La Joya, TX (KRGV) — A new facilities assessment found La Joya ISD uses less than 60% of its school space and needs more than $160 million in repairs as district leaders consider more campus consolidations or closures.

The district already consolidated five campuses this school year. District leaders say La Joya ISD has space for more than 40,000 students but enrolls fewer than 20,000, leaving it to pay to heat, cool and maintain buildings that are not full. 

"That means that you've got 40%, or four out of 10 classrooms, that are empty on average in most of our schools. Some schools were much lower than that, even getting into the 30s," La Joya ISD Deputy Superintendent Derek Little said.

The repair needs include roofs, air conditioning systems and plumbing.

The district lost nearly 8,000 students over the last decade, and last school year it lost about $6 million in state funding because of the drop. 

"So we now have an enrollment projection out to 2035, which would put the district at about 16,000 students," Little said. "And we'll be talking to the community about what that may mean in terms of future school footprints or whether we have to look at more consolidations or school closures."

Little said the district is reviewing the data before more public conversations with the board as the fall semester ends. The district plans to begin a long-term plan for its buildings next year and expects to announce dates for community meetings for families and staff in the coming weeks.

No additional school closures have been announced.

Watch the video above for the full story.