The Longview School Board on Monday approved its second and final round of budget cuts, this time slicing non-teacher positions from the 2009-10 budget. The cuts include five custodians, five secretary positions and 13.5 paraeducators.

The school district expects a drop of $5.1 million next year in revenue next year largely due to the $9 billion state budget deficit and an enrollment decline of about 125 students.

Budget cuts from Monday and the board’s March 23 meeting — at which 21 teachers and four elementary librarians were cut — total $5.4 million.

The extra $300,000 cut from the district provides the district with “wiggle room” in case the state cuts school funding even more, Longview Schools Spokeswoman Sandy Catt said Monday.

If possible, the extra money could be used to hire back staff, said Longview Schools Superintendent Suzanne Cusick.

“Then our first priority is to get more people in the classroom,” Cusick said.

The board postponed a decision to eliminate the fifth-grade orchestra, which would have saved the district $55,000.

The district also is modifying bus routes to save money and reducing paid crossing-guard coverage by about half. Volunteers will be used to cover additional crossing guard duties, according to the budget proposal.

A proposal to charge middle and high school students is worked into the district’s budget cut proposal, though Longview School Board won’t vote on the matter until June. The money generated by the fees would fund high school “C” squad, sports, water polo and middle school sports — which could otherwise face cuts in the coming months.

Longview School District Cuts

Teachers

• Elementary: 8

• Secondary: 13

• Elementary librarians: 4

Non-teachers

• Nurses: 1.25

• Secretaries: 5

• Custodians: 5

• Teacher aides (paraeducators): 13.5

• Bus drivers: 1.5

• Technology specialists: 4

Administration

• Administrators: 4

(Special education director, assessment director, technology manager, facilities manager)

Programs

• Fifth-grade orchestra may be in jeopardy (may make it pay to play)

• Replace third-grade swim program with optional summer swim program that charges students to participate.

• Implement a pay-to-play policy for high school and middle school sports OR cut high schools’ C-squad and water polo teams (to be decided in June)