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

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Innovating Students, teachers make quick adjustments to major construction work on main building A complete renovation of Central’s main building, which had begun during the summer, continued throughout the school year. There were a few problems encountered by students and teachers at the opening of the school year, but these problems were quickly solved and school went on as usual. The problems at the opening of the year resulted in school be- ing closed several times. The problems centered around water mains that construction workers were replacing. The renovation work, financed by a $4.75 million bond issue that city voters had approved in a school election, is the first in the 53 year history of the school. The work, scheduled for completion in October of this year, in- cludes the replacement of all windows, the replacement of the roof, the replacement of all plumbing and electrical wiring, the altering of all radiators so they will operate on individual classroom thermostats, the painting of all classrooms and the in- stallation of carpets in most of them, and the complete remodel- ing of all bathrooms and several offices. As construction workers moved into a section of the building to do renovation work, the classes meeting in that section were moved to temporary classrooms in other parts of the building. Despite large pile» of water pipes, students (above) arc not distracted from visiting with friends during a lunch period. (Right) Piles of rubbish created by the renovation work became a common sight around campus. (Below) Students change class periods and appear to pay no at- tention to the construction workers mopping a hall. Junior Paul Hansen replaces loose mortar holding blocks at the top of the building. Hansen was one of several students who secured work with the construction company handling the renovation. 18—Renovation

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Having some fun at the start of the new school year, sophomores Karen McAdams and Howard Hendrickson (above) attend a dance. (Right) Junior Gwen Dedmon has her yearbook picture made. It's Back to School Agaiiv Student enrollment declines once more When classes opened for the 1980-81 school year, there were fewer students on hand than for the opening of the previous school year. The enrollment at the end of the first week of classes was 1,771. which was a decline of 150 students over the previous school year. A new principal (Mr. Richard Maple), major renovation work, and a heat wave also greeted the students. However, the opening of the school year went smoothly. according to school officials. There were fewer schedule changes and fewer discipline problems than in previous years. Students seem glad to be back in school, one official commented at the end of the first week. It's going to be another great year. j thU scene from Crisis at Central High. Principal Jess Matthews (played by Charles Durning) faces a mob otesting the enrollment of black students. Other actors and actresses in the scene are Gary Frank. Joanne loodward. Norma Young, and William Rush. A diary kept by Mrs. Huckaby was the basis for the movie. Actress Joanne Woodward, playing Mrs. Huckaby, the school's dean of girls, shows concern over actions of a mob gathered to protest enrollment of black students. Opening Week—17

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A large fence protects the equipment and offices (left) of the Baldwin Construction Com- pany. which was the company awarded the contract to renovate Central. (Below) Con- struction workers replace one of the large lights located at the building's front entrance. A rubbish pile created by the renovation work (left) provides a good subject for a student photographer. (Above) A sign warns students and others to keep away from a section of the building. We found students to be very cooperative.” a construction official said. Renovation—19