Argyle school officials are considering options that could allow the school board to approve a balanced budget for the 2009-10 year.

Last week, administrators presented trustees with a preliminary budget that showed a $0 deficit. Telena Wright, district superintendent, said the part of the plan would cut or absorb district positions.

“Nobody was laid off but we cut positions,” she said. “If someone retired [or resigned] … we were filling those positions within the district as much as possible.”

By eliminating positions through retirement and attrition, several hundred thousand dollars can be saved, she said.

The district has also changed how utilities are managed at Hilltop Elementary School, which will save about $194,000.

Wright said the district could also save $90,000 because of a better rate on its bank depository. She said she also cut budgets for counselor and teacher travel, which will result in a savings of $12,000 for the district.

Because of the suggested budget cuts, Argyle school board members decided unanimously to remove limited open enrollment from their agenda May 18 and to no longer consider it as an option for the 2009-10 school year.

In March, limited open enrollment was presented to the board as a way to generate district revenue. It would have reduced a deficit, which at the time district administrators projected to be at $722,000 next school year.

District administrators had said Argyle would face a deficit if enrollment did not increase by more than 50 to 100 students for 2009-10. In addition, they offered options of areas where they could cut the budget.

By making cuts to a preliminary budget May 18, trustees said they no longer felt they needed to consider open enrollment.

“At this time it wasn’t deemed necessary,” said board President Debbie Cantrell. “The board made it pretty clear at the last budget meeting that yes, we need to look at options. It does not look as if this would be a necessary option that we would need to pursue.”

Cantrell said the district could consider open enrollment if needed in the future.

Wright said that in addition to cutting back on staffing and other programs, the district is also considering ways to generate revenue for the next school year.

Board members approved increasing the student activity fee from $25 to $75. The fee is paid by students who participate in University Interscholastic League competition.

Wright said the school board is also considering charging Argyle Youth Sports for using district athlete facilities. If approved, Wright said, the district could see additional annual revenue of $12,000.

Wright said the district will also be follow House Bill 3646, written by state Rep. Scott  Hochberg, D-Houston, which would make changes to the finance system for public schools. If the bill passes, districts such as Argyle could see an increase in annual state funding of at least $100 per student.

Wright said the district will continue to watch how the bill progresses because it will determine the amount of state funding Argyle receives and it could impact how administrators build the 2009-10 budget. The bill has passed through the House and is in committee in the Senate. The 81st Texas Legislature will come to a close June 1.

“Until we know exactly what the Legislature does, we’re not going to know exactly what we can do,” Wright said. “At this point, we don’t know, but by June 1, we should know how much money we should [receive].”

BRITNEY TABOR can be reached at 940-566-6876. Her e-mail address is btabor@dentonrc.com.