Mars Area School Board voted 8-0 in favor of extending the contracts for both Mars Area School District Superintendent Dr. Mark Gross and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth McMahon.

Board member Lee Ann Riner was absent.

While both Gross and McMahon had another full year remaining on their current contracts, the Board opted to approve Gross for a new three-year contract at an annual salary of $210,000 and McMahon for a four-year contract at an annual salary of $175,000.

The Board wanted to extend both Gross and McMahon’s contracts; however, by law, the Board is only permitted to award three-, four- or five-year terms for these positions, said Kevin Hagen, Board member. Therefore, the Board first accepted the administrators’ resignations, effective at the end of the 2023-2024 School Year, before reappointing them to the positions under the new contracts, beginning with the 2024-2025 School Year.

The decision was made to offset the years in which each administrator’s contract will expire as well as to honor the requests of both as they approach retirement, said Hagen. “They are both deserving of increases and we thought that this was the best way to do that.”

Gross has served as the District’s Superintendent since 2020. Dr. Gross holds a Doctorate of Education in Administrative & Leadership Studies and a bachelor’s degree in Education of Exceptional, both from Indiana University of Pennsylvania; and a master’s degree in School Administration from Western Maryland College.

McMahon has served as Assistant Superintendent (K-12) since 2016, having previously served as Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education (K-6) (2014-2016) and principal of Mars Area Primary Center (2005-2014).

She holds a doctorate in educational leadership; master’s degrees in educational administration, special education, and elementary education; and a bachelor’s degree in communications, all from Duquesne University.

For more information, cal. (724) 625-1518.