The Evanston/Skokie District 65 school board will hold its final discussions on the 2002-03 budget tonight before it votes on the much-debated resolution on March 18.

At tonight’s meeting, the school board will debate making adjustments to several school programs, including cuts in special education and an increase in class sizes.

D65 faces a deficit of about $3.5 million this year and a projected $2.4 million deficit for the 2002-03 fiscal year.

“By all indications, we’re going to stay with the $3.7 million cut,” school board member Greg Klaiber said. “We’re now debating exactly what items to add up to that amount.”

The budget was drawn up in November. New resolutions may be introduced at the meeting, said John Chatz, another board member.

He would not comment on specific new resolutions.

“There may be a moving around of funds,” Chatz said.

The cuts to special education also may be revised, he said.

About 20 Evanston residents are scheduled to speak at the public session meeting in protest of the proposed cuts, but “there’s nothing which we haven’t already heard,” Klaiber said.

The school board will also discuss the proposed auction of the current D65 administration building, 1314 Ridge Ave., on May 8.

The resolution would require that the buyer return the property to Evanston’s tax rolls, which prevents many of the city’s nonprofit organizations from purchasing the property.

“We’ll be setting a minimum dollar amount, but we’re hoping to fetch a top dollar price on the property,” Klaiber said.

The minimum price for the property will be decided by the school board and auctioneer Steven Good of Sheldon Good & Company, Klaiber said.

The school board meeting will be held tonight at 8p.m., at the King Lab School library, 2424 Lake St.