ADAMS TWP — Mars Area School Board met virtually Tuesday night in its first public meeting since March 10.

Board member Sallie Wick reported that the district is now interviewing candidates for the district superintendent position.

Responding to questions from district residents about whether community members were actively involved in the search process, Wick said school officials sought community input regarding the qualities desired in a candidate. Input was gathered via a public meeting and an online survey.

“We will continue to keep everyone updated as we go,” Wick said.

Special dates

Assistant Superintendent Elizabeth McMahon said a couple “rites of passage” events are being rescheduled.

“This is a hot topic and on many people's list of concerns,” McMahon said.

McMahon said she's collaborated with district officials and neighboring districts to figure out how to proceed with events like prom and graduation.

As of Tuesday, the district announced the dates for prom and graduation, scheduled for May 8 and June 12 respectively, are postponed.

“We are not using the word canceled,” McMahon said. “We're saying ... postponed.”

Kindergarten registration has also changed. Registration packets and student lottery tickets will be accepted by mail or at district drop-off locations.

“Look for future details,” McMahon said. “Coming as soon as we solidify things.”

McMahon added third- quarter grades will be posted April 20. The district is still grading students at this time.

Tech package

Board President John Kennedy said the board met in executive session before Tuesday's meeting to discuss personnel and “a technology issue.”

During the meeting, the board approved a $330,000 technology package.

The district will purchase new technology in each district building, providing grades seven through 12 with a Google platform that would make virtual access more uniform for students. Students in kindergarten through sixth grade already have Google accounts.

At the high school, Chromebooks would be supplied for two grade levels. At the elementary level, laptop carts would be updated with 300 new devices. The package also replaces labs at the high school, middle school, primary buildings and Centennial School.

The rest of the purchase includes a variety of devices for district staff and spare Chromebooks.

“The monies for this investment would not be coming from our general operating budget,” said Dayle Ferguson, board member. “This would be coming from the capital budget.”

The technology will be installed in time for the start of the 2020-21 school year.

Sponsor policy

The board also approved reviewing a district advertising policy.

With the purchase of new technology, the board discussed contacting potential sponsors to help purchase things like laptop or device covers.

McMahon suggested businesses interested in donating to the purchase could have their logos installed on them.

“We're going to reach out to community members, if anybody would be interested in something like that,” McMahon said.

Policy 913.2 (commercial advertising) was adopted in February and addresses potential sponsorship.

Ferguson said board members want to clarify language in the policy to identify which businesses could qualify as sponsors. McMahon said the advertising policy must “fit” the Mars Area School District and community.