WEDNESDAY LETTERS: Readers protest destruction of South Park school By READERS WRITE April, 6, 2010 I find it despicable that the officials at BISD would tear down South Park High School! A building strong enough to stand through The Depression, times of war and tragedy, and countless storms finally falls to stupidity and greed. Folks, they don't make buildings that strong and grand anymore so don't look for its replacement to have its grandeur or last as long. I think the words on the schools Historical Marker will eventually have the last word; "South Park High School represents both the past and future of education in Beaumont." One thing I know for sure is a community with no respect for its past has no future. The Beaumont school board and its superintendent have shown how they feel about the citizen's history. The citizens will let them know how they feel about their future. Debbie Thibodeaux, Arlington ------------------------------------ Carrol Thomas is not from this area and either he doesn't know or doesn't care about the history of Lamar University or the South Park School District. That beautiful old building must have been well-built to stand for 87 years despite all the storms and hurricanes that have come through this area since 1923. Not to mention the flagrant neglect of basic upkeep. Yet, she still stood. Nature nor time took her down, but man did. When Carrol Thomas is gone from here, also gone will be an irreplaceable piece of the history of this city. How sad that we allowed a man to come to our town and destroy part of our history - forever. Sandy Welch Hayes made a good observation in her letter. Which landmark will be next? Perhaps it will be the Jefferson Theater or the historic Terrell Library. Talk about awakening a sleeping giant. WE ARE NOW AWAKE! We will be heard in the next school board elections. Dianne Murff McCandless, SPHS 1969, Beaumont ------------------------------------- Re: Demolition of South Park Middle School. Building a new building will not ensure that children learn. The problem with Beaumont (BISD and the town) is twofold: support and accountability. Schools are not supported by the community and parents. It is obvious that there is no accountability for the superintendent and the school board. But blame cannot be put solely on the administration. We the voters have to shoulder some of the blame as well. We must, as parents and citizens, become involved in the public school system. If you, as a parent are not teaching what you should at home and helping your child with their education, shame on you! Children are not held accountable for the actions that they produce. Barbara Amy, Beaumont ----------------------------- The arrogance of the BISD administration in regard to the South Park controversy is appalling. To proceed with demolition of the school building even after the judge referred to the bond issue promise not to demolish as fraud is blatant disregard of the public interest. I am a 1961 SPHS graduate with no particular sentimental interest in the building's preservation. However from a historical point of view, I do believe every effort should have been made to at least preserve the facade. I realize the judge ruled that no bond issue money could be used to demolish the building, but does anybody really believe that the board maintains two piles of money ... one labeled "cash on hand" and another "bond issue money"! I can assure you that I will not vote to return any of the current school board members to office, and every effort possible should be exercised to oust Carrol Thomas from his vastly overpaid position. Mickey Ashworth, Beaumont ---------------------------------- It is a crime that Carrol Thomas deliberately misled the citizens of Beaumont prior to the 2007 school bond election about plans to demolish the 1923 South Park Middle School building. By his actions he sent a message to BISD students that it is acceptable to lie in order to get what you want. Shame on you, Dr. Thomas. That the BISD school board would condone such dishonest behavior by the superintendent is appalling. The truth is that the South Park Middle School building could have been renovated into a state-of-the-art facility for its students, saving the taxpayers millions of dollars. Superior ethics and character are what the citizens of Beaumont deserve from their superintendent and school board members, not deception and fraud. Voters need to keep this in mind when voting in future school board elections. Antoine LeBlanc, Beaumont ----------------------------- We need to get Greenies elected