As school districts around the state await word on whether the Missouri Legislature's budget will include funding for summer school, leaders for Warren County R-III School District have decided to scale back its program in anticipation that money from the state will not be available. The board voted 6 to 1 in favor of a dramatically reduced summer school program that eliminates the kindergarten through eighth-grade summer program and keeps summer classes for special education, along with limited high school programs. Board member David Housewright voted against the scaled-back plan. "I think summer school is important, and hate to see it cut," Housewright said. R-III Superintendent Dr. John Long said he believes the decision from state legislators to cut funding for summer school "looks like a foregone conclusion," and that if R-III proceeds with the program and funding is cut later, the district will be on the hook to pay out as much as $500,000 from its own funds for classroom and other costs. If the state ends up funding summer school, R-III estimates it will lose out on about $100,000. Beyond these hard costs, school leaders said they are sensitive to the fact that parents and students need to know which way the school is going now so that they can make appropriate plans for their children and families. "We need to be in a position to let parents know sooner rather than later so that they can plan accordingly," said Long, reminding the board that the state Legislature has until May 7 to submit a budget for next year. A final decision may be delayed longer if Gov. Jay Nixon decides to call state lawmakers back into session, Long said.  "Parents are needing to know what opportunities there are for their kids over the summer, and realizing the state may not make decisions until May, we chose to make the call now," said Jeremy Way, high school principal. The district will offer special education classes during the summer to comply with government mandates for Extended School Year (ESY) which provides instruction beyond the regular school year for students with disabilities. In addition, sessions for physical education and world history also will be offered for high school students. For students who need to make up lost credits, the credit recovery program provides online courses at the school. Incoming freshmen will be able to take physical education classes to clear more time during the year for other elective classes such as band, drama or choir. The world history class is being provided to allow students to work on higher level courses during the regular school year to help with college preparation. In reaching its decision, administrators and school board members considered several possible scenarios. With more than 40 teachers along with paraprofessionals and other staff, the total budget for a full program would have been $297,600. The estimated cost for the approved limited high school and ESY program is $57,000. Way says that he expects enrollment for the high school program to be 100 to 200 students, about half of what the traditional program - with kindergarten to eighth grade included - has been. There will be no incentives as in the past, such as gift cards. Classes will begin June 1 and go through July 2 and last from 7 a.m. until noon. The district will only provide bus transportation for ESY students. High school students will be responsible for their own transportation.