With just a week remaining before Tuesday's general election, school officials implored Brookfield and Masury residents to pass an operating levy.

"Promises kept" was the theme of Monday's meeting; it was chosen because the last operating levy for Brookfield schools was placed on the ballot in 1995 and the board promised it wouldn't ask for more operating money until 2000, said Joanne Sydlowski, board president.

"We kept our promise," she said. "We are only here for the children of this district."

The school board maintains the 4-mill, 5-year levy is crucial because the district has lost revenue due to declining enrollment, state budget cuts, lower personal property taxes and the transfer of state funding to community schools, while the cost of running the district has increased.

Among the residents' concerns were what programs would be cut, should the levy fail. They also wanted to know if the curriculum would change and if the district has plans in place to stop declining enrollment.