Mars Area Middle School will be closed through Tuesday in accordance with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania Department of Health, according to a post on the district’s website.

As Mars Area Middle School is considered a “medium school” (500-900 students) by the departments of education and health, it must close for a minimum of three days when four to six positive COVID-19 cases are reported.

During that time, the building undergoes a deep cleaning.

Students will switch to livestream interactive instruction during the closure.

Building administrators, paraprofessionals and support staff members will be temporarily relocated to other schools while custodial crews clean the building.

Students who do not have access to a district-issued technology device will be provided with a device, free of charge, during the closure period only.

Any athletics events and/or activities scheduled at Mars Area Middle School during the closure will be canceled or relocated where possible.

During the building closure, the district will continue to offer free meals for students and anyone in a student’s household who is under age 18.

Students may return to participate in traditional instruction on Wednesday, pending the district’s review of the school’s COVID-19 numbers at that time.