The North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) transferred $95 million in profits the Education Lottery Fund Friday.

Columbus County’s portion for pre-kindergarten education and school construction totals $906,960. Columbus County Schools are expected to receive $240,492 for construction while Whiteville City Schools are expected to receive $89,316. Funds are based on student population, among other factors. The transfer is the first of four transfers planned for fiscal 2006-2007, according to a press release issued by the NCEL.

“Today’s transfer of much-needed education funding for our students and their schools will be a tremendous help as we continue our efforts to build new schools, hire teachers and educate our kids,” Rep. Dewey Hill said in a statement. “Whether you support the lottery or not, today is evidence that the real winners from North Carolina’s lottery are our students and their schools.”

“It is exciting to see these dollars spent to improve the education and future of North Carolina children,” Sen. R.C. Soles Jr. said in a separate statement. “In addition to the state’s most recent record investment in education, each dollar kept in North Carolina will further support our goal to improve the quality of instruction for every student.”

Soles added that the transfer is an important sign that lottery funds are going “exactly” where officials said they would go – to education.

“This is an historic event for education in North Carolina and a sign of some very positive things to come for our young people,” said Tom Shaheen, NCEL executive director. “We are extremely pleased with how sales have been going. As we add more games, we expect sales to continue to grow and that is just more good news for education.”

State law requires that at least 50 percent of lottery proceeds be paid out in prizes and that no more than 8 percent go to administrative costs and 7 percent to retailers. The remaining 35 percent goes to education.

The State Education Assistance Authority manages the distribution of funds for college scholarship programs funded through the lottery. The Department of Public Instruction will manage the distribution of funds for all other education programs.

The lottery has generated more than $500 million since it began on March 30. The lottery raises about $1 million a day, according to NCEL officials. Since the first quarter of fiscal year 06-07 the lottery introduced four instant scratch-off tickets and launched “Carolina Pick 3” on Oct.6. Another numbers game, “Carolina Cash 5” begins on Oct. 27.