Carroll school officials postponed yesterday making a decision on whether to move toward offering Air Force Junior ROTC to county high school students, saying they saw no need to press ahead on a program that cannot be established any sooner than the fall of 2004.

The school board had been scheduled to vote yesterday on a proposal to lay the groundwork for Air Force Junior ROTC by adding the program to the county high school curriculum.

But Superintendent Charles I. Ecker withdrew the proposal from the board's agenda.

"It's certainly not dead," Ecker said, describing it as "a program that provides a lot of benefits." But, he added, "It will be four months to a year before we talk about it again."

School board member Thomas G. Hiltz, a Naval Academy graduate and Naval Reserve commander, said he and his colleagues wanted to take the time to further study the issue.

"There's no sense of urgency at this point," he said. "We are waiting to get some additional information and the budget implications of the program."

The Air Force has sent letters to Winters Mill and Century high schools, which applied for ROTC programs, stating that it won't expand its programs during the next school year.

At those high schools - which have academies that function like a school or college within a large university - interest in the program remains high.

"When you look at the JROTC program, they tie directly into the academy philosophy," said Andrew Cockley, principal at Century. "It's another avenue for preparing students for life after high school."

School officials were impressed with the math, science and technology courses that come with the program. Aviation history, engineering, the science of flight and exploration of space are among the courses offered.

"It does more than put a kid into a uniform," Cockley said. "It provides the coursework."

Leadership classes teach students about Air Force customs and courtesies, communication skills and management.

"I look at it as another option for kids," Winters Mill Principal Sherri-Le W. Bream said. "The more options we can put out there for kids and the more they've involved in school activities, the better they tend to do academically."

She said a survey conducted by school officials two years ago showed a significant interest in a Junior ROTC program, with 50 students out of 585 indicating they'd be open to joining such a program if it was offered at Winters Mill.

Bream had been looking for the board to vote last night to know whether she could move ahead with planning for the program.

If they approve the program for the high school curriculum, school board members would put their support behind classes which fit with the Junior ROTC's four-year program of academics and leadership training. That move would also allow county schools to be ready if a spot opens.

There are 18 Air Force Junior ROTC programs throughout the state.

The board, in essence, gave its informal approval for the program this year, when they enlisted the support of Maryland's U. S. senators in trying to establish the program in Carroll, Ecker said.

The Air Force provides the curriculum and all materials, as well as an instructor - typically an Air Force retiree - and an enlisted liaison, who are paid by the school system in addition to what they receive from the Air Force.

Earlier yesterday, Ecker discussed other issues when he met for the first time with the new board of commissioners.

He gave them an overview of the school system and its money issues. Growth and the state's budget crunch dominated the discussion, although the prospect of all-day kindergarten sparked brief debate.

The county can expect about $91 million from the state for education in fiscal year 2004, which begins July 1. The figure could change as the legislature copes with a deficit of more than $1.7 billion, officials said.

"You have all heard about the state's fiscal crisis," said Walter F. Brilhart, schools budget supervisor. "It will be interesting to see how it all plays out in the next few months."

For instance, school officials are concerned about state contributions to such expensive programs as school bus transportation and special education programs.