By Cheryl Schweizer
Chronicle correspondent

     BRIDGEPORT - School district officials want to know what people think before they make any decisions on a February maintenance and operations levy request.
     The current levy, which will expire in 2010, is set at $120,000 per year.
     Superintendent Scott Sattler said the district has some important maintenance issues. The Legislature, facing more budget problems in 2010, will make some cuts in the levy equalization program.
     Levy equalization provides additional money to districts with low property values.
     School board members are considering an increase in the levy request to $140,000-$160,000. District property owners would pay about $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property valuation for the levy, plus another 50 cents per $1,000 for the school construction bond approved in 2008.
     For the owner of property valued at $100,000, the total bill for a year would be $200.
     Sattler said board members want to keep the total assessment on property owners to about $2 per $1,000 of assessed value.
     But that’s a lot of money in a bumpy economy, so board members and district officials want to know what district residents think before they determine an amount.
     Comments can be made to Sattler at the district office or to any board member.
     A decision is expected at the Nov. 23 board meeting or in early December, Sattler said.
     In other business, want to know from district residents whether the existing school shop should be kept and put to other uses, if that’s feasible.
     Plans were to demolish the old shop when a new one is completed in spring 2011.
     The old shop will be inadequate for classroom space, but district officials are thinking of remodeling it for storage, Sattler said.
     The new shop is proposed for an area occupied by an outdoor basketball court donated by former Bridgeport residents, but district officials want to know what residents think.
     The basketball court would be moved.