The Mars Area School District is easing a number of COVID policies to start the school year.
The school board officially approved the new guidelines, which for the most part return to pre-pandemic protocols.
The district will not enforce social distancing and says masks will be voluntary. They also said based on new CDC guidance, the district will stop contact tracing.
Mars will still report total COVID cases at the end of each week and encourages anyone who is sick to stay at home.
