LEE COUNTY, GA (WALB) -
Brisk lottery ticket sales thanks to the Mega Millions biggest payout could mean big bucks for education in Georgia.
In Georgia, proceeds from the Mega Millions will benefit education through HOPE Scholarships and the Pre-K programs. Both have taken big hits during tough budget years in Georgia.
In Georgia, lottery machines have been running overtime with people buying their chance at the world's largest lottery jackpot, all with a list of plans for the payout.
"Make sure my family don't have to work no more, take care of a couple of people," said Clayton Harrington, Mega Million Ticket Holder.
"Pay off all my bills and travel," said Holli Sigmon, Mega Million Ticket Holder
But the payout may actually happen right here in the classroom.
"When you think of this class being the class of 2025 and the changes that are going to happen in education just because of the very rapid changes were seeing in technology and other innovations you can imagine the new kinds of equipment and we want to be on the cutting edge with these children," said Jan Duke, Lee County Pre-K Director.
Since its first year the Georgia Lottery has returned more than 13.1 billion dollars to the state for education.
All Georgia Lottery profits go to pay for specific educational programs including HOPE Scholarships and Georgia's Pre-K, but tough budget times have meant program cuts.
They hope big jackpots like this could change that.
"We would love to see Pre-K's year filled out again. The Governor has just added 10 days to our school year," said Duke.
And most have a wish list for equipment they could use to enhance the educational process.
"A smart table that's a lot like a smart board that they have in the upper grades but the smart table allows children to sit around it a recognizes mini touches so that they could work collaboratively on something," said Duke.
Lee County's Pre-K is already pushing for more classrooms. They have a waiting list for next year already for as many as 15 children, after having a classroom cut two years ago.
After all more than 1.1 million four years olds have attended the statewide voluntary pre-kindergarten program giving them a leg up on their education.
Since the lottery's inception more than 4 billion dollars have been appropriated to send millions of students to Pre-K programs statewide.
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