IRVINE

The city’s five school district trustees said they will try to put another parcel tax measure on the ballot early next year if they hear enough demand from residents to do so.

“I would absolutely support trying it again,” said Trustee Karen Preston. “I don’t think we should go down without a fight. We have a lot at stake.”

Voters narrowly rejected the district’s attempt to introduce a flat $95 parcel tax last month, missing the required two-thirds majority by less than 1,000 votes. Irvine Unified School District trustees now face cutting up to $6 million from the budget and laying off more than 100 teachers. Class sizes will increase and Irvine’s extraordinary art, music and science programs are all but certain to be slashed.

The district could hold another election as early as April 11, when a regular municipal election is planned, according to the county registrar of voters.

Although district employees will have to be notified of potential layoffs by March 15, a final decision does not have to be made until May 15, district officials said.

Although all trustees said they would theoretically support another election, some voiced concern about the measure’s chances.

“I think we really tried and listened to the community,” said Trustee Margie Wakeham, adding that a new campaign would involve tremendous financial and emotional costs. “I’m just not convinced at this point that the outcome would be different. I do not want to make these cuts, and so I would love to find a way out if I could.”