The worst-case scenarios for South Bay and Harbor Area schools were not pleasant. If the governor's $15 billion budget bailout didn't pass, campuses would have likely been forced to absorb bone-scraping cuts across the board.

And if the separate multibillion-dollar construction bond measure on Tuesday's ballot had failed, some planned construction and modernization projects would likely have been delayed, scaled back or scrapped altogether.

But local school districts were breathing a collective sigh of re-lief Wednesday, as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to refinance the state's debt -- better known as Propositions 57 and 58 -- was overwhelmingly endorsed by voters. And Proposition 55, which will provide $12.3 billion for new and upgraded school facilities, was also backed, albeit by a razor-slim 50.6 percent of the vote.

"It was extremely close," said Lennox schools Superintendent Bruce McDaniel, "but a victory is a victory. Was it Lyndon Johnson who said anything over a one-vote victory means you wasted a lot of time and effort?"

With the passage of Proposition 55, local districts stand to gain tens of millions of dollars to build new schools, renovate dilapidated campuses and equip classrooms with 21st century technology.

Lennox is set to receive about $30 million to develop a new campus for the Lennox Math, Science and Technology Academy, a charter high school that currently occupies the old Whelan Elementary site on 105th Street.

In addition, the district may get some additional Proposition 55 funds to help raze, rebuild and reopen Whelan by the fall of 2007. And some money may be earmarked for a planned expansion of Jefferson Elementary School.

But the facilities bond wasn't the only thing McDaniel and his counterparts across the state had to worry about Tuesday; they also had a keen interest in the governor's linked budget propositions.

Fearing their rejection would prompt Schwarzenegger to look for more cuts in education, the Lennox school chief said he came up with two budget plans -- one to cut $600,000 from next year's general fund if Propositions 57 and 58 passed, and one to slash $1.6 million if they didn't.

"We're very relieved we won't have to deal with the draconian option," he said.

Torrance Unified Superintendent Steven Fish said he also had two plans in place.

Had Schwarzenegger's propositions failed to win voter approval, he said, he would have recommended approximately $5 million in cuts before the 2004-05 school year. Now he'll propose a relatively modest $2 million reduction.

"I think everybody up and down the state probably had a Plan A and a Plan B," Fish said.

The Lawndale School District has trimmed about $1.5 million over the past two years in anticipation of leaner times, and it may have to slice off another $400,000, according to Superintendent Joe Condon.

If Propositions 57 and 58 had failed, however, Condon said the cuts would have been much deeper.

As for the facilities bond, Lawndale will now get about $5 million to convert Addams Elementary School into a much-needed middle school.

Condon said it was understandable that Proposition 55 "just squeaked by" considering the amount of borrowing on Tuesday's ballot.

"I'm thrilled that the public saw to it to support that," he said.

"As a citizen and a taxpayer, I understand the need for fiscal prudence."

Elsewhere in the South Bay, the Manhattan Beach Unified School District is in line for about $1 million from Proposition 55; the Redondo Beach district should get nearly $26 million to modernize a half-dozen elementary schools; El Segundo will get $160,000 to $180,000; and a spokeswoman for El Camino College said Wednesday that the Torrance-area campus will receive $8.2 million to expand and renovate its library.

The massive Los Angeles Unified School District is eligible for $1.45 billion in state funds as a result of Proposition 55's passage, but the LAUSD received an even bigger shot in the arm Tuesday night.

More than 63 percent of voters passed Measure R, the district's own $3.87 billion bond issue that will use property taxes to build 50 new schools, repair scores of older ones and provide funding for textbooks, charter schools and full-day kindergarten classes.

In LAUSD's District K, which includes campuses in Carson, Gardena, Harbor City, Harbor Gateway, Lomita, San Pedro and Wilmington, Measure R is expected to add 3,316 classroom seats.