BREAKING NEWS: South Park being torn down By THE ENTERPRISE April 2, 2010 Posted: April 2, 2010, 12:59 PM CDT Last updated: April 2, 2010, 4:54 PM CDT Demolition of South Park Middle School has begun. An excavator is removing the steps to the front entrance of the 1923 structure. Demolition crews have already removed the railings. A second excavator has been brought in and is being unloaded. An employee for Allco, a Beaumont-based construction company selected by the Beaumont ISD to oversee the demolition, confirmed workers are on site and were instructed to bring the building down. Michael Getz, a Beaumont attorney representing the Beaumont Heritage Society in a battle against BISD to preserve the building, said "it is interesting the school district would decide to tear the school down on a holiday weekend." This afternoon, about half a dozen people hung around the site watching and taking photos. Jimmy Madaffri was in tears as he got out of his car. "They don't build buildings like that anymore," he said as he watched excavators work on the school he and his five brothers graduated from. Madaffri, 74, said he thought the reason the building was being torn down was because it was the last standing figurehead of the time before segregation. He said Port Arthur had the right idea by turning Woodrow Wilson Middle School into a performing arts building. Mary Rogers, whose granddaughter now attends South Park in portables, said she favors a new school but hoped they would save the front of the old South Park Middle School and build the new one behind the façade. Rogers said there was never going to be a compromise between the district and the heritage society. "I hate to see it come down," she said. Representatives from BISD were unable to reach for comment as of 1:05 p.m. The district is closed today for Good Friday. Comments: thisisinsane wrote: we all saw today what thomas and his crew are made of, they are underhanded, crooked, liars and will be held accountable one day for what they did. we already know that OVERPAID thomas isn't a man of character, just ask his wife, he hasn't pulled this town together he has divided it . bisd is not the same school district it used to be, there are to many a**kissers who are trying to please the holy thomas and when u put imcomptent people in positions of authority only because they kissed his a** then you get what you deserve. if this had been hebert high then a different group of people would have been mad, oh but they would have been black so it wouldn't have been a race thing. u people who think thomas is all that, TAKE YOUR BLINDERS OFF!!!! he is an overpaid, immorral man of no character that has brainwashed this city. well, you just lost two more students , we will no longer be a part of this pitiful school district. I hate the fact that my tax dollars go towards this mans salary, we all need to remember this next election and get rid of the school board get some new blood in there and FIRE the crooked, immorral no character thing that has the title of superintendent right now. Remember to vote in the next election get rid of the school board we have now and FIRE THOMAS and the rest of the a**kissers and actually get some people in there who really care about our kids. South Park South Park dear old South Park !!! GO Sparky!!! Greenies NEVER DIE!! 04/02/2010 10:19 PM CDT The Truth wrote: Beaumont, the new Gary Indiana. Look it up. 04/02/2010 10:04 PM CDT Wavy Gravy wrote: It's simple enough to see that Carrol Thomas was trying to erase anything connected to segregation of education in Beaumont. But, what that heartless simpleton did was to stoke glowing embers of racial discord once again. I personally didn't think it was possible for me to hate anyone or anything as much as I do Carrol Thomas right now. It is wrong for me to hate like I do. But, when out of town (Thomas came from the Houston area) folks who do not have the right to tug at emotional strings that bind our childhood memories to our hometown and in fact.......our lives.........rip the soul right out of a community by unnecessary destruction. It just boggles the mind where the vileness and sinister purpose resides in such an individual. But, this event has been brewing for quite some time. ///// http://setxbayou.blogspot.com/2008/01/sweetheart-deals-syphilis-and-carrol.html 04/02/2010 09:59 PM CDT Ringo wrote: The demolition company is AMBUSH Demolition. How appropriate. Everyone does know, right, that Thomas is the highest paid superintendent in the state. Makes $7,000 more than the guy who came in second, which is the superintendent of Houston ISD. For comparison's sake, check this out: BISD has about 19,000 students, and Houston ISD has over 200,000 students. Anyone see something wrong here? Of course, Thomas and his gang are untouchable... 