Enterprise UPDATE: Judge rules for "Greenies" in South Park By KEN FOUNTAIN January 8, 2010 Posted: January 8, 2010, 3:16 PM CST Last updated: January 8, 2010, 3:34 PM CST 58th District Judge Bob Wortham just ruled that Beaumont ISD cannot tear down the 87-year-old South Park Middle School using funds from the 2007 bond election. The ruling, however, did not touch on if the district can use non-bond funds to demolish the school, said Melody Chappell, attorney for the school district. Wortham granted a permanent injunction to the Beaumont Heritage Society and South Park High School alumni Eddie Estiellete, a member of a loose-knit group of "Greenies," who want to see the building preserved as part of a larger renovation effort. The district wants to tear down the structure and build a new school to serve what it says will be a growing student population. The district had already approved funds to hire a contractor to begin the demolition process, which Chappell said could begin at any time after the judge signs the order. The injunction keeps the district from using bond money to tear down the school. Michael Getz, attorney for the plaintiffs, said he anticipates the district will try to make an "end run" to find a way to demolish the school using non bond funds comments fredsaid wrote: Know your history before you destroy it::http://www.lamar.edu/newsevents/articles/221_1122.htm We can not afford to build buildings like this anymore. This is a monument to our past as well as a monument to world renown Lamar University! 01/10/2010 08:53 AM CST bigmomma wrote: I have volunteered for the last few years at my local elementary school passing out the supplies for the "Empty Desk Program". This program is supposed to help those who cannot afford the basic materials to start school with. The box contains everything listed on their school supplies list. Before this program the cost of giving students materials to work with came from the teachers. Even with this program teachers still have to furnish a lot of supplies out of their own pockets...they are told that the school has no extra funds to reimburse them. Do I think that all who receive these supplies are in need? No, one lady was way too busy talking on her new i-phone to converse with me and some of the cars outside where too nice for them not to be able to afford the basic needs of their children to start school. But we all know that there will always be a certain few who take advantage of such programs. Do I think there is a need for this program...yes. And the need grows with the decline of our jobs and economy in this area. 01/10/2010 07:47 AM CST VillageVoice wrote: GALATIONS 4:16 wrote: Why do black people think they are the only race who deserve entitlements? ... Most welfare and food stamp entitlements go to whites. Matthew 12:25. 01/10/2010 07:42 AM CST A.H. wrote: A neighborhood kid came to my door last week peddling candy. I asked her why she was selling candy, and she said, "To raise money for my school." I smiled and asked her why her school needed money. She had no idea, but thought it was for "supplies or something". Apparently BISD has no "extra" money laying around with which to destroy S.P., or they surely wouldn't be sending little kids out in the dead of winter to sell candy. Seriously? $388 million dollars, and kids are selling candy for $1.00 a bar? WTF? While I'm ranting, what's with the DESK campaign? Little Johnny's own mama can't afford a Big Chief tablet and a pink eraser? 01/10/2010 01:03 AM CST timwopel wrote: get mad at people like me while the building disappears. 01/09/2010 07:37 PM CST timwopel wrote: organize, fund, make bid, take fate of building into your own hands. no one listens. 01/09/2010 07:35 PM CST GALATIONS 4:16 wrote: Oh but we sure kept the panther pride and the dump of a building that goes with it. This City is so racially divided and Black America stands around with their hands out thinking someone owes me something or because their own people sold some distant relative into slavery that they should always get their way. Statistics dont lie. No other race in this nation is enslaved to poverty like the black race. The Russians were right. A single shot will not have to be fired to take this nation down. We will fall from within. 