Due to multi-million dollar budget shortfall, Lafayette Parish School Board Superintendent Burnell Lejeune says they are considering closing or consolidating one of the parish’s schools.

The board is facing a 15-million dollar budget shortfall next year. LeJeune said this option is in the very early stages and they are looking at three or four more options to decrease the budget. They have not made an official recommendation to the board but the board is aware of the possible merger. He said the budget may be balanced for this school year without the consolidation but it will definitely be an option for the 2016-2017 school year.

“I would prefer that we look into all of the other inventory listings first, before we focus on this. In the long term I think this would be a wise thing for the Lafayette Parish School System.” said Lejeune.

LeJeune says he’s spoken with one principal about the advantages and disadvantages of consolidation at his particular school. However, he says they have not decided which school will be closed or consolidated.

LeJeune says the board will begin holding budget workshops in April.