Mars Area School Board voted to amend the 2020-2021 district calendar, moving the first day of school for students to Aug. 31.

The revised calendar establishes an Act 80 Day on Aug. 24 and sets Aug. 25 through 28 as in-service days. The in-service days that were previously scheduled for Nov. 10 and April 6 have been removed from the calendar.

The front-loading of the in-service days will provide additional time for professional development to prepare teachers and staff members for the use of technology that will enable students who opt for distance learning to remotely connect to their classrooms during the school day.