01/09/2010 02:43 PM CST Wavy Gravy wrote: There's more wrong with paying a superintendent a luxurious king's salary than keeping proper maintenance of buildings entrusted to the school board care. Nobody cares about maintenance until they want to demolish a building and then it's "all about the children". Phooey! Hogwash! Keep on keeping on kissing Thomas' arse and ye shall have your Port Arthur. But, Thomas will be long gone and laughing at you from an unknown address in a town that never heard of him. Probably near the sanctuary city of Houston or Dallas. It sure won't be Beaumont. Why do you think his rodeo cowboy hat picture was taken in Houston? Hello? A king doesn't live among his peasants. 01/09/2010 01:20 PM CST Nunya Bizness wrote: If the BISD can't demolish the school with bond funds, how can they afford to demolish it at alll? Aren't other funds used for running the district? Does the district have a slush fund laying around for whimsical discretionary spending? 01/09/2010 11:00 AM CST bigmikegee wrote: Let go people! You are adults not children anymore, remember the past but keep moving forward. You don't live here nor have a plan to maintain this condemed building on your own so let the children have their new school. What a selfish act by those GREENIES! 01/09/2010 10:38 AM CST fredsaid wrote: Thomas might as well have his thugs demolish the Julie Rogers Theater and the Terrell Library, while he is destroying Beaumont History, neither one of those buildings are about HIM! 01/09/2010 08:31 AM CST bill73 wrote: Didn't mean to leave out Pt. Arthur I.S.D.; Thomas Jefferson High...GONE!, Lincoln High...GONE! and Stephen F. Austin High...GONE! Remember the good old days. 01/08/2010 11:00 PM CST bill73 wrote: Beaumont High...GONE! French High...GONE! Hebert High...GONE! Charlton Pollard High...GONE! Forest Park High...GONE! South Park High...GONE! Times have changed; sometimes you can't go home again. Remember the good times and move on. 01/08/2010 10:46 PM CST dowen@gt.rr.com wrote: "58th District Judge Bob Wortham just ruled that Beaumont ISD cannot tear down the 87-year-old South Mark Middle School during a hearing in his courtroom." SO, THEY CAN TEAR IT DOWN AFTER A HEARING IN HIS COURTROOM, RIGHT? HAVE THEY STARTED YET. AS A HEARING IS COMPLETED? 01/08/2010 06:23 PM CST corky2 wrote: Woe indeed, fredsaid, woe indeed. When M Chapelle claims the decision a victory, that's exactly what they're planning...an end run. Bunch of turds. 01/08/2010 06:18 PM CST edoyle7 wrote: Loophole its coming down. carrol thomas' will be done. 01/08/2010 06:16 PM CST fredsaid wrote: If Thomas continues with his, Tribal Chief Management Style, and destroys a historic building just to prove he can, then he is a far worse person than I had ever dreamt he could be. Once that building is destroyed it will be gone forever. As it is now I think he is a lying sack of shit! If the building is destroyed, "Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, .... 01/08/2010 05:51 PM CST corky2 wrote: We gained the 'recognized' rating before little if any facilities were improved, so that kinda blows your theory about a new building making a difference. What infrastructure? School buses and a facade on old Hebert High School? Thank the teachers and some principals, not infrastructure. Do you realize many schools have a 12-15:1 student/teacher ratio while others have 30-35:1 ratio? Yet those teachers still manage to achieve despite over population. When schools exceed there population the common practice is to simply change the capacity figures. It's a big scam. Upper admin allows this inequity to exist throughout BISD. Wonder why? Half of the school board is borderline illiterate. Also, the population is hardly thriving...it's actually down or unchanged, and if you can show me how a school board has changed our taks scores I'd love to hear that explanation...Building a new school at South Park IS NOT a bad thing...but the point all along has been that the bond passed with the promise that old SP would be preserved. Why is that so hard to understand? The judge seems to understand. By the way, South Park Middle has a very low Student/Teacher ratio and the area of town is NOT increasing. 