Some Columbia County parents could leave their cash in their wallets when it's time to dole out money for school-related expenses in the coming academic year.

The county's board of education authorized school administrators Tuesday to continue their exploration of a pilot program that would give parents at three schools the option of paying school fees online.

Greenbrier High, Evans Middle and Riverside Elementary schools would serve as the pilot schools. They were selected based on demographics and a willingness to try a new program, said Pat Sullivan, the school system's controller.

"The world is changing. Everybody's paying by credit card," she said.

Ms. Sullivan said cashless payments for school lunches are the driving force behind the program. Parents also could make online payments for expenses such as field trips, athletic tickets, caps and gowns, fundraisers, club fees and yearbooks.

Under the proposal, parents would register for the program at the Web site of the school system or the school.

Ms. Sullivan said parents would pay a monthly convenience fee of $1 per family to use the system. Parents then could pay electronically for expenses with a credit card or a checking account.

A charge of 75 cents would be levied for a checking account transfer, and a credit or debit card payment would cost about $3.29 per transaction.

About 2 percent of that cost would go to the credit card company, Ms. Sullivan said.

If the program is a success, Ms. Sullivan said, it could be implemented at other schools during the year.

"It's the parents that have been asking for this," Superintendent Charles Nagle said.

Ms. Sullivan said the software for the program would cost the school system about $2,000, which would be taken out of the general fund. A fee of $250 per school would be required to set up the program.

"I think the concept is good. I would love to see us go down this road," board member Wayne Bridges said.