If theres such a thing as a school board hitting the lottery, it happened June 2 during a regularly scheduled meeting.

Acting on the wishes of longtime Dawson County resident Pauline S. Ivey, the Dawson County Board of Education on Tuesday was presented a gift of $400,000, earmarked for the systems art program. Ivey passed away April 3, 2014, at the age of 97, after living most of her life in Dawson County. She moved to Cumming 12 years earlier, and her trustee, Betty Ann Bagley, presented the donation.

We received a donation from a community member, Pauline Ivey, School Superintendent Damon Gibbs said. Her trustee, along with her attorney, came tonight and made a donation to the school system of $400,000.

School Board Member Roger Slaton helped facilitate the donation.

I can remember taking art classes with Paulines daughter, Frances, Slaton said. The Iveys were always good to me, and I tried to be good to them in return, so I guess she remembered us.

The money will be divided, with $300,000 used for equipment in Dawson County High Schools performing arts center, currently under construction and scheduled to open August 2016. The remaining $100,000 will be split among the schools for art supplies.

The money will be given a special designation in the budget and closely managed, said Jamie Ulrich, director of finance for the board.

Born Jan. 17, 1917, Ivey was the daughter of E.H. Sug and Annie Belle Stephens. She was preceded in death by her husband, Weldon Ivey; daughter, Frances Ivey; and son, Donald Ivey, according to an obituary posted at beardenfuneralhome.com.