Mars school board member honored for education efforts
ADAMS TWP — Mars School Board member Bonnie Weaver was lauded on Tuesday night for supporting educational pursuits in the district for more than three decades.
Weaver retired from the Mars Planet Foundation, formerly the Mars Area Foundation for Educational Excellence, in October. She was president of the foundation for many years.
The foundation, a nonprofit organization, provides grants to teachers for educational enrichment programs in the district. It also awards various scholarships to graduating students each year.
School board President Dayle Ferguson pointed out that when Weaver and a few other parents formed MAFEE in 1985, the foundation purchased an art display case and a piano for the district.
Programs funded by the foundation during the years under Weaver's influence include bringing a Soviet cosmonaut to the district in 1989, the annual Middle School Medieval Fair, the annual high school academic banquet, the district's ASSET science program, the primary center's Read Across America event, the elementary school's Author Days and the Mars Craft Show.
“There is no measurement that could ever quantify the love that Bonnie has for our school district, our students and our staff,” Ferguson said, “and this incredible organization, which is so vitally important to our school district.”
The school board members then unanimously passed a resolution thanking Weaver for her service to education in the district, and presented her with a dozen roses and a plaque.
Those in attendance gave Weaver a round of applause as the honoree dabbed her eyes.
“It's been a great time,” Weaver said of her work with the foundation. “I've enjoyed every moment of it.”
She said school board member and former superintendent William Pettigrew will now serve as president of the foundation.
“I'm very comfortable it will be in good hands,” Weaver said.
Weaver then gave her final foundation report to the board, which demonstrated its growth over the years.
She said the foundation golf outing raised $14,667 and a $2,500 grant was given to a life skills teacher to open a “Space Shop” where special education students will sell Mars merchandise at the high school.
Weaver thanked her fellow school board members for recognizing her at the meeting, which was attended by her husband, Bill, and other family members.
“This was very, very nice and I really do appreciate it,” she said.
