ADAMS TWP — Physical education requirements for Mars High School students could be cut in half if the school board goes along with the recommendation of the school’s principal.

Todd Kolson Wednesday night recommended to the board that the school’s physical education requirement be reduced so that students take PE once during their freshman or sophomore year, and again during their junior or senior year.

Kolson said while the current requirement of one semester of PE per year between grades nine and 12 carries two credits, the new setup would reduce the class credit to 1.2. He said electives would be added to make up the missing credit points.

The program in which students carrying a heavy academic load can use independent study for their PE credit would continue if the new program is approved, Kolson said.

Students would still be able to take PE every year during high school if they so choose, he said.

Kolson said district growth prompted the recommendation. He said requiring two instead of four PE classes during the high school years would also preclude the district from having to hire another PE teacher.