Butler Eagle File Photo

ADAMS TWP — While Mars Area School District looks to complete its elementary school renovation after it recently broke ground, additional future-shaping projects may also be on the horizon.

Mars’ school board received a presentation Tuesday, March 10, on potential projects in coming years, such as renovating Mars Area Centennial School and replacing the football stadium.

Jon Thomas of Thomas & Williamson Project Management said during the presentation a potential centennial school renovation, if bidding and construction were not delayed, could result in a completion and move in around early summer of 2028.

Thomas also said the board could consider options over whether to build an entirely new stadium in a different location.

“I know the long-term objective for you — you’re a growing district — is to start looking at where you might develop other athletic facilities you don’t have now,” Thomas said. “We can talk about a process for making that happen., where you do a more in-depth study, maybe a districtwide facilities master plan.”

Mars is one of several districts in the area that have made significant efforts to renovate buildings to support projected population growth.

The hypothetical future projects were first mentioned several years ago. In July 2023, the board received a presentation from Thomas, the district’s projects manager, on options to address continued population growth. The presentation at the time said Mars’ elementary and primary schools were already over capacity and that other projects in the coming years — like the centennial school and stadium — could be needed.

Mars’ board initiated a demographics study in July 2024 to understand what the district population would look like in five to 10 years. The study showed consistent enrollment growth at each grade level, peaking around 2030.

Currently, the district’s elementary school is being renovated to add a three-story classroom wing, a new cafeteria and an enlarged STEAM classroom and guidance suite. Several traffic and site upgrades are also planned, including a dedicated parent drop-off lane. After several delays, it broke ground Dec. 11. When all is said and done, the elementary school renovation will cost roughly $21.4 million.

This was the first time in a public meeting since the 2023 presentation the school board had openly discussed the other potential projects. No proposed total costs were immediately available.