Mars Area School District will continue under the guidance of its current superintendent and assistant superintendent after the school board approved agreements with the school administrators at its Tuesday, May 7, meeting.

The board unanimously approved reappointing superintendent Mark Gross to a three-year term at an annual salary of $210,000, and Elizabeth McMahon as assistant superintendent for a four-year term at an annual salary of $175,000.

“You’re only good as your last decision,” Gross joked after his appointment.

The vote took place after both administrators, who still had a full year left on their contracts, strategically resigned from their positions. The resignation and reappointment afforded the two flexibility in their contracts, according to board member Kevin Hagen.

“By law we can only do three, four and five year terms,” Hagen said. “We wanted to extend both, but keeping in mind some personal matters that they wanted to tend to as they get closer to retirement (and) we wanted to honor their request. We also felt they were both deserving of increases (in pay), so we thought this was the best way to do that.”

The new contracts for both are effective July 1.