KELLOGG - The two-year, $2.78 million levy for Kellogg Joint School District 391 passed Tuesday.

There were a total of 1,079 votes in favor the levy, passing it through by 61.27 percent.

"We're pleased it did much more than barely pass," Superintendent Sandra Pommerening said.

More than 1,700 people turned out for the election between noon and 7 p.m. at the four open polling sites - Canyon Elementary, Pinehurst Elementary, Sunnyside Elementary and Smelterville City Hall - where all places posted votes to pass the levy.

Voter participation spiked to 47.6 percent, nearly double the 24.6 percent turnout for a March levy vote.

"We had a good representation of our community," Pommerening said of the election turnout.

Ballots were tallied at closing and then submitted to the school board district office for recount and verification.

The programs and positions that had been previously in danger of reduction are now viable for the district to maintain, Pommerening said.

"We're excited for our kids," she said.

Pommerening expressed thanks to all who exercised their rights for voting, and to those who showed support for the district.

Last month, voters rejected a $3.26 million supplemental, two-year levy, with 58.7 percent of voters against the proposal.

That result prompted district officials to trim programs and personnel from its budget to account for a reduction in state funding.

Cuts included alternative school and staff; reductions in staffing for kindergarten, elementary and secondary school; technology and textbook purchases; and activities such as baseball, softball, soccer, wrestling, cross country and cheerleading.