where a school-sponsored activity is taking place. Board members

where a school-sponsored activity is taking place.

Board members also received a presentation by the high school mathematics department on the use of graphing calculators. Vickie Eastham explained that the school recommends students purchase these calculators, which cost $81, when they start Algebra II. She said students begin learning about graphing in Algebra I, but with the graphing calculators in Algebra II they can do many more problems and thus learn faster because the calculators can do the work much faster than students can in hand graphing. She had Willie Eastham and Jim Clark demonstrating the uses of the calculators and the display screen from the calculator wds projected onto a movie screen so board members and the audience could watch. ;/

Board Chairman Beverly Massie said school funds could be used to provide the calculators for those students who cannot afford them. Mrs. Eastham said almost all the students purchase the calculators which can be used for two more years of mathematics classes and for advanced science classes. She said frequently the foreign exchange students don’t purchase the calculators because they would | probably not use them after leaving RCHS. For students without calculators she said homework involves fewer problems.

Superintendent David Gangel reported that atendance was at an even 1,000 on the sixth day of school. On the first day there were 970 students. Dr. Gangel said historically attendance increases throughout the fall, so the schools should meet the budgeted enrollment of 1,010.

Assistant superintendent Robert Chappell reported there were problems with buses sputtering and, not running in the beginning of the school year. He said the mechanics found the problems were the result of water in the gas tanks and in the

See Schools, Page A-8