Elementary School in Pageland in honor of another former board member, Linda Blackwell-Frasier.

The next meeting of the school board is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 12, at 5:30 p.m., in the Palmetto Learning Center at the old Edwards Elementary school.

During December’s meeting the board will conduct an “informal evaluation” of the county’s new superintendent, Harrison Goodwin. Goodwin took over July 1, 2012, after Johnny Williams retired from that office.

— Staff Writer Karen Kissiah can be reached by calling 843-537-5261, or by email at kkissiah@heartlandpublications.com.