On Nov. 2, residents in the district narrowly passed Measure M, a parcel tax designed to help the district deal with the effects of continuing state budget cuts.

Passing the measure required a supermajority, or 66.6 percent, of the vote. It just eked by with 67.14 percent.

"It looks like a squeaker," said Gail Long, a Boynton High School teacher who spearheaded the Yes on M campaign. "But anything over 66.6 was a win for us."

Now that the measure has passed, a five-year, $85-a-year parcel tax will be levied on property owners in the district. Seniors 65 and older will be able to apply for an exemption.

Although the measure means more taxes, Long said, she was sure the voters would vote to pass it. More than 1,300 yard signs were posted throughout the district, and a small army of 130 campaign volunteers kept the issue in the public's eyes.

"I think everyone understood the issue," she said. "And I felt that we were fairly priced. I also heard that many people liked the senior exemption."

The parcel tax is expected to raise $3.4 million over five years, and the monies will be used to restore funding cut by the state government. The tax revenue will be used to reduce class size; retain qualified teachers; restore and expand offerings in science, mathematics, English, Advanced Placement, music, foreign language and other classes; and improve academics and safety. It will also prevent the district from imposing a six-period cap; seventh period was slated for elimination during the 2004­05 school year, but saved through a $200,000 last-minute fundraising effort.

Nonetheless, she said she was a bit disappointed that more people didn't vote for the measure.

Long said she was stunned by the imbalance in the way people voted on Nov. 2: about 20,000 more people voted for the school board candidates than for Measure M.

Because the ballot this year was so thick, Long thinks most of those voters had a case of "ballot fatigue."

"We were at the end of the ballot," she said.