ADAMS TWP — There will be no spring break in the 2006-07 Mars School District calendar.

For the past nine years, Mars has set aside six school days in April for spring break. This year, the break is from April 14 to April 21.

But board members chose a new path regarding next year's calendar at their meeting Tuesday night by making the last day of school earlier and eliminating the spring break.

Board member Dayle Ferguson defended the spring break after several calendar options were distributed to board members. Ferguson maintained that many Mars families plan their vacations on that break.

Board member William Pangas disagreed, saying he considers his job on the school board as one supporting education.

"I am going to put education before family vacations every time," Pangas said. "If people want to get mad at me, that's OK."

Board member Gordon Marburger said his children "check out" academically after Memorial Day, and favored a calendar that ended the school year by that holiday. Kim Geyer asked the principals attending the meeting if requests by parents for vacation days while school is in session come at any particular time.

While Anna Saker said many high school parents request their children be off during December, the middle and elementary school principals said those types of requests come throughout the school year.

Ferguson and Marj Vincent voted against the new calendar.

The 2006-07 calendar gives Good Friday and Monday off during the Easter holiday, and could make the last day of school May 25 if none of the five built-in snow days is used. This year school is out on June 1 if no snow days are used.

Thanksgiving and Christmas vacation days next year will be largely unchanged.