ADAMS TWP — The Mars School Board heard a few presentations and approved an amendment to the middle school renovation project at Tuesday night’s meeting.

The project changes, pending a solicitor’s review to come, include a shift in influence over the total design for Thomas & Williamson Construction Management, Eckles Architecture & Engineering Inc. and CJL Engineering.

The proposed change increases project management from 33 percent to 41 percent for the architect and decreases management from 64 percent to 57 percent for the engineer’s design and 3 percent to 2 percent for the food service company.

The board’s approval was meant to solidify the scope of the project “in terms of dollars” and hired companies, according to Dayle Ferguson, school board president. The project’s total of $14.4 million will be done without “any additional borrowing.”

Ferguson also said the timeline for the renovation is “pretty much intact,” meaning the entire project is on track to be completed by the end of 2019.

“All along we said we wanted it to be flexible and functional,” she said, “and I think we’ve endured with those goals.”

In closing, Ferguson said the board will also meet at the middle school informational session before the next regular school board meeting on Dec. 4.

The board also approved the request of special and gifted education program additions, including the SRA Supplemental Reading Program at a cost of $82,000 and IOWA Achievement/CoGat Test at a cost of $35,000.

Richard Glosser, pupil personnel director, and Travis Mineard, special education director, presented changes and expansions in services from the special education program, including more training to professionals who work as teachers and counselors to coordinate students’ care and earlier screenings for speech and language and occupational therapy deficiencies in first grade and kindergarten.

Additionally, Mineard and Glosser requested the creation of a new, half-time teaching position for special education at the high school.

Middle School Principal Todd Kolson also discussed positive programs at his school during the meeting as well, including the continued success of Rachel’s Challenge, the $1,700 raised by students for the Tree of Life Synagogue and its plans for Unity Week, which began Monday and continues through Friday.