to the school board. If we can get a majority, we can fire Carrol Thomas and his henchmen. If we can get a majority, we can rename the district South Park. If we can get a majority, we can at least try to get up enough money to build an exact replica of the high school, and make it the Magnet School for Performing Arts and College-Bound Academics. We have now learned that logic and fair play do not apply to ... Thomas. We may have lost this battle, but if we can pack the school board with Greenies, we will win the war Greenie Fight Never Dies! Jerry Stopher, Beaumont ------------------------------ Thoughts concerning the demolition of South Park High School Building: It really is a shame when stupidity reigns. However, in the not too distant future, there will be no surviving Greenies (nor Purples, Panthers nor Bulldogs for that matter). But there is one thing that the excavator cannot bring down and that one thing is Greenie Spirit. Long after the last Greenie is gone, that Greenie Spirit will be romping up and down the hallways of whatever thing is constructed to replace that destroyed beautiful historical structure. Wouldn't even surprise me should the new structure become a noted haunted building. You see, Greenie Spirit Never Dies. To all future students: Tell Greenie Spirit I said, "hello." Winston Hamby, SPHS Class of 1953, Benton, Ark. ---------------- Comments john q citizen wrote: Let it go, people. There are far more important issues to deal with. You fought a good fight. Now go have a beer and watch some sports on ESPN. 04/07/2010 05:23 PM CDT corky2 wrote: Did anyone promise to save CP? Anyone pass a bond issue with the pretense of saving CP? Major difference. If this is ignored, the real 'problem' perpetuates... 04/07/2010 03:47 PM CDT All-Knowing wrote: SOUTH PARK joins Charlton Pollard, good-bye and good riddens. NEXT PROBLEM 04/07/2010 03:38 PM CDT corky2 wrote: King MS was not part of the latest Bond issue, Zippy...and no one was promised to keep the original King building, so you're off point with that. Same answer for Amelia or Regina, no one promised to save those schools. In fact the promise made was to replace those schools. You are not understanding. How many kids....I'd say about 2500 (including my own) during my career. You? If I had none it would not matter; I am a tax payer. BISD lied. They're using my money recklessly. If you think Thomas and friends re-evaluated ANYTHING, you're incorrect. Wait, litigation may have cost money/time, but the district just committed to an additional 20 million by not renovating. No litigation would have been needed had BISD done as promised. You call it crying, I call it valid complaints. You seem to call a blatant lie, 're-evaluating and updating.' The testimony in court doesn't even come close to that little theory. Thomas claimed ignorance, not re-evaluation. What a load of bunk! All your arguments are garbage. 04/07/2010 03:05 PM CDT win1 wrote: Corky2, last I checed King School a new beautiful building. There is only a Small segment that is upset about South Park. The Greenies have selective hearing in this case. Corky2 wake up and join the real world you are not a child but an adult. Things change with time, plans are re-evaluated and updated. Stop whining and complaining and move forward. I don't see you complaining about, Amelia or Regina getting new schools. It is totally ridiculous for adults to literally cry over a building. The Heritage Society has waisted money and time over this foolishness. If you don't like what's going on in BISD simply move. Corky2 how many kids do you have attending BISD schools? Lets me guess NONE. 04/07/2010 02:38 PM CDT corky2 wrote: greywolf1267, what are you doing on the internet during school hours? Are you sick? Expelled? What? Cell phones are not to be used during school hours in BISD...even a renovation would have gotten SP a beautiful new interior. Besides, classes were NOT being held in the old building. You are either not a student or unaware of the promise made to the taxpayers of BISD. The students, who follow the rules, do need a nice school to attend, but the people who pay for those schools deserve to be told the truth as well. Are you telling the truth. Are you at school now? corky2 wrote: So what you're saying is it's okay to lie if it gets the kids a new school. They could have a great school whether it be renovated, totally new, and still keep the old building. win 1, you seem to miss (ignore) that point...nobody has ever said the kids at SP don't need a better facility, but that is not reason to ignore a