Membership
Member Benefits
Why Join MARS?
Membership in MARS is one of the most valuable investments a regional school district can make. Here’s what your district gets as a MARS member:
- Advocacy & Legislative Representation MARS actively monitors state legislation, represents regional school districts before the Legislature, DESE, and the Governor's office, and keeps members informed on budget developments and policy changes that affect their districts. When decisions are being made on Beacon Hill, MARS ensures regional schools have a seat at the table.
- Professional Development MARS members receive priority access to a wide range of professional development opportunities designed specifically for regional school administrators and school committee members. Many sessions are offered at no additional cost to member districts, while select specialized trainings—such as the End-of-Year Financial Reporting Training and Balance Sheet & E&D Certification Workshops—are available for an additional fee. Programs include the Annual Legislative Forum, financial and governance workshops, and other timely sessions focused on the unique needs of regional school districts.
- Member Resources & Documents Full access to the MARS Resources library — including financial reports, regional agreement guides, strategic planning tools, and state links — available exclusively to member districts.
- Consulting Services Member districts have access to the MARS Consulting Group, which provides expert support on strategic planning, financial management, regionalization, leadership transitions, and more — at rates approved annually by the MARS Board of Directors.
- Peer Network MARS connects Superintendents, School Business Officials, and School Committee Members from regional districts across the Commonwealth — a community of professionals who understand your challenges and are willing to share what works.
- Member Directory All member districts are listed in the annual MARS Member Directory — updated twice per fiscal year — making it easy to connect with colleagues across the state.
- Annual Membership Meeting All member districts are invited to participate in the MARS Annual Meeting, where members vote on organizational business, elect the Board of Directors, and set dues for the coming fiscal year.
Becoming a MARS Member
Membership in MARS is open to all regional school districts in Massachusetts. Here’s how to join:
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Vote to Affiliate
Membership begins with an official vote of your regional school district committee to affiliate with the Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools. This is a straightforward agenda item for any regular School Committee meeting.
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Designate a Voting Member
Each member district designates one representative to vote on behalf of the district at MARS meetings. The voting member may be a School Committee member, Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, or School Business Official.
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Pay Annual Dues
Annual dues are determined by the voting members at the MARS Annual Meeting and are payable by December 31 of each fiscal year. Contact us for current dues information.
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Submit Your District Directory Information
Each member district provides updated contact information at the time of membership renewal. This information is included in the MARS Member Directory, which is updated twice per fiscal year.
MARS Member Directory
Each year MARS updates its Member Directory with current contact information provided by member districts at the time of membership renewal. The directory is updated twice per fiscal year and is available for download below.