ADAMS TWP — Spurred by Mars Area School Board's approval of a marching band health and safety plan and an announcement of the planning process for the return to school, parents and staff encouraged the board to especially consider student health Tuesday night.

After reminding several board members who weren't wearing masks of Gov. Tom Wolf's edict requiring face coverings in public settings, district parent Jennifer McAfee said she's aware of the dangers of returning to class during a pandemic.

McAfee said as a teacher in another district who's dealt with student deaths over the years — including one a few days ago — she's worried for her students and her own children.

“I am getting ready to pull my kids from Mars and put them online,” McAfee said.

McAfee said the only thing she might consider a “saving grace” would be if the district pursues a proposal to provide classroom streaming services for students.

“We absolutely share parents' concerns,” said Scott McCarthy, a Mars High School teacher.

McCarthy, who attended the meeting virtually, said he's looking to the community to help the district provide a safe return to school.

“If you are a parent ... you absolutely must demand that these buildings are the cleanest that they can possibly be,” McCarthy said. “And that when the plan comes out, that those safety protocols in that plan are followed to the detail.”

[naviga:h3]Bond refinancing[/naviga:h3]

Returning to a brick-and-mortar setting might be up in the air, but district business continues moving forward.

Speaking as the district's investment banker, Alisha Reesh Henry of PNC Capital Markets gave the board good news Tuesday.

In March, the board approved a motion to refinance 2014 bonds with a set floor number of $1.3 million. This was the “trigger point” at which time the district would start the refinancing process.

The goal was to save the district upward of $1 million over several years.

“The board set a very aggressive target,” Henry said. “On June 23, we hit the target of $1.367 million.”

Henry said like other professions, investment banking has become a difficult and changing environment.

But the district's planning this spring, according to Henry, resulted in pay dirt July 1.

“We were able to turn around a bond financing in five days,” Henry said. “We lowered your interest costs by almost 200 basis points.”

Ultimately, Henry said $1,638,000 goes to the district, resulting in more than $125,000 in savings over the next 13 years.

The issue's “local effort” — or the portion the district is responsible for financing — is 100 percent. The district won't share any savings from the bond issue with the state.

“This was good news,” Henry said. “I hope it will be helpful to you in the coming times.”

[naviga:h3]Middle school project[/naviga:h3]

John Hays, general manager of construction for Thomas & Williamson Program Management of Pittsburgh, updated the board on the middle school construction project after Henry's presentation.

“She saves you money,” Hays said. “I'm going to spend it.”

At a March school board meeting just days before the state closed schools, district officials heard a report from Hays.

At that time, Hays said workers were reviewing punch list items. A punch list is a document prepared during phases of a construction project listing minor work that still needs to be completed.

Workers still have a few more items to hit on the list, according to Hays.

“We've got some painting touch-ups to do,” Hays said.

Change orders approved Tuesday night for the project were for work done in late winter or early spring, according to Hays. These items total about $55,651, including electrical work.

On the list were heavy debris clean up, the painting of duct work and the replacement of ceiling tiles, among other things.

The board unanimously approved the change orders.

The renovation project is expected to be completed this year. Students had been attending class in the school last semester during construction.

Buying and installing a new high school chiller unit for $210,000 and a new high school gymnasium air conditioning unit for $105,00 via COSTARS, the state's cooperative purchasing program, was approved under buildings and grounds.

An additional motion was approved for work on district bathrooms not to exceed $5,500.