As New Orleans’ only traditional public school struggles with low enrollment and a growing deficit, school district leaders face an agonizing decision: Close the Leah Chase School or make deep cuts, including more than a dozen layoffs, officials said Tuesday.

If the Orleans Parish School Board decides to keep running the school, which opened last year, the district will need to lay off at least 15 central office employees and slash some district-wide programs to keep the school afloat, NOLA Public Schools Superintendent Fateama Fulmore told the board.

School Board President Katie Baudouin said board members should consider closing the school unless they are willing to make significant cuts to the district budget.

The school board voted unanimously last year to replace a low-performing

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