The Mars Area School Board reviewed updated plans for a potential expansion and renovation of Centennial Elementary School during its March 10 meeting, continuing a multi-year process aimed at addressing enrollment growth and long-term facility needs.
The project stems from a facilities study launched in 2022 that examined the condition and capacity of the district’s elementary buildings. The facilities study, combined with enrollment analysis, concluded that upgrades and expansions would likely be necessary. In March 2024, the district’s Comprehensive Planning Community Action Committee recommended expanding Mars Area Elementary School. Construction on that project began in December 2025. Upon completion, the Elementary School will serve grades K–3, and fourth grade will move to the Centennial School.
The board received a presentation related to Centennial School renovations from Jon Thomas, Thomas & Williamson Program Management, at their March 10th meeting. The presentation included a review of previous layout plans presented for the Centennial School, as well as two updated concepts that featured a reduction in the original area proposed for expansion.
Two expansion options for consideration
The first option would include concepts such as a new three-story, twelve classroom addition on the west side of the building, new Music/Choral, Band, and PTO rooms on the east side, a new main office and guidance suite at the main entrance, cafeteria expansion, and several classroom renovations.
A second concept featured a new two‑story central wing with a main office, expanded library, renovated classrooms; an eight‑classroom addition on the west side, a new Music/Choral room on the east side, STEAM and guidance relocation, and a cafeteria expansion.
Both options include interior renovations that would reorganize administrative areas, expand cafeteria space, and create updated spaces for music, STEAM programs, and other instructional uses.
A tentative construction window discussed during the meeting could place a potential project beginning in early 2027 with completion targeted for the summer of 2028.
Project costs for the new plans have not yet been determined, but a request for proposals is expected to be presented at a future meeting
Planning for future growth
Board members emphasized the importance of designing the project so the building can accommodate future expansion if enrollment continues to grow.
Because the Centennial property has limited remaining space for new construction, Thomas recommended that any additions be designed to allow for possible vertical expansion in the future.
“Whatever you do, don’t box yourself in,” Thomas told the board, noting that much of the surrounding land has already been developed or is constrained by property lines. In addition to discussions about the Centennial expansion, the board also reviewed long-term planning considerations for the district’s athletic facilities.
Athletic facilities also discussed
In addition to the Centennial project, Thomas proposed the broader need to evaluate the district’s athletic facilities as enrollment and program participation continue to grow.
Options such as grandstand and turf replacements, movement of the track, additional turf fields, support buildings, and stand-alone athletic complexes were discussed. Thomas noted that any future planning would be part of a longer-term master planning process that takes projected district growth into account.
Related to the facility discussion, some board members noted increasing pressure on existing athletic field space. With multiple sports programs sharing limited facilities, scheduling practices and events has become more challenging.
Board members also noted that long-term planning would need to consider the capital costs and lifecycle maintenance associated with turf fields and other athletic infrastructure.
No formal decisions were made on the Centennial project or the athletic facilities discussion during the meeting. A request for proposal incorporating these new projects is set to be presented at a future meeting.
Public Comment
During the public comment portion of the March 10 meeting, Rebecca Mueller, a mother of two boys in first and fourth grade, asked the board to consider returning recess outdoors. Due to the unsafe nature associated with construction, children have been restricted to indoor recess. Mueller noted that she has proposed sign-ups for safety volunteers among similar alternatives such as recess in the baseball field. The district noted that the issue is expected to be discussed at an upcoming construction meeting.