The Enterprise A petition is circulating to prevent the closure of the South Park school building.

Miriam Cade Nichol, class of 1969, has been gathering signatures and has another drive planned April 14 at Travis Brothers Hardware on Washington Boulevard for a petition to express "opposition to the proposed demolition of South Park Middle School."

The only problem is that no demolition is proposed for the building that has been a middle school since 1986 and previous served as South Park High School, home of the Greenies and original site of what became Lamar University.

Nichols, 56, and fellow petition supporter Sherry Moyer Sharp, 60, said they want to be prepared since bond plans already have changed several times in recent months and could change again before the issue goes to voters.

More on the Net: Petition opposing the closing and demolition of the South Park school building South Park Greenies

"We want them to not think this is an option at all," said Sharp, a 1965 South Park graduate. "... I want it to stay a school."

In trying to develop a bond proposal, the Community Bond Advisory Committee at one point considered recommending closing South Park Middle School and sending students elsewhere. A consultant working with the group included money for demolition of the building in cost estimates.

The plan, which still is far from final, has since changed.

Committee members determined that a middle school still is needed in that part of the city, either at the South Park site or elsewhere, said Dr. David Teuscher, committee co-chairman. At the most recent committee meeting earlier this month, the plan was to get an engineering report on South Park to determine if renovation rather than rebuilding would be cost-effective.

"Renovation is our first option," Teuscher said, noting it would be the least expensive route. Even if rebuilding is necessary due to the condition of the building, parts of the existing structure probably could be saved and incorporated into a new school, he said.

Nichol said she has collected more than 200 signatures already from people in Southeast Texas and far beyond. She last went inside the building a few years ago to pick up some memorabilia for a reunion.

"I could see that you needed some work, but I didn't really pay much attention to (the condition)," Nichol said.

She still sees it from the outside frequently since she attends church in South Park and lived there on and off for much of her life. Her children attended Hardin-Jefferson schools.

Sharp wants more than just continuing the middle school. She wants South Park to be a high school again. She sees that as the key to revitalizing the South Park neighborhood, where her mother still lives but she does not.

Sharp said her oldest son started school in South Park at Bingman Elementary, but the family moved to Lumberton when the school district planned to start busing students around the district.

Sharp said she is adamant about keeping the building, although she cannot remember when she last entered it.

"They're not going to tear down the courthouse or the Mildred building that were built around the same time," Sharp said of other city landmarks. "It's part of the city."

The committee working to develop a bond proposal soon will start gathering input from various segments of the community, Teuscher said. The goal is to finalize a proposal and present it to the school board no later than Labor Day. After passing on the opportunity for a May election, the next time the board could call an election is November.

Teuscher said he has been hearing from South Park supporters, too.

"Obviously we welcome their input, hopefully from a positive standpoint," Teuscher said.

bgallaspy@beaumontenterprise.com
(409) 880-0726