An aspiring Panther Valley High School journalist on Thursday asked the school board to reconsider its plan to drop five elective courses, including journalism, poetry, creative writing, public speaking and SAT prep.

The courses are important, she said, because they help students become effective public speakers, learn how to better express themselves and prepare them for careers in journalism.Katelyn, a junior, said she has spoken with many students who want to become journalists, and gathered signatures from 104 students who oppose the elimination of the electives.She also suggested the school combine some classes if too few students expressed interest in any one to justify separate courses.Katelyn also said that she was unaware of some of the elective courses, and had she known about them, would have enrolled.Superintendent Rosemary Porembo suggested Katelyn talk with high school Principal Joseph Gunnels about her concerns. Porembo also said the board plans to incorporate some of the courses into other English classes."We'll take a look at this and go back to the Education Committee," she said.In other matters Thursday, the school board:• Accepted the retirement of longtime middle school teacher Charley DePuy. The board praised DePuy's 38-year career, calling him an outstanding teacher;• Approved Janet Branchide as a full-time, permanent middle school technology education teacher. effective today, at a salary of $34,685;• Added Cody Sassaman to the list of substitute teachers at a rate of $85 per day;• Announced that appointment-only kindergarten registrations will be held on March 28, 29 and 30. To schedule an appointment, call the elementary school at (570) 669-9411;• Agreed to allow employee Lori Taras to solicit staff members on school property to buy jewelry from Premier Designs, the proceeds of which will be given to elementary school Principal Bill Lombardo, whom Porembo said is being treated for cancer. The donations will help offset the cost of Lombardo's trips to Chicago for treatment;• Appointed Carla Blazosky as Lead Teacher at the elementary school from March 12 through May 25. Blazosky will oversee routine operations at the school, and will be directly responsible to the middle school principal. Her stipend will be $4,000;• Hired two part-time custodians at $12.60 an hour;• Hired Lisa Yarnall as a part-time cafeteria worker at $13.30 an hour;• Added Monica Planutis to the list of substitute cafeteria workers at $7.80 an hour;• Approved Amber Vachon as a cheerleading coach at $500;• Appointed Paul McArdle and Justin Christman as volunteer track and field coaches;• Approved the sale of properties at 103 W. Catawissa St., Nesquehoning and at 364 W. Ridge St. and at 208 W. Water St., Lansford, putting them back on the tax rolls;• Retained Sweet, Stevens, Katz and Williams, LLP, for 2012-13 for teachers contract negotiations at rates of $185 an hour for nonroutine matters and $140 per hour for general advice.