LOUISVILLE. Ky. (WDRB) -- Kentucky's largest school district is considering downsizing as it struggles with a budget deficit that could lead to the closure of some schools. 

Jefferson County Public Schools spokesperson Carolyn Callahan confirmed in an email that its "operations team has put together a draft list. If closures or consolidations are proven necessary and appropriate, we will share that recommendation with the public before presenting it to the school board."

Board member Taylor Everett, who represents District 7, said closing some schools has already been discussed in a video interview with WDRB News on Nov. 12. 

"I can be upfront that it's definitely been talked about to the board members that they have been thinking about doing this as far as the budget consolidation," Everett said. "So it's definitely something that's being discussed. I would be surprised if there are not some schools suggested at the end of the day to be closed, but I don't have, like, a final list that hasn't been released, or anything like that."

Everett listed some of the criteria that could lead to a school being closed. 

"Every one (school) that we're looking at are the ones that are the most underutilized right now, as far as population goes, combined with where the population is moving, which is out east and towards the south," he said. 

Everett added that the age and condition of school buildings will also factor into their decision. He also said the district was considering closing some schools before the financial crisis came to light. Nearly 30 schools are currently over capacity, while more than 20 are less than 60% full, according to previous WDRB reporting. 

Western High School has space for more than 1,400 students with only 400 enrolled. McFerran Preparatory Academy is around 40% full, and Maupin, Shelby Academy, Coleridge-Taylor, and Zachary Taylor are all less than half full. The table below lists the number of students attending JCPS schools: 

The vacancies could put those schools on the short list for closure, especially if the buildings are old and in need of substantial maintenance. 

"First and foremost is, what is the actual population limit of a school? Everett said. "Can it hold 1,000 people and then do we only have 400 students in it? That's the first and foremost thing. If that is happening, then we are going to look seriously at that situation to see: are we doing the best by the community by keeping that school open? Second, is going to be the age of the building, right? Is it old? Is it not worth putting the renovations in so at the end of the day, we're going to have to either demolish it or do something anyway."

He said it won't be easy to close some schools when other schools are too far away for students to transfer to. 

"We cannot make kids go on a bus for two hours," Everett said. "We can't make people that drive their kids to school not have any options that are close to their house."

Everett acknowledged that there will naturally be pushback from some in the community if their school is among those chosen for closure, and he said input from the community will also be considered in any decision. 

He also said he's in favor of closing schools that meet the above criteria. 

Other steps the district is taking include cutting some administrative positions and unnecessary vendors. "We are absolutely going to reduce central office," Everett said. "We are reducing the central office. And we are also looking at outside contracts with vendors and like, are we getting the return on investment, or are we not? And if we aren't, then we aren't going to keep paying these outside companies to do these things."

Everett said some of the central office employees would be shifted to schools that have openings "because we still have somewhere around three to 400 openings in our school buildings."

More JCPS Coverage:

Parents at Echo Trail Middle School accuse JCPS of hiding plan to change boundaries

New database shows hundreds of weapons seized at Louisville schools in the last year

New JCPS middle school already overcrowded as proposed boundary change sparks pushback

Unseen interview with former JCPS superintendent raises questions about district's budget crisis

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