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

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OPENING NEW SCHOOL YEAS JVlost students welcome' returning to school, despite hot weather Despite the hot weather and the lack of air conditioning at Central, most students welcomed returning to their classes. They had become bored with their summer vacation. There were 1.921 students on hand for the start of the 1979-80 school year. The enrollment showed an increase of 83 over the previous school year, something that surprised school officials since they had expected an enrollment decline. Central was the only city high school to have an enrollment increase. Of those who enrolled. 55 percent were black and 45 per- cent were white. This was the same percentage as the last school year. To acquaint the incoming sophomore class with school policy, Student Council sponsored an orientation assembly and dance prior to the opening of classes. Approximately two-thirds of the 833 sophomores attendet! the assembly. Total enrollment for the Little Rock School District during the 1979-80 school year was 20,446. This was a decline of 87 over the previous school year. Pawing out books on the opening day of school in an afternoon class. Mrs. Marilyn Brewster shows strains of the busy day. Hghting hot weather at the opening of the school year, many students—such as senior Steve Manes—wore shorts. Here. Manes serves on a panel in his child development class with guest speakers from a local drug rehabilitation center. In the background, a maintenance employee attempts to complete work not finished before classes started. Registering for classes at the start of the 1979-80 school year, junior Creg Nichols completes the necessary forms. School officials said that registration went smoother this year than in previous years, noting that there had been fewer errors on student schedules. The school enrolled 1.921 students, more than any other city high school. 18—Opening Week

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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

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Popular disc jockey Craig O'Neill of radio station KLAZ-FM joins in the dancing fun at tlx annual sophomore orientation dance sponsored by Student Council in mid- August. O'Neill, a graduate of Central High, played the music for the disco dance. After giving help to school of- ficials in registering students during mid-August, senior Den a Buie takes a lunch break on the stairs in the main hall. At sophomore orientation, counselors Miss Ma ie Brown and Mrs. Linda Porter explain the school's guidance service's. The orientation program, conducted before school opened, was sponsored by Student Council. With the start of school, about the only ones who hated to see students return to classes were family pets, such as Bertram the Dog. owned by senior Murry Newbem and sophomore George Newbem. Despite hot weather, most of August was spent by members of the Tiger football team in practicing for the new season. Opening Week—19