Voters in the Troy School District reversed course and approved a supplemental levy Tuesday, while Kamiah voters rejected a levy proposal by the same margin as last time.

Of 852 votes cast in the Troy district, 621 - nearly 73 percent - were in favor of the $995,000 levy.

About 61 percent of voters in Kamiah rejected a $325,000 levy there, with 394 voters in favor and 619 opposed to the measure. Tuesday's vote saw 371 more voters than turned out in May, when the same percentage of voters opposed the same $325,000 proposal.

Upon word that Troy's levy had been approved, coach Rob Bafus gathered his Trojan football players for the first official practice of the season.

"It's time to restore some pride in our community, and that starts tonight with our football team," Bafus said.

Athletics was among the programs cut after previous levy failures. Now, with the levy in place, sports will be reinstated, along with K-12 counselor and librarian positions, four elementary teacher positions, physical education classes, full-day kindergarten, a part-time music position, agriculture and business education programs, honor society and student council.

"My heart about stopped," Troy Superintendent Christy Castro said after hearing the levy results. "It seems like there's going to be some healing in the division of this community. That's what it feels like with that 73 percent."

In March, Troy's $1.3 million levy attempt was opposed by about 65 percent of voters, and a $1.2 million attempt in May saw opposition from about 56 percent.

Supplemental levies require a simple majority to pass.

When cuts were made after May's levy failure, 14 positions were affected, Castro said, both from full-time jobs reduced to part time and positions eliminated altogether. Though it was not clear when the jobs were eliminated how many of those teachers would remain by August, Castro said Tuesday that most of the teachers waited for the levy and will resume their roles for the school year. Job postings were listed last week for a few vacant positions, she said, and interviews will be conducted "right away."

School is scheduled to start Sept. 9.

"I'm just so excited for the children, for the students, that they'll be coming into the school year with a full program ahead of them," Castro said.

Opponents of the previous levies in Troy expressed frustration about how the district prioritized its budget and what they described as a lack of communication. Castro cited improved communication as a key component in changing the levy's outcome this time.

"I think the communication on behalf of the board and the community was a tremendous vehicle in the success of the levy," Castro said. "I believe that the community saw that the need was there, and the community wants what's best for the students."

Lowering the amount the district was seeking also helped, she said.

With an estimated rate of $7.43 per $1,000 of assessed value, Troy's one-year levy will cost the owner of a home with a taxable value of $100,000 about $743.

In Kamiah, an estimated rate of $1.60 per $1,000, would have cost the owner of a home with a taxable value of $100,000 about $160 for the one-year levy.

Kamiah levy proponents cited low turnout during the May election as a reason to try again. Despite wildfires still burning that destroyed dozens of homes in the Kamiah area earlier this month, turnout increased Tuesday. But the percentage of voters opposed to the measure remained the same.

The Kamiah district had absorbed the loss of its levy without cutting programs, Superintendent Fred Mercer said last week, but restoring levy funds would have helped it improve technology, stay competitive with neighboring districts and fill vacant positions. Mercer said he would not be available Tuesday night to comment on the results.

---

Stone may be contacted at mstone@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2244. Follow her on Twitter @MarysSchoolNews.