04/02/2010 09:46 PM CDT Ringo wrote: Remember the three tall windows in the center of the building, on the third floor? Each window was divided in such a way to have the appearance of a cross (I can just about guarantee you this wasn't an accident of design). Three crosses total. They ripped those crosses out and let them fall three stories to the ground. Then ran a multi-ton piece of demolition machinery over them. On Good Friday, two days before Easter. Wow, I wouldn't want to be Thomas or any of his gang when their turn comes to account for their time here on earth. Wow.... 04/02/2010 09:37 PM CDT Beekeeper wrote: Well, it's official now. Up until today there was a chance at peace and harmony for everyone. Not anymore. Doc Thomas has finalized the division of Beaumont right down racial lines. I hope that phuggin' bastard rots in a part of HELL that the Devil has built extra special for the most criminal and deceitful of all. Thomas is not a peacemaker. He's a criminal. 04/02/2010 08:51 PM CDT bigbird wrote: They could have hired a drone plane to hit the building and it would have collapsed. 04/02/2010 07:54 PM CDT bigbird wrote: The judge said the school board committed fraud,so let the D.A. file charges against them,just making a joke,the only people he likes to file charges against are nudist on the beach. 04/02/2010 07:42 PM CDT Not-PC wrote: It's a sad thing to lose the S.P.H.S. building so lets just move on . Lets go back in time , does anyone remember the soul bowls that was held at Lamar Stadium ? I made it to four of them . Beaumont had two school districts and six high schools at one time . Can you name them ? I noticed parts of McArthur Jr.H. is still there too bad the face of S. P. could not have been saved . 04/02/2010 07:26 PM CDT TexasGirl1960 wrote: I am assuming that BISD will not live up to their promise to save any of the architectural elements (they are in pieces on the ground) or let the alumni have anything from the inside. THey advertised they would do it and let everyone sign up for items like auditorium chairs, signs, etc. Another promise broken. THey didn't save anything. 04/02/2010 07:12 PM CDT Proud_Panther wrote: @not-pc yes actually everything at ozen except for the new gym and math-science complex is Hebert, and if Dr. Thomas had his way he would just close down Ozen, demolish it completely and build some random athletic complex. 04/02/2010 06:52 PM CDT Not-PC wrote: I know Ozen H S. was once Hebert H.S. Does anyone know if the original Hebert building is still there ? It would be as old as S.P. maybe it needs to come down as well , then we'll see that Hebert pride come out in protest . This new school building on Highland Ave. will probably be named after some civil rights person. 04/02/2010 06:45 PM CDT Proud_Panther wrote: Beaumont needs a bomb dropped right in the center. Now i remember why I moved, most of the whites are racist most of the black are lazy and most of the people are deprived of common sense. One day the sensible people left are gonna say screw Beaumont and their jacked up school district and move right on out. 04/02/2010 06:37 PM CDT lookintothis wrote: Anyone who wants to can be competent, caring, trustworthy, and hard-working, regardless of race. But Carroll Thomas and his cronies choose to be none of the above. 04/02/2010 05:43 PM CDT GALATIONS 4:16 wrote: The Beaumont Chamber supported this. If you are a member you should quit. It is a waste of your money. Dont do business with any of their members. Also boycott Beaumont Bone and David Teucher!!! 04/02/2010 05:43 PM CDT GALATIONS 4:16 wrote: Proud Panther is an OXYMORON. 04/02/2010 05:39 PM CDT GALATIONS 4:16 wrote: Now all we have is Panther Pride. What a joke. Perpetual breeding program for welfare. Most are knosked up at 15 and living large off of the white man. Carroll Thomas lives large off of us too. White folks pay the bulk of the taxes in this town although we are less than 50% of the population . Go figure. Edit this Enterprise? 04/02/2010 05:38 PM CDT lookintothis wrote: Good post, Skeeet. To add to my 5:28pm post: Oh, and another reason people are upset about the South Park building is because it was the flagship of a school district (SPISD) that no longer exists due to earlier BISD incompetence and malfeasance, the last major evidence of SPISD's existence that hadn't yet been buried. 04/02/2010 05:37 PM CDT buddy wrote: Amazing that Proud Panther and Jack can even write a coherent sentence, given their educational background, which must have been in 'old' schools. 04/02/2010 05:35 PM CDT skeeet wrote: Jangiling, don't be stupid. Is the Alamo more imortant than a 200 year old barn? Yes, some old buildings are more important than other, it's called history. If you had stayed in school until 11th grade you would have known that. 04/02/2010 05:28 PM CDT lookintothis wrote: Jack, if you are actually upset about Amelia being torn down, then be upset about that, don't take it out on other people who are upset about another building being torn down. "If I can't have mine, you can't have yours" is not a good attitude. The loss of one/some buildings shouldn't have to mean the loss of more buildings. I don't know a lot about the Amelia building except that it was similarly old (but very different architecture), and was an elementary school. It may well have been worth saving too. But there was/is more outrage in defense of the South Park building because it was a high school for many decades (which means many more people went to school there than any elementary school, and at a more memorable phase of their lives), and because it is where Lamar University and Lamar Institute of Technology began (started as South Park Junior College in 1923). 