The Mars Area School Board heard comments from parents and community members on the district's health and safety policy and proposed additions to its mission statement at a meeting on Tuesday night.

The updated Health and Safety Plan was approved at a meeting on July 20. It does not require or mandate mask wearing for vaccinated or unvaccinated children or staff.

Earlier this week, administrators sent a survey to parents, guardians, staff and students regarding masking and COVID-19 measures at Mars Area School District. Superintendent Dr. Mark Gross encouraged parents to respond to the survey, which he said will be open until Thursday at noon.

Additionally, the board plans to vote on the addition of a new section to the district's mission statement next week that would promote “Informed, Engaged and Patriotic Citizens,” expediting the 30-day public comment and review process by a few days.

The addition would ban the teaching of “Holocaust Denial Theory, 9/11 Theory, The 1619 Project, (and) Critical Race Theory,” as well as the presentation of “concepts which impute fault, blame, a tendency to oppress others or the need to feel guilt or anguish to persons solely because of their race, sex or religion.”

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