Last year, Mars Area School District officials had a choice to make.

In looking at renovation proposals for the 50-year-old Middle School, one option included a complete overhaul of the existing building, including adding a tower and new main entrance.

That would have required new traffic patterns and the elimination of parking. It also paved the way for a new gymnasium, if officials so chose.

The other option left the building’s footprint unchanged, with upgrades made to most every area of the school to allow more natural light and the creation of open learning spaces.

Ultimately, the school board opted for the second option, citing cost as their motivating factor. While the promise of a flashy building was undoubtedly attractive, the district would have needed to borrow money for the more lavish option. That was a bridge too far for the board, and for that they should be commended.

The renovations ongoing at the school serve to not only modernize the building, but to create more space for students as the district continues to grow. Projections indicate the next decade will see an influx of students, and the project addresses those impending needs.

These are things we hope parents and students keep in mind as the school year gets rolling — a year that started a little later due to construction. It also started with concerns from parents and students about the ongoing construction.

In considering the scope of the project, district officials also had many discussions on what could be done to ensure the project has the least impact on students and their ability to learn. They even considered moving students to other district buildings — an option that received negative community feedback.

Instead, they set an aggressive timeline to complete the bulk of the work — most of which was done during the summer months. Work during the school year only is done overnight. Officials said only the gym and larger group instruction rooms were unavailable on the first day of school.

Additionally, the district has taken extra steps to address cleanliness, and air quality tests are being routinely conducted.

While having an unfinished building is certainly not ideal, the lengths to which officials have gone to ensure the building was ready for students should not be overlooked.

Ultimately, residents and taxpayers will have a renovated building that was built with fiscal responsibility and future growth in mind. That, we believe, is worth a few months of abnormal school days.