The Bayou Thursday, April 1, 2010 Daybreaker: The BISD lied, lied and -- oh -- lied again Happy stupid prank day! Let's all tow some cars at a Glenn Beck rally. Now onto the business at hand. We're being played for fools. This is about lies and the lying liars that tell them. In this case, the BISD lied. They sold us all a big ol' juicy fib. Many, in fact. This is according to Judge Wortham, who issued his findings of fact and conclusions of law yesterday. Wortham -- who seems to enjoy having these regular confabs (he decides something, holds a meeting, decides the same thing, holds another meeting, rinse and repeat) -- "concluded that the BISD board and administration misled the voters and violated the Open Meetings Act when they published information that South Park Middle School would not be demolished before the 2007 bond election." Nanny-nanny-boo-boo! They lied, and apparently could care less. Melody Chappell, the lawyer repping the BISD and the defacto mouthpiece (since "Doc" Thomas has been as quiet as a mute church mouse during all of this), tells KFDM that "the district believes nothing in the judge's ruling prevents the district from using non-bond issue money to tear down South Park." Hear that? That's the sound of the BISD's integrity flying out the window. If, of course, they had any to begin with. Argue that amongst yourselves. Here are a few of the "conclusions of law" (sounds so 'official'): 1. In failing to make a substantive inquiry as to what the costs of renovation of the South Park school building would be as opposed to demolition of the three story main building that now houses South Park Middle School and construction of a new school, the BISD school board has breached its fiduciary duty to the citizens of BISD. 2. In continuing to put out the message that there would be no demolition of the South Park school building prior to the November, 2007 bond election when the BISD school board and administration had already decided that should the bond pass that the South Park school building would be demolished, the BISD school board and administration committed a fraud upon the citizens of BISD. 3. In deciding to demolish the South Park school building behind closed doors and outside of public scrutiny, the BISD board violated the Texas Open Meetings Act. 4. The Court feels it is limited by the pleadings and the strict statute of limitations for election contest cases. Had this been an election contest case, the Court feels sufficient evidence was produced to require the Court to order a new bond election. Judge Wortham also ordered the district to pay the Heritage Society's legal fees, which amount to about $40,000. So let's pull out the BOLD sentences: The BISD school board has breached its fiduciary duty to the citizens of BISD. The BISD school board and administration committed a fraud upon the citizens of BISD. The BISD board violated the Texas Open Meetings Act. Had this been an election contest case, the Court feels sufficient evidence was produced to require the Court to order a new bond election. Now THAT, people, is a good day's work. The BISD appears on course to get their desired result, while the citizens of Beaumont get a good look behind the curtain. C'mon, don't act so surprised. We're all for the result: tear it down and erect a new school where the children of South Park can prosper. Isn't that the point? The kids. History, pageantry and old memories die hard. But lying? For the BISD, that apparently never gets old. Southeast Texas Bayou: BISD Lied and Lied