Longview School District is cutting two custodians, a technology specialist and campus security officer to balance this year’s budget, which expires in August.

Projections showed the district was on track to overspend by $360,000 due to higher than anticipated staff salary and benefit costs, Superintendent Suzanne Cusick said Wednesday.

The affected employees are aware of the cuts and will work through February, Cusick said.

The cuts are in addition to $2.4 million already cut from the budget last summer. Those cuts were prompted by an enrollment drop, state mandated cost-of-living raises for employees and an increase in costs for fuel, utilities and supplies.

In addition to cutting four positions, the district also is not filling a vacant journeyman and custodian position.

Overtime pay is being suspended, non-classroom substitutes are being cut, and travel beyond 75 miles is frozen for the year, Cusick said.

In all, the cuts total around $340,000. The difference will come out of reserves or from additional supply cuts, she said.

“It’s possible we could reduce the amount of supplies being purchased,” Cusick said.

Cusick said she’s trying to avoid cuts to student learning. The district, she said, is trying to “keep the impact as far way from classrooms as possible.”

Still, the district is bracing for larger budget cuts next year due to the state’s $5.8 billion deficit for the next two years. Teaching positions as well as aides and administrative positions are all being examined for possible staff reductions, Cusick previously stated.

Projections presented to the Longview School Board on Monday indicate the district will lose about $4.4 million next year.

“I think everyone knows we are in for one heck of a challenging budget year,” said School Board President Ted Thomas.