Central principal asks for supplies

Manchester – Nine days into the school year, Central High School principal John Rist yesterday asked for donations of paper, copy machine toner, office furniture and any other supplies for his high school.

Rist made his plea to about 50 parents who attended "New Central Parent Night" at the school. The meeting was designed to let parents know about the school, expectations for children and topics that ranged from school lunches to student safety.

Rist said he's told his teachers not to ask for anything this year that will cost money. A requisition form will be a waste of paper, he said.

"If you have any reams of paper at home, and you don't want them, call me up. I could use them," Rist said. He said the school has already received a donation of 33 reams of paper. Also, BAE Systems in Nashua and Plymouth State University are donating computers.

Voice-mail messages left with Mayor Frank Guinta, the chairman of the city school board, and Vice Chairman Leslee Stewart were not returned last night.

The superintendent of Manchester schools, however, said the school district office has not encouraged principals to ask parents for paper or supplies.

If everyone is conservative and limits the use of copying and paper, the school district will make it through the year, said Superintendent Michael Ludwell.

"It's, as you know, a very tight year," Ludwell said. "I believe we've budgeted for all the basics."

Rist said tight budgets forced him to ask for the paper.

"It came down to the district of Manchester -- are we going to put teachers in front of children or have new textbooks or paper?" Rist said. Rist said the decision was made to keep teachers on the job, averting what would have been 10 layoffs at Central.

Rist said Central, the oldest and largest public high school in the state, has some problems with crime and violence, but they are often exaggerated. He said students need to stay on the school grounds.

"If they're in Bronstein Park, I can't help them," he said.

He said Central does have its brawls, as do all schools. In August, a Manchester mother said she feared that her 14-year-old daughter, Bryanna Feliciano, would be harmed when she started school alongside the girl gang that assaulted her earlier in the summer.

Rist said the situation was handled the first day of school.

He and a police detective invited the girls into his office. Rist said he wanted to know what happened, and one of the girls courageously stood up.

"The detective took the girl, and they went off (school grounds)," Rist said.

He said he spoke to the remaining girls.

"To my knowledge, nothing else has happened," he said.