A thorough public-education campaign helped push two school ballot measures over the top this week, organizers say.

“It was a real community effort taking the message forward,” said Dick Guise of Langley, one of the organizers along with Ted Brookes, a retired Navy captain from Langley.

“The people of South Whidbey came to the rescue of schools again, as they’ve done so often in the past,” Guise said.

Voters approved two replacement levies during Tuesday’s special election; one to pay for maintenance-and-operation costs and a second to fund new technology and needed repairs in South End schools.

According to the latest vote tally, the capital-and-technology levy was passing by 1,390 votes and a “yes” vote of 61.2 percent. The measure is passing, 3,787-2,397.

The district’s replacement maintenance-and-operations levy was in front by a bigger margin — 1,601 votes — and had an approval rate of 62.9 percent, 3,896 votes to 2,295.

Both measures needed a simple majority to pass.

Voter turnout in the 31 precincts that participated in the special election is estimated to be 54.7 percent. Voters in 20 South End precincts cast ballots.

The two-part school levy was approved in every precinct in the school district except one, Double Bluff, where it fell by one vote,

105-104, according to unofficial returns.

“This is really good news,” Leigh Anderson, school board chairwoman, said of the balloting results. “We’re very happy the voters have confidence in what we’re doing, and support us at a level to keep our programs running.”

“We were confident they would pass, but were worried it would be by a low margin because of the economic situation,” she added.

In fact, there’s a nearly 10-point drop in the latest victory margin compared with the last time the levies were approved, in 2006. Each segment of that two-part levy received more than 70 percent of the vote.

Guise blamed the economy.

“Our results this time were better than many other school districts,” he said. “During tough times, that speaks well of the district and the community. I find no negatives at all.”

The capital-improvement portion of the request will provide $700,000 for technology upgrades and $250,000 to cover roof repairs on two schools.

All together, the district asked voters to approve a three-year levy at a tax rate of $1.03 per $1,000 of assessed property value, a slight drop from the $1.06 tax rate that voters approved in 2006.

The new levy will cost the owner of a $300,000 home about $309 per year.

On the ballot, the levy was in two parts.

The district asked for 20 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation to provide for upgrades in technology and to cover roof repairs.

The second request was to pay for maintenance and operations not fully funded by the state, including salaries, food service, utilities and transportation.

In the first year, the second amount is 83 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, or $3.9 million — the same as in 2009.

As for Tuesday’s levy victory, Guise praised volunteer supporters of the proposal, who sent speakers to nearly every community service organization and faith group in the district.

He said school employee Brian Miller paid out of his own pocket for a voter list, and John Long of Langley organized a phone bank, which included more than 20 South Whidbey High School students recruited by fellow student Kip Hacking of Langley.

“The students stepped up and delivered,” Guise said. “It was exciting to see.”

Mike Johnson, the district’s executive director of teaching and learning, and his brother Dave, a local contractor, were in charge of putting out signs urging a “yes” vote, Guise said, and Anderson set up a Web site devoted to the campaign.

“It was such a broad-based effort,” Guise said. “The community just rose to the occasion.”