04/02/2010 05:28 PM CDT timwopel wrote: I TOLD YOU AND YOU DIDN"T BELIEVE ME!!! BYE BYE BUILDING!!! 04/02/2010 05:22 PM CDT lookintothis wrote: Oh, and icing on the cake: they couldn't even keep the blood money from these demolition contracts in the Beaumont area. The contractors they had on site briefly last summer were from the Houston area, and now this Ambush Demolition company is from Houston too. 04/02/2010 05:06 PM CDT JangilingJack wrote: Where were you when they tore down Amelia? Huh???? Guess some old buildings are more important than others? Hypocrites. 04/02/2010 05:02 PM CDT lookintothis wrote: It wouldn't have to be too late to at least save most of it and repair the damage done today, if some kind of 'cease & desist' could somehow be done this afternoon/evening. (Sadly, I know that has very little chance of actually happening.) If Former Yankee is correct that "Monday an appilant court could rule with the Judge, and make BISD live up to its promises not to tear SP down.", then why are they able to do this? They were forced to wait months for the last ruling. Judge Wortham's comments reported yesterday -- "the BISD school board and administration committed a fraud upon the citizens of BISD" and "has breached its fiduciary duty to the citizens of BISD" and "violated the Open Meetings law by discussing the school's fate behind closed doors" -- should've been said months ago when he made his ruling, and Thomas and his cronies should have been ousted at the least, if not fined and/or put behind bars. Instead, they are blithely going right ahead with whatever the heck they want to destroy, and conveniently doing so on a holiday weekend to make it even more unlikely that any last-minute action to intervene would be able to happen. Disgusting. Nearly a year of legal efforts undone. I agree that it is well past time for criminal charges. 04/02/2010 04:48 PM CDT lookintothis wrote: Proud Panther and JangilingJack may not give a darn about history or appreciate the beauty and value of an irreplaceable historic building (which could've been totally refurbished and modernized for half the cost of tearing it down and replacing it), but SOME Beaumont-area residents (who are all quite able to think about more than one thing at a time during the months/years that this has been going on) are smart and caring enough to recognize that it's a lot more than some "stupid building" as you ignorantly dismiss it. 04/02/2010 04:47 PM CDT skeeet wrote: Way to promote harmony between the races Dr T. You're responsible for more racial tension than Jesse and the rest of the race pimps. You're really helping your people out here. I guess when you run all the white people out of town you can have Beaumont to yourselves. Welcome to north Port Arthur. 04/02/2010 04:43 PM CDT brchodzin wrote: I have no personal attachment to South Park, no history in Beaumont, and didn't even go to school here (thank goodness, in looking at BISD leadership) but the basic injustice of this whole thing makes me sick. It makes me sick to my stomach in the same way as when I read a child rapist walks free because of jail overcrowding, or a proven psychopath and murderer like Michael Vick is making six figures or more. There is right and there is wrong, bottom line, and everything about the way BISD and its legal mouthpiece has handled this is wrong. They lied, they stole, they lied some more, they stole some more, and I'm positive they are sitting around toasting themselves and their victory today and laughing at all of us for once again "pulling one over." Sadly, until the people of Beaumont take a stand en masse and actually DO something about it, nothing will ever change. I hope everyone involved with BISD and the school board does time over this fraud, and maybe then someone who actually cares about the children of Beaumont and their education can finally have some power. If anyone actually believes that a new BUILDING will do anything for your children, you're kidding yourselves. Until BISD does a complete 180, your children are damned to the same sub-par education and dismissive attitude from leadership. 04/02/2010 04:41 PM CDT allsmiles wrote: Carroll Thomas should have been tied up with a noose and hung on the front door steps when the demolition began!! Sorry b@stard!!! You need to take your sorry @ss out of BISD. You already ruined one school district and got kicked out of there for it. Your day here will not come soon enough. 04/02/2010 04:38 PM CDT allsmiles wrote: Carroll Thomas should have been tied up with a noose and hung on the front door steps when the demolition began!! Sorry b@stard!!! You need to take your sorry @ss out of BISD. You already ruined one school district and got kicked out of there for it. Your day here will not come soon enough. 