The school year in the Panther Valley School District will be extended slightly because of snow days used.

Rosemary Porembo, superintendent of schools, said classes in the district were scheduled to end June 4. That date has been extended to June 9.In addition, students will have classes on two make-up days Feb. 14 and April 17.The changes were announced last night during an education committee meeting of the school board.The next day off for students is Monday, Jan. 20, which is a Martin Luther King holiday.A calendar presented by Porembo for the 2014-2015 school year shows classes starting on Aug. 25.In other matters, the school board will be asked to consider offering another language course to students.There are presently 197 students who want to study Spanish.In addition, 40 students are interested in German, 16 are interested in French, 16 are interested in Italian, and less than 10 have shown an interest in Mandarin or Chinese.The board will likely discuss this matter when it meets next Thursday, Jan. 23.The district is considering upgrading its computer system. It presently has a Windows XP system and must upgrade it to a Novell system.Porembo said the cost for the upgrades is $42,000, which will be part of the budget for the next school year. The upgrades are expected to last at least five years.The board also will considering allowing the formation of a ski club under the guidance of Brent Raebold, a physics teacher. The club would meet on Friday nights.Porembo told the board that about 10 students have expressed an interest in joining the club. A minimum of 15 students is needed.There would be no cost to the district. Members of the club would pay their share for bus transportation to ski trips to Blue Mountain, which has a "Show Us Your Grades" program.Show Us Your Grades is an incentive program that encourages students to retain a good grade-point average. Students are rewarded with low-cost lift tickets and equipment rentals. For $100 students can ski four times and get free rental equipment.Any member who earns honor roll will receive a voucher for free pass to either Jack Frost or Blue Mountain ski area ($40 value).Raebold would be donating his time, Porembo said. "This program supports Panther Valley High School's Positive Behavior Support program and is a wonderful way for students to enjoy the winter."