By PAT NEWMAN
Staff Writer

The Fayette County Board of Education scrapped a proposal to clear-cut approximately 17 acres of timber land Monday night, in favor of an alternate plan to harvest 532 pines of 13-inch DBH (diameter at breast height), leaving 791 trees, or 44 trees per acre.

The board will use the $31,982 produced from the timber sale to help fund construction of a new green house at Fayette County High School, which includes an environmental science program.

“I'm more comfortable with this proposal,” school board Chairman Debbie Condon said.

The board had a choice of four recommendations prepared by Jerry Whitaker, coordinator for the school district's vocational and educational program. The first, and most drastic proposal, called for harvesting all 1,323 acres of timber land, netting the school board $42,046. The other two plans reduced the number of trees and the total DBH of trees harvested.

No hardwoods are included in the harvest, although the proposal stated that some trees may be damaged in the process of thinning out the property.

The acreage in question is on the corner of McElroy and McDonough roads. It was deeded to the Board of Education in 1959 for the Future Farmers of America forestry plot. The school district received a $50,000 state grant in July to construct a 40-foot by 80-foot greenhouse. The timber sale will provide utilities for the facility with the remainder going toward the environmental science program.

Three acres of timber has already been cut at North Fayette Elementary School for installation of a septic system to support the school's addition. According to Fred Oliver, assistant superintendent, no more trees will be cut. Money generated from the sale of timber will be used to build a playground at the school.