04/02/2010 04:38 PM CDT allsmiles wrote: This song is dedicated to Carroll Thomas. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atBg9zLI2bA 04/02/2010 04:18 PM CDT Proud_Panther wrote: @ sj25 yes you people aka the people making a big fuss over a stupid building when more important issues are at hand and sure you can buy me a ticket i need a trip anyways :) Alot of you sound like the homeless crazies on the side of the road preaching about a bunch of nothing get a life that dosent revolve around a old school building. 04/02/2010 03:41 PM CDT former yankee wrote: drifterpilot - I would be happy to contribute to that cause..... 04/02/2010 03:33 PM CDT admaven wrote: This makes me sick. I hope that the citizens who stand for decent elected officals will hang Thomas and all by the toenails so everyone can take a swing of them wasting taxpayers money! 04/02/2010 03:30 PM CDT JangilingJack wrote: You people are f****** nuts. It's just a goddamned building. Get over it. 04/02/2010 03:30 PM CDT drifterpilot wrote: Now it's time for criminal charges against Dr. Thomas and the BISD school board members for fraud. Until this demolition, the citizens of Beaumont have not suffered actual damages from the fraudulent conduct of BISD. Now, the citizenry of Beaumont has suffered actual damages in the form of demolition of an important historical landmark under fraudulent circumstances. This action now confers legal standing to bring suit for recovery of damages against the person (or persons) who committed the fraud. The original trial proved that fraudulent conduct on the part of Dr. Thomas and BISD school board had in fact occurred. Now that damages have been incurred as the result of that fraudulent conduct, the grounds have been set for litigation. The only reason that BISD acted in this way is because they know that the findings of fact and conclusions of law issued by Judge Wortham in the first trial would be convincing to any appellate court panel who might hear the case, and the only way to prevent this is to carry out the destruction over the holiday recess before the Greenies have opportunity to file an appeal on Monday after the holiday. Appeal is now moot. Criminal charges against the perpetrators of this crime are not. 04/02/2010 03:29 PM CDT SJ25 wrote: @Proud_Panter. "You people"? How about I buy you a one way ticket back to the African jungles? You can throw some war paint on your face and pillage and rape the neighboring tribes without fear of incarceration over there. 04/02/2010 03:16 PM CDT SJ25 wrote: I haven't been paying much attention to this controversy. I figured the school was some old dilapidated building and eye sore that had to clear the path for a newer school. Then I googled it and saw this: http://www.preservationnation.org/assets/photos-images/preservation-magazine/todays-news-items/2009/South_Park_HS.jpg They are tearing down that historic and architectural masterpiece for todays cheaply constructed modern day modular unit buildings? What was I missing? Why were libtards hellbent on destroying it, and doing so against public wishes? Bingo!..."the reason the building was being torn down was because it was the last standing figurehead of the time before segregation." 04/02/2010 03:13 PM CDT former yankee wrote: People, the building had to be razed today. Monday an appilant court could rule with the Judge, and make BISD live up to its promises not to tear SP down. Why would you think there would be a building left of the old SP, it has been a thorn in the side of BISD since the merger years ago.....And you are talking to a brick wall when you try to tear down Dr T's integrity, he has none..... 04/02/2010 02:59 PM CDT Proud_Panther wrote: it was either gonna get torn down or burnt down which do you people prefer ? 04/02/2010 02:56 PM CDT fredsaid wrote: DR Thomass, you godless bastard, you lowlife no good scum sucking pig. You pull this Voodoo Magic crap on Easter weekend. Somehow in you and your butt buddy's deranged minds you have figured out this would be the Coupe de Grace. Attack the front doors, breach the moat, destroy the castle. Well old boy, you have taken this King Arthur roll too far. You have become a legend in your own mind, the very worst and horrible kind of man. Damn you Carroll Thomass, damn you to hell! 04/02/2010 02:53 PM CDT how about no wrote: God knows I disagree with a lot of things that BISD pulls on the public. I agree that the school's shell could have been saved and the interior could have been remodeled. Having said that, people let's have a little perspective here. Quit quoting God just because it is Good Friday. All you people calling for Fire and Brimstone are being ridiculous. They are tearing down a School, not a church. For everyone putting on their "I AM SO OUTRAGED HE IS DOING THIS ON GOOD FRIDAY" Sunday Face and quoting scripture, damning the board and Thomas on a biblical level, wishing them dead, I have one thing to say. That isn't very Christian of you. I thought you people were supposed to be forgiving and turn the other cheek. 