LAFAYETTE, La. (The Daily Advertiser) – The Lafayette Parish School System is considering opening its own charter school, perhaps in fall 2017.

The school would be similar to Lafayette Charter High, which was open from August 1998 to June 2012.

According to school board documents, the school would be for students “who are not successful in a traditional diploma pathway,” especially those who are at risk of dropping out.

Its services would include night classes, academic remediation, self-paced lessons, coordination with the Career Center for industry-based certifications, developing soft skills for future employment, child care, counseling and social services.

The board will discuss the possibility at a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. In addition, it will consider charter applications from two other operators – Athlos Academies and Jefferson Chamber Foundation Academies.

Evaluators Toby Daspit and Micah Bruce-Davis, who are not affiliated with the school system, have recommended the board deny Athlos’ application and approve JCFA’s application for one school to open in 2017.

In their evaluations, Daspit and Bruce-Davis said Athlos has not presented enough evidence that its model could reduce dropout rates or serve a substantial at-risk population.

Meanwhile, JCFA could address “a critical need by filling a gap in services for LPSS’ at-risk population,” the evaluators wrote. The operator has a flexible scheduling model and frequent reviews with new students that would work well, they wrote.

The board will have a final vote on the two applications at its regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. At that same meeting, they are expected to decide what changes, if any, to make to Lafayette High to reduce its student enrollment.

Some options for Lafayette High include moving its health careers and/or performing arts academy to Comeaux High, moving some gifted services to Comeaux or changing Lafayette High’s attendance zone.

District officials have said any of those changes could alleviate perceived overcrowding at Lafayette High, which has about 2,500 students. It could also fill space at Comeaux, which will have several empty classrooms beginning in 2017, when Southside High opens.

Many Lafayette High students and teachers have spoken against the proposed changes, saying they would have a negative effect on the culture, success and atmosphere at the school.

The board also is expected to approve the 2016-17 budget at a special meeting at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. The budget is likely to include some personnel cuts to help close a $10.4 million deficit.