If the Fulton

County Board of Education decides to continue a special purpose local

option sales tax next year, South Fulton residents could see construction

projects headed their way.

Mike Vanairsdale,

assistant superintendent for support services, said the board is mulling

over a proposal to continue the sales tax for another five years. The

current SPLOST expires next June, and Vanairsdale said the system has

collected about $490 million for capital projects.

Current projections

show the school system growing by nearly 12,000 students in the next five

years. One of the interesting trends is the growth in South Fulton.

"For the

last few years, most of the new school construction has been in north

Fulton, because that's where the growth has been. But our projections

show new construction from this SPLOST would be evenly split," he

said.

School officials

said a continuation of the penny sales tax would build 10 new schools,

including two high schools and four middle schools.

Additionally,

the school system would do extensive renovation at all of its existing

schools.

Vanairsdale

said the school system also is contemplating adding administrative facilities,

but board members will ultimately decide what goes on the list.

If the board

decides to call for a referendum on continuing the SPLOST, it would probably

occur in March.

Board officials

will examine the proposal at the December meeting, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. at

the board offices, 786 Cleveland Ave.