The St. Joseph School Board will meet this evening at Central High School to discuss ongoing consolidation plans aimed at addressing a multi-million dollar budget shortfall.
After decades of declining enrollment, district administrators discovered the shortfall this summer and have proposed several options to recover financially. Those include the potential closure of either Benton High School or Lafayette High School, as well as additional building closures at the pre-K through eighth-grade levels.
The board could vote on a consolidation plan as soon as tonight, as the item appears on the meeting agenda.
Before the regular meeting, a public session will be held to hear comments on “Plan E,” a proposal created by St. Joseph schools coach Jeff Leake. Unlike other plans presented by administrators, Plan E would keep all three of the city’s high schools open.
The public hearing begins at 5:30 p.m. at Central High School’s gymnasium. The session will also be livestreamed on YouTube.