A promise of federal stimulus dollars likely will spare eight teachers and four elementary school librarians from budget cuts, Longview school officials announced Monday.

Instead of cutting 29 teachers and eight librarians, as outlined last month, the district now expects to cut 21 teachers and four librarians.

The positions will be spared because the district is expecting to get $775,000 in federal stimulus money, Superintendent Suzanne Cusick said. School officials emphasized, though, that the exact amount of the stimulus is uncertain, as is the amount of state school funding the district will get.

Although earmarked for special education and other specific programs, the federal stimulus dollars can free up other funds to be used for basic education, Cusick said. The district expects to get stimulus money for two years, she added.

The money adds a much needed boost to what still is a grim budget outlook, Cusick said in an interview Monday afternoon.

“Any time we can save more teachers and have more teachers in classrooms it is better for kids. Class sizes aren’t increasing as much,” she said.

The Longview School Board formally adopted the teacher/librarian cuts Monday night, although specific positions have yet to be determined.

“It’s a sad thing to see good teachers not be a part of the this district,” board member Jerry Stinger said.

The district will lay off four administrators, as it had proposed earlier. Those positions will save the district $540,000.

The board also discussed Cusick’s recommendation, presented Monday, to adopt a pay-to-play policy for “C” squad high school sports and middle school sports. However, the board postponed further discussion on that suggestion until its April 27 meeting. Board members said they want more information before adopting a pay-to-play program — intended to save high school “C” squad sports and potentially middle school sports.

Fees could range from $50 to $100 at the middle school level. At the high school, it could range from a $125 flat fee per sport to $160 for three seasons.

The district is still considering Cusick’s proposal to change middle school sports to intramural level programs. Corporate sponsorships and community donations could be solicited by the district if it implements a pay-to-play system to help students unable to pay the fees, officials said.

There was strong public support for retaining middle school and “C” squad sports during public budget workshops the board hosted during the past month. Board members said they want to approach it with caution.

“This is what the public is really concerned about and we need to try and make sure we do it right,” board member Barb Westrick said.

The district is having to close a $5.1 million budget gap for the 2009-10 school year caused by declining enrollment and weakened state support for schools. The Legislature is trying to fill an $8.5 billion budget gap. School funding takes the lion’s share of the state budget.

The reductions discussed Monday are the first of two budget cut phases. A second phase of trimmings, scheduled for April 13, will address classified positions — such as janitors, classroom aides and secretaries — and other programs.

Though official state revenue numbers won’t arrive until later this spring, Cusick asked the board to consider teacher cuts Monday. Teachers must be formally notified by May 15th of layoffs, and the district needs time to prepare the notices, Cusick said. Informal notices will be announced to teachers this week if their positions will be eliminated.

“It’s only fair. There’s so much anxiety within the system,” Cusick said about the looming cuts.

The district’s proposed 2009-10 budget proposal is contingent on teacher and classified staff contract negotiations expected to start this spring. The budget now includes step increases but no cost of living increases. Administrators already have agreed to forgo any pay raises next year.

Changing budget

Summary of Longview School District budget changes since Feb. 25:

• Eliminates 5 elementary teachers instead of 9

• Cuts 3 high school teachers instead of 7

• Trims four elementary school librarians instead of 8 (it’s unclear how librarian hours will be dispersed)

• Cuts 1.25 districtwide nurse positions instead of 4.25

• School board also agreed to cut 4 administrative positions: special education director, director of assessment, technology manager and facilities manager.

Related articles:

Longview schools forum provide new ideas, but no easy answers  (March 7)

Dozens ask Longview School Board to show sports, library mercy  (March 3)

Longview schools chief lays out cuts  (Feb. 25)

Longview schools' proposed cuts  (Feb. 25)

Editor's note: A previous version of this story incorrectly reported that the board voted to reduce districtwide nurses by 3 positions, not 1.25 positions. Also, the board plans to discuss participation and pay-to-play fees at its April 27 meeting, not April 13.