When the new superintendent faced a crisis with possible

When the new superintendent faced a crisis with possible asbestos found by a construction crew at the high school the week before school began, he wasted no time in making the discovery public. Dr. Gangel contacted a member of the Rappahannock News staff at home that Tuesday evening to be sure that the discovery made the paper that week.

He provided all the information that he had at that point, and was direct and candid in admitting that he didn’t have all the answers to the reporter’s questions. Thankfully, by the week’s end the problem had turned out to be less serious than first feared, and Dr. Gangel, with obvious relief, got that information out promptly as well. ( To the agenda for School Board meetings, Dr. Gangel has padded two items that will work'toimprove the county’s -educational program. - - - ; The first is an in-service program for the School Board ^members. Last month, Kathleen Calvert talked about what is going on in the various special education programs. This pnonth, assistant high school principal Bemie Chesshir Reviewed the athletic program at RCHS. These in-service sessions give the board members information and an opportunity to direct questions to the administrator in Charge. What they learn will help them function more •effectively as leaders in the effort to provide Rappahannock’s lyoung people with quality education.

At the October board meeting, Dr. Gangel inaugurated “focus on instruction.” Seventh-grade science teacher Lynne Baines gave a brief overview of what she covers during the year and then her students talked about their current projects and demonstrated their “toys,” the compound microscopes and microprojectors used in the class.

Here was more information for the School Board and a valuable opportunity for youngsters to speak in public, as well as an exposure to local government at work. In addition, parents who don’t ordinarily attend meetings came to bring their children.