BEAUMONT - A critic of Beaumont's school bond proposal had his request to use an elementary school for an informational forum turned down less than a week after a session was led at a different school by one of the referendum's biggest supporters.

Mike Getz, who opposes the $388.6 million proposal, last week asked to use Regina-Howell Elementary tonight for a forum.

Getz said he was told Monday by Assistant Superintendent Terry Ingram that he could not use the school because Lance Fox, the school district's attorney for bond matters, recommended no public groups be allowed to use school facilities for bond issue discussions.

However, on Thursday, Fletcher Elementary served as the site of a public forum on the bond issue hosted by the Avenues Neighborhood Association. David Teuscher, co-chair of the Community Bond Advisory Committee, led that forum.

Ingram on Monday night referred all questions about the situation to Fox, who was not present at the meeting where Ingram was reached. When reached by telephone Friday, Fox refused to answer questions immediately, citing attorney-client privilege. He said he might consider responding to written queries.

Superintendent Carrol Thomas said he knew nothing about the situation.

Getz, an attorney, said he is considering legal action against the school district because of the double standard.

"It's not right. It denies people their right of peaceful assembly, their right of free speech," Getz said.

bgallaspy@beaumontenterprise.com
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