While much of Tuesday night’s Mars Area School Board meeting focused on the district’s 2026-27 budget and ongoing teacher contract negotiations, board members also approved personnel hires and received a request for additional gym access from a local wrestling club. Following the meeting, The 228 Times spoke with first-year board member Madelynne Barkley about her experiences serving on the board.
Board member Joseph Joswiak cast the lone dissenting vote.
“Zach, I just want to tell you, I want you to do the best you can,” Joswiak said before the vote. “I was disappointed in the whole football hiring process, and it’s bothered me, and I want the program to succeed. So, I’m just going to have to vote no.”
The board also heard a public comment request from representatives of the Area 51 Wrestling Club, who asked for additional gymnasium access during the summer months.
Area 51 provides wrestling instruction and competitive opportunities for local student-athletes and conducts practices at Mars High School. While the organization primarily serves Mars Area students, wrestlers from neighboring districts also participate in the program.
Katie Drabicki, whose son participates in the club, spoke about the impact wrestling has had on local students.
“Area 51 was created by Mars coaches and Mars families to support Mars wrestlers,” Drabicki told the board.
She said the program has played a significant role in her son’s development.
“He started wrestling in the fourth grade and I can honestly say the sport has changed his life,” Drabicki said. “Through wrestling, he has developed confidence, resilience, discipline, a sense of purpose and some of his closest friendships.”
Area 51 Wrestling Club President Simon Goehring also addressed the board and expressed hope that practices could resume as soon as next week.
School Board President John Kennedy said the request would be discussed during executive session following the meeting.
In addition to district business, The 228 Times spoke with first-year board member Madelynne Barkley about her early experiences serving on the board and her perspective on the district’s budget process.
Barkley, who has a background in corporate finance, praised the district administration’s explanation of the budget and fund balance during the meeting.
She said the board’s goal was to maintain fiscal responsibility while avoiding a tax increase.
“Our goal is to balance the budget without having to increase taxes on the taxpayers,” Barkley said.
Barkley also reflected on her family’s long history of public service in the district. A Mars graduate herself, she said she represents the fourth generation of her family to serve on the school board.
“It’s a real honor to me to continue that family legacy of public service,” Barkley said.
She added that her connection to the community made serving on the board especially meaningful.
“It’s one of those things — you don’t ever leave Mars,” Barkley said. “You have a deep love of the area. So, I’m very fond of Mars.”
The 228 Times contacted all three first-year school board members and invited them to answer questions about their first year serving on the board. Madelynne Barkley responded and participated in an interview. Joseph Joswiak and Michael Bordt did not respond to emailed questions by the requested Friday deadline.