04/02/2010 02:53 PM CDT Lab Rat wrote: Doctor Thomas, you took my Pietzsch Elementary building down to the ground. You took my MacArthur Junior High and now my South Park High School. There is no SPISD building standing that I can take my grandchildren to and show them where I received my education. Words cannot express my true emotions. But, I promise you that I will follow your remaining career. And, when you finally retire and pass on, I will justly honor you by locating your grave and urinate and on it every Easter weekend as long as I am physically able. It's the best I can do for you for all you've done. 04/02/2010 02:48 PM CDT blckpnthr wrote: Not in Washington, here with me and we are laughing at all you white idiots. He rules!! He is King T, do not forget it! 04/02/2010 02:37 PM CDT Beekeeper wrote: Allco is on my SHlTLIST now too. 04/02/2010 02:30 PM CDT fredsaid wrote: DR Thomass has flown to Washington to bury his face in Obama's lap! This is the way they both celebrate Easter! 04/02/2010 02:28 PM CDT Wavy Gravy wrote: A new school with an old face was possible up until today. Everybody could find peace and harmony with a little give from both sides blending the history and future of the school. All that wrecking ball did was to divide a community that can't stand much more division without ripping itself apart. For that you can thank the not so honorable Der Fuhrer Carrol Thomas emeritus. 04/02/2010 02:27 PM CDT buddy wrote: Jack must be old Doc Thomas' friend. Thomas and board should be in jail for their criminal deeds, but they'll roasting in hell for eternity once this earthly life is over. 04/02/2010 02:24 PM CDT EPN wrote: Carrol Thomas is nowhere to be found, is he? 04/02/2010 02:19 PM CDT JangilingJack wrote: So what. Why should the kids of South Park get less than other kids in the West End and North End who are getting new schools. You didn't give a rat's ass when they tore down Amelia. What does this have to do with Obama, you braying jackass? 04/02/2010 02:12 PM CDT CharlesRay wrote: Jack, you idiot, South Park could have been revamped and modernized for HALF of what a 'new' school costs. Obamanomics must be what you follow. 04/02/2010 01:57 PM CDT CharlesRay wrote: VOTE. THEM. ALL. OUT. 04/02/2010 01:56 PM CDT JangilingJack wrote: YEA! A brand new school for the children of South Park. It certainly is a good Friday. 04/02/2010 01:55 PM CDT CharlesRay wrote: Satan is laughing with delight, his BISD board minions are doing his bidding ... 04/02/2010 01:53 PM CDT Axiom wrote: That fine old building has withstood every weather related act of GOD since it was constructed in 1923. But, today's man-made destruction of South Park's building on this HOLY weekend is not unlike when the Jews put Jesus to death on the cross some 2000 years ago. Resurrection is the promise of tomorrow. Do not give up the fight until Carrol Thomas is behind bars. 04/02/2010 01:53 PM CDT JudyLouWho wrote: vengeance is mine, saith the Lord. What can you expect from moral-less beings on earth? I bet he is wringing his hands in glee that he got one over on voters. 04/02/2010 01:47 PM CDT buddy wrote: Let's send the bulldozers over to Doc Thomas' house after this for another demolition. School board members should be next after Thomas. 04/02/2010 01:42 PM CDT Beekeeper wrote: Well, there you have it folks. Good old Carrol Thomas' scorched earth policy in action. Tear down everything that represents a 'white' Beaumont. Is it any wonder why the "N" word exists? Here's your sign. 04/02/2010 01:30 PM CDT southeasttexas wrote: Megabucks CARROL is laughing at you all right now. 04/02/2010 01:29 PM CDT Axiom wrote: Axiom will speak for Axiom. Bobette hypothesizes fiction. 04/02/2010 01:22 PM CDT pall2509 wrote: Par for the course, why do you think Ingram quit, he knew this was coming. DT is scum, everyone knows, he will rot in hell! 04/02/2010 01:21 PM CDT Wavy Gravy wrote: To do such a dastardly thing on Good Friday proves just how evil Carrol Thomas really is within his inner being. Thomas is truly the Devil incarnate. This situation could have been handled in a way that pleased all. Thomas didn't care about community harmony. It's all about him and his power. Man, what kind of foul individual can find the gall to do that? Pure evil. That's all it is. Pure evil. 04/02/2010 01:15 PM CDT fredsaid wrote: "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean." And you sorry bastards picked Good Friday to do it! MAY GODS WRATH RAIN ON THE WICKED AND GODLESS NON BELIEVERS AND MOCKERS OF THOSE WHO GIVE THE TRUTH! 04/02/2010 01:12 PM CDT bobette wrote: It's about darned time! The pictures on the news last night, the building is mold/mildewed plagued. Axiom would probably be one of the very first to file a lawsuit if one of their kids, grandkids, etc. got sick from it! Go forward people! 04/02/2010 01:12 PM CDT Axiom wrote: GOD DAMN YOU CARROL THOMAS! A PLAGUE UPON YOU, YOUR HOUSEHOLD AND EVERYTHING YOU HAVE NEAR AND DEAR TO YOU! 04/02/2010 01:06 PM CDT