ADAMS TWP — The board of the Mars Area School District approved curriculum change proposals at a meeting Tuesday, Jan. 16, following presentations from middle and high school principals.

Lindsay Rosswog, principal of Mars Area High School, discussed the addition of a lab course for students struggling with math who have not yet passed state-mandated Keystone exams.

If a student takes Algebra 1 in eighth grade and doesn’t receive a passing grade, they can opt to take the course as a first semester elective, she said. Students currently enrolled in Algebra 1 who feel they need more support could take the course in their second semester.

The course, which will be implemented in the fall, is not mandatory, she said.

“We didn’t want to mandate it because if a kid hates math, we don’t want to force them to take more math,” she said. “But we have a lot of students who participated in the tutoring that was offered this year through ESSER funding, and we wanted to find a way to kind of allow that (support) to continue.”

Rosswog said the number of students anticipated to enroll in the course is unknown at this time and will depend on upcoming Keystone test results.

Middle school principal Todd Kolson also discussed student deficiencies in math. Kolson said data preceding the COVID-19 pandemic suggests a number of students are struggling with mathematics and could benefit from more support.

“We’re taking a look at the strand of kids who are coming out of pre-algebra courses in seventh grade and going into eighth grade,” Kolson said. “We’re noticing that that strand of lower ‘B’ students … is not becoming proficient on the Keystone (exam), struggled with some (Pennsylvania System of School Assessments). So taking a look at that data has suggested that these students should spend more time with some pre-algebra.”

Coming out of seventh grade, about 70% of students are on an Algebra 1 or Advanced Algebra track, Kolson said

Kolson discussed the possibility of a prerequisite course for the 2025-26 school year that would “slow down” the track into advanced mathematics.

Kolson said students in the prerequisite course would gain a better understanding of math concepts before high school.

“A student who doesn’t take Algebra 1 wouldn’t get to Calculus in 12th grade,” he said. “That’s the only downfall.”

The course would not affect gifted students, he said in response to a question from board director Jennifer DiCuccio.

Board director Anthony DePretis said the proposed curriculum change would bolster foundational skills in mathematics.

“If you’re weak in (Algebra 1), it’ll crush you in other math classes,” he said.

The board at its Tuesday meeting also approved a raise for custodial workers in the district. They approved an increase to $17 from $15.

The pay raise will hopefully attract more applicants into the district, board director Sallie Wick said.

Mars Area School District has been down about 10 custodial staff members for several years, superintendent Mark Gross said at the meeting.

He said the pay increase will go into effect Jan. 26.

A new contract, signed by the district in January 2023, initially stated the start rate for support staff was $15 an hour, Gross said after the meeting. The contract also allowed the district to set starting rates, he said.