Three Worthington eighth-graders have been accepted at the Metro High School for next year, but they should not start making plans just yet.

The Worthington Board of Education may not be willing to foot the bill.

The Board on Monday tabled a resolution making Worthington students eligible to the new science and math school scheduled to open next fall on the campus of Ohio State University.

With the backing of the university and Battelle, the high school will offer an innovative program that focuses on small classes and experiential learning for students interested in math, science, and technology.

It will be operated by the Educational Council -- made up of representatives of all 16 school districts in central Ohio -- and open to a limited number of students from each district.

It was supposed to be free to students -- but it won't be free to school districts.

In fact, it will cost districts approximately $6,000 for each student they send. That includes the approximately $5,600 in state funds the district receives per student annually, plus money for transportation.

And that, in a district where money is tight and enrollment declining, may be too much.

"If they want to get into the pockets of this school district, I am not going to vote for it," board member Robert Horton said on Monday.

He even voted against tabling the resolution.

Three board members had attended meetings with Metro School officials and seemed ready to vote.

But David Bressman said he had not had time to talk with the representatives, and he was having some of the same doubts Horton expressed.

"I have a lot of questions about what benefits this program will have for our district," Bressman said.

Board member Marc Schare encouraged the board to approve the resolution, since it does not commit the board to pay for the program.

Once the resolution is passed, the Metro School representatives could discuss finances with the board, he said.

After the meeting, Worthington administrator Jennifer Wene said the Metro School could offer Worthington students two things they cannot receive in Worthington -- a small learning environment and the partnership with OSU and Battelle.

As Worthington continues to work on redesigning its own high schools, the Metro School could also provide a model of how high schools can work to prepare students for the future, she said.

She said that five Worthington students applied for a spot in the new school, and three were accepted.

Metro students would continue to be enrolled in their home districts and could take part in extracurricular activities at their assigned high schools.

The school will be located in the research park adjacent to Ohio State on Kenny Road.

Ninth- and 10th-graders would attend the Metro School full time, with juniors and seniors able to return to their home schools to take elective courses.

The school will open to 100 ninth graders next fall, with a grade added yearly through 2009.