01/08/2010 05:30 PM CST pall2509 wrote: That scum Wortham must have been fed some of that BBC fron Thomas as he left open a loop hole. The ruling means nothing. BISD can say whatever they want and not be held accountable. They are all full of bull! 01/08/2010 05:25 PM CST corky2 wrote: I agree, they'll just use other funds. The difference is, if asked why they acted against the will of the majority of voters, Thomas or the board can't claim amnesia. The action will be a matter of record. Thus, solid grounds to vote these 'stewards' of our tax dollars out of office. Perhaps, even if the old school is destroyed with other tax dollars, this event can be a wake up call to all of BISD tax payers to be proactive, as the Greenies were, and work toward a better representative system in local school issues in general (sign the petition). To quote the great Bill Murry...."the acorn which becomes the mighty Oak." You folks who think this prevents those kids from having a nicer school are ignoring the fact that BISD can have both-a preserved South Park and a new version as well. Hey, if we can afford a million for a scoreboard, we can afford to make both sides happy. Best wishes to the past and present South Park Community. 01/08/2010 04:54 PM CST doseoftruth wrote: Dr. Thomas, like many of our southeast TX leaders [Becky Ames, Audwin Samuel, Judge Wortham, W.L Pate, and etc.] is a flawed human being. The district, however, has continuously gotten better infrastructure and has raised its academic rating overall to "Recognized," all while continuing to grow along with Beaumont's flourishing population. I know that many people think he is overpaid or for whatever reason have their issues with him. I just have a hard time trying to figure out why building a new school wth up to date facilities is a bad thing. 01/08/2010 04:53 PM CST GALATIONS 4:16 wrote: Why do black people think they are the only race who deserve entitlements? 01/08/2010 04:51 PM CST GREENIE 1969 wrote: Well a Big Thanks To Judge Wortham he sited BISD lied to Beaumont Citizens and everybody knows they did. Thomas your days are numbered. 01/08/2010 04:50 PM CST GALATIONS 4:16 wrote: He cant rebuild with bond funds either. Now we wait on the FBI investigation results. Jessie, are you warm in your office, Love Carroll 01/08/2010 04:48 PM CST MEZEUS wrote: Judge say, hey, lot of people in Southpark area vote. Thomas, he only got one vote. 01/08/2010 04:45 PM CST Zavallajack wrote: Send them to Vidor. Will do some improvement there. 01/08/2010 04:43 PM CST soccermom2 wrote: Hmmm....I wonder if Dr. Thomas will actually do the right thing for once and not spend money from the general fund (taxpayers' dollars) just because he lost. Doubt it. I bet the demolition crews will be there on Monday. What a man! 01/08/2010 04:23 PM CST fredsaid wrote: Judges says, OK Greenie's. Greenie's say, kiss my ass DR Thomas. Your move Carroll.... 01/08/2010 04:04 PM CST JaMac wrote: I think that the tax payers should now say that BISD can not use their tax dollars to cover the demolition cost. You have all spoken up for the bond money you approved...now speak up for the tax dollars you pay. 01/08/2010 03:48 PM CST PrivateSchoolMomma wrote: The Greenies are celebrating for no reason. The contractor has already been paid with monies from else where. I can't wait to see this building torn to down so that land will go to actually serve a purpose instead of peoples' egos. 01/08/2010 03:45 PM CST timwopel wrote: i think this ruling delayed the fact that the school will come down. they just have to pay for it with different money. better get your ducks in a row quick if you want to really save it. 01/08/2010 03:40 PM CST strosfan wrote: Great now the school will sit and rot. Kids will go to South Park Portable Middle School for 30 yrs. By then the Greenies should all be gone and the school can get torn down. And no one will care. 01/08/2010 03:39 PM CST redbunny wrote: Yahoo from a Forest Parker. 01/08/2010 03:36 PM CST Wavy Gravy wrote: EXCELLENT! 01/08/2010 03:33 PM CST corky2 wrote: Congratulations to those folks who stood up for what was right. Now is a good time to sign a petition and vote some yes men out of office. 01/08/2010 03:33 PM CST bigmomma wrote: How wonderful. I'm sure that the district will appeal and spend more money on legal fees and court cost to fight this. After all King Thomas is not use to losing. Congratulations and a big thank you to all that helped stop the destruction of this fine old building. 01/08/2010 03:27 PM CST Baby Boomer wrote: Settled. Now hurry up and remodel that school and get the kids out of the portables. enough time wasted in the courts. 01/08/2010 03:26 PM CST Joe@pollabear.org wrote: wow no comment? 01/08/2010 03:23 PM CST GALATIONS 4:16 wrote: Jessie, What are we gonna do, Love Carroll 01/08/2010 03:22 PM CST Zavallajack wrote: Yessire...How Bout Dat> 01/08/2010 03:22 PM CST