CRANBERRY TWP — While Rex Energy officials wish the Mars School Board had approved their $1 million offer to lease 172 acres of school property, they will continue with their plan to place six wells on the Geyer property on Denny Road.

“While disappointed, we respect the school board’s decision,” Rex Energy spokesman Mike Endler said in an e-mail. “We will maintain open communication with the district, and other community stakeholders, as Rex Energy moves forward with safe, tightly-regulated development plans for this project.”

Duane Maust, the Rex Energy land manager who presented the lease details to the board on March 4, said he regrets MHY Family Services will not get a lease after Mars’ decision.

Because the district’s property is between the well pad and Mars Home for Youth, it would be impossible for Rex Energy to drill under MHY Family Services’ property.

“That’s 156 acres that can’t be drilled or produced,” Maust said.

He doubts Rex Energy will return to the school district with another offer.

“I don’t know that there’s any reason to,” Maust said.

He said while leasing the district’s and MHY Family Services’ property would have increased the amount of gas recovered, Rex Energy has about 1,300 acres leased around the Geyer well.

Regarding the emergency procedures that many parents on Tuesday night voiced concern over, Maust said drillers are required to have emergency plans on file in each municipality and with all of the fire departments surrounding a well. He said that process would occur after Rex Energy receives a permit from the state Department of Environmental Protection to drill the well.

Maust said he hopes to begin work on the Geyer well this summer.

The property is owned by Kim Geyer, the former president of the Mars School Board.