The Evanston/Skokie School District 65 school board adopted the 2002-2003 budget at its meeting Monday and continued discussions on a potential Fifth Ward school.

After the grudging approval of last year’s unbalanced budget, the board adopted a $76.1 million operating budget that has a $2.2 million surplus.

The decision capped a budget process that started earlier than usual this year in order to avoid the $1.5 million deficit attached to last year’s budget. The district proposed several cuts in the spring Every board member present voted for the budget Monday night except for Mary Rita Luecke, who abstained. Luecke said she had mixed feelings about how the budget turned out after the long formulation process, and she decided not to vote for or against it.

“I think the budget is in line with what the board voted to do, but I still have problems with some of the decisions (it made),” she said.

The operating budget Though belt-tightening helped improve the budget situation, the result would have been a $655,000 deficit if not for two one-time payments the board anticipates receiving.

The district will receive a $1.9 million state matching grant related to the construction of the new education center and $955,000 in state funds that are overdue from last year.

The board also discussed a task force’s recommended timeline for public discussion of a proposed Fifth Ward school. In January, a district strategic plan urged the creation of a school there to ease the effects of busing on the majority-black Fifth Ward.

District integration guidelines currently allow no more than 60 percent representation of a single racial group at any school. This has resulted in the busing of students to schools outside their neighborhoods to maintain racial balance.

The Fifth Ward, located in north-central Evanston, is the only city ward without a school in it Mamie Smith, who spoke during the citizen comment period, urged board members to have the courage to “stand with something you know is right.”

She said, “We’re basically dealing with a decision of fairness.”

The task force, which includes Superintendent Hardy Ray Murphy and several board members, will release its feasibility report on the Fifth Ward school and the racial balance guideline at the board meeting Oct. 7. The meeting will be devoted solely to discussion of the report.

The board also will host two community meetings to hear public comment on the issue After the community meetings, the board will continue to discuss the issue. The tentative date for a final decision is Nov. 18.

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Anticipated grant money helps board vote on annual budget without trouble