ELECTION 2004

• Bush prevails at polls • What to watch for this term ONLINE EXTRAS • Photo gallery: Celebration and concession • Tell us what you think of the election • Watch Bush's acceptance speech • Watch Kerry's concession speech • George W. Bush's victory speech • John Kerry's concession speech • County by county interactive map • Election 2004 section OHIO • Election fuss gave Blackwell a boost • Intense 2008 election forecast for Ohio • All those visits to SW Ohio paid off for the president • Voters look to the future • Ohio seeks vote answers • Academic gains helped levy win, but Cincinnati must cut • Democrats now occupy three posts in county • 5 Hamilton County school districts passed tax levies • Lakota cuts; Fairfield restores • Warren vote count was slow, others OK • Once and future prosecutor promises he'll clean up office KENTUCKY • Despite some long lines, voting was mostly smooth • Kids vote just like adults • Republicans bask in victory • Pro-Kerry homework irks Mom

Cincinnati, Finneytown, Reading and Sycamore schools also landed in the winning column in Hamilton County. Levies failed in Deer Park, Northwest and Three Rivers.

In all, nine of the 19 local school issues on Tuesday's ballot passed, including Fairfield, site of the most contentious levy campaign. The passage rate for the 286 school issues statewide was 50 percent.Local school officials attributed their wins to effective grass-roots campaign committees, voter turnout, budget cuts and academic improvements.

"It really helped that our proficiency scores are up, considerably," said John Pennycuff, president of the Winton Woods Board of Education. "People are feeling the district is moving in the right direction."

Winton Woods won on its third attempt this year, 7,296 to 6,554. The district had lowered its request by 1 mill to a 7.95-mill combination levy request. To do that, the board committed to cutting 16 staff positions and deferring some maintenance in fiscal year 2006. Besides restoring high school busing, the district will implement the highest priorities in its strategic plan, including online grade books so parents can check their children's progress.

Among the other districts:

• Deer Park lost its 8.63-mill combination levy, 3,334 to 3,066. The board is considering its options, which could include $500,000 to $1 million in budget cuts for 2005-06.

• Finneytown passed a 7.95-mill operating levy, 3,338 to 3,197. The district has trimmed about $1 million over the last two years and promised to make an additional $400,000 in cuts, even if the levy passed.

• Northwest saw its combined 5.75-mill levy go down, 20,897 to 17,055.

"We are disappointed, but we understand the community has spoken and that we need to take a long look at what we're doing to address the situation," board Vice President Jim Lay said.

The district is considering asking voters again for more money, possibly in May.

• Reading's 6.9-mill continuing operating levy was approved, 2,979 to 2,614.

While Superintendent Scott Inskeep is happy the levy won, he said the district needs to be respectful that 47 percent of the electorate voted "no."

The district lost its levy in March, made $600,000 in cuts and reduced the Nov. 2 levy from 8.5 mills to 6.9 mills. Had the levy failed, another $800,000 would have been cut.

• Sycamore passed its levy on its second attempt, 9,915 to 9,157. The district reduced its levy from 7.9 mills to 5.5, for five years.

Superintendent Karen Mantia said she saw the levy approval Tuesday as the community's "vote of faith." to continue Sycamore's reputation for excellence while keeping spending in check.

Even with the levy passage, the district has a plan in place to trim $2.2 million and 34 positions next school year, after already cutting $6.1 million and 88 jobs.

• Three Rivers reduced its levy request from 12 mills in March to a 5.95-mill, five-year operating levy, but the issue was rejected decisively, 4,898 to 2,948.

"I'm really disappointed," Superintendent Rhonda Bohannon said. "At this point, we're going to have to reassess where the district is and where we want to take it."The school board meets Nov. 15 to discuss its options.

Sheila McLaughlin and Liz Oakes contributed to this report. E-mail ckranz@enquirer.com