Little Rock Central High School - Pix Yearbook (Little Rock, AR)

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History of Central When Central High School opened its doors for the 1927-28 school year, it was a new building that students and staff members entered—a building that had gained national attention as being the largest high school in the nation” and America’s most expensive high school. The building was constructed at a cost of $1.5 million, which was about the same amount that the School District spent in 1969 to build the school’s library, a small building that is dwarfed by Central. Known as Little Rock Senior High at the time, the building was designed to accommodate 3.000 students. During the 1957-58 school year. Central High School appeared on the front pages of newspapers throughout the world as a result of an integration crisis that brought federal troops to the school on orders from President Eisenhower. The decision of the School Board in the fall of 1979 to spend approximately $5.25 million for renovation pro- jects at the school represents the first major work to be done on Central High since it was constructed. Touring Central High will reveal extensive damage caused by a leaking roof an faulty plumbing. At left, plaster has fallen from the ceiling in the hall leading I the ROTC rooms. At right, a bathroom ceiling leaks and a door lies in the flou Surveying a restroom, architects check plumbing and radiators to determine th cost in replacing them. Renovation projects, planned to begin in the summer o 1980. include the replacement of the building's plumbing and heating systems' School Board member Mr. Herb Rule, an attorney, climbs out a window to inspect the school's leaking roof. An inspection tour of Central High School during the fall brought several Board members ami repress tatives of (lie news media to the school. Here, the group looks at the roof, which has become water-soakj ami now leaks into classrooms. The Board approved extensive renovation projects following tin toil 16—Renovation

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Trying their luck at fishing while on a camping trip at Pinnacle Mountain State Park are seniors Alan Turner. Paul Phillips, and Scott Kuykendall as Hall senior Frank Wilkins watches. Kscaping the heat at a local skating rink, seniors Freddie Clark and Jackie Washington have some fun for the benefit of tin yearbook photographer. Skating rinks were popular with students during both the summer and winter months. An August day when the temperature hit 97 degrees proves an ideal time for seniors Mur- ry Newbern and Becky Davis to go sailing. Arkansas' hot summer came as a surprise for exchangees Achim Gullatz of Germany and Lars Bohman of Sweden who had ex- pected somewhat cooler weather. Summer— 15

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RENOVATION 'Board votes to spend $5.25 million for repairs on main building After hesitating several months, the Little Rock School Board voted in November to spend approximately $5.25 million for renovation projects at Central High, the District’s oldest high school. City voters had narrowly approved a tax package in the 1979 school election—a package that Board members said would provide Central with “at least $4.5 million” for renovation projects. However, after passage, the Board ap- peared reluctant to fulfill its promise to voters. The renovation projects will include replacement of decay- ing windows, replacement of faulty plumbing and electrical systems, replacement of an outdated heating system, and replacement of the Toof. to name a few of the projects. The major projects will l egin in the summer of 1980. Before the start of «he 1979-80 school year, the School District began making minor repairs to Central, a school that has had little work done on it since it opened in 1927. At left, a workman attempts to even molding around a locker area. Above, a workman places cement around lockers that were removed from the walls and reinforced. Renovation—17