promise made to the people who pay the bill! BISD lied, a judge characterized it as fraud, and then they demolished it despite having promised to save it. The folks in South Park carry a relatively small part of the tax burden of this district; the adults who are complaining about the malfeasance either carry a large tax burden or recognize fraud rather than overlooking it. It's a matter of principle. No other middle school is being rebuilt...this delay is the fault of the district misleading the taxpayers. Had BISD honored their word, the kids wouldn't be waiting on 'their school.' Volunteering is commendable...so is paying taxes to be used to actually pay for facilities. Once and for all, whether you live in the neighborhood or not does NOT determine whether you have more of a say about a particular school. Our school taxes are NOT divided by neighborhood. If they were, 40 million would be out of the question, win 1! 04/07/2010 02:19 PM CDT greywolf1267 wrote: I GO TO SOUTH PARK AND IM GLAD THAT THEY FINALLY TORE IT DOWN IT WAS ABOUT TIME.... MANY PEOPLE WHO WENT THERE WHERE MAD SAD AND DEPRESSED BUT NOT US STUDENTS. YALL DONT KNOW HOW IT LOOKED FROM INSIDE IT WAS A HORRIBLE ENVIORMENT FOR US NOT YALL!!! WELL NOW ALL WERE WAITING FOR IS OUR NEW SCHOOL 04/07/2010 02:06 PM CDT win1 wrote: It's a sad day! As I listen and read comments that adults have wriiten about a building it amazes me. 99% of the comments are about a building, what about the students who are awaiting their new school? Most of you are in your 50's, you enjoyed your school days in a building allow the students of today to do the same. Question, how many of the ex-Greenies have actually gone back to South Park M.S. and volunteered? Most of you don't care about the neighborhood or the children that attend the school. So if anyone is a fraud it's the ex-Greenies. 04/07/2010 01:25 PM CDT fredsaid wrote: When South Park School was built real skilled craftsmen worked for two dollar per day and everything was over engineered and over built. We can not afford to build a building like that today. Most buildings of this stature are preserved all across the world. Intelligent people know that remodeling quality construction is always better and more cost effective than destroying it for modular buildings that are meant to last 25 years. Only time will tell if South Park and the Superintendent get any smarter. "A jackass can kick a barn down, but it takes a carpenter to build one." 04/07/2010 11:51 AM CDT my2cents wrote: To the people who keep saying vote out the school board, there is no mechanism to do that. We do not have at large elections. The method for electing the board guarantees that you get exactly what we have and that they will be in the hip pocket of Carrol Thomas. And if they decide to pay him a million dollars a year, there is absolutely nothing we can do about it. He can do anything he wants and there is absolutely nothing we can do about it. We have two options, accept it or get the hell out of Beaumont like so many have already done. Just to refresh your memory, click on the data section of the Enterprise website, click on the Beaumont school salary database and input Thomas to see what Carrol Thomas and his wife are being paid. (Her salary is probably in line but his is probably a tad high.) 04/07/2010 11:49 AM CDT corky2 wrote: Imagine that Winston, Rooster was able to smooth things out by pointint to some lies. Wait, who lied? Of course he doesn't mention what magical facts he used to make the malfeasance issue go away. Wonder why he left out that part? I wonder how Rooster would explain the state district judge's comment that, had the statute of limitations not expired, he would declare the entire bond issue void.... I'm sure that's just a minor misunderstanding on the part of the Judge. Still waiting, Rooster... 04/07/2010 10:37 AM CDT WinSpin wrote: Oops...Rooster, how about that? I misspelled "fraudulent" so how about that? So I give you credit for knowing how to spell "definitely" but again, please document your earlier comments including the names of those angry Greenies who calmed down after you talked with them... Regards, Winston Hamby -- 04/07/2010 10:02 AM CDT WinSpin wrote: Rooster, are you calling a judge stupid? Do you believe for one moment that he did not know what he was talking about? Shame on you. And where did you go to school? Did they teach you how to spell "definately?" Look it up my friend. If you really believe for one moment that BISD is not guilty of fraudent actions as pertains to SPHS, then I am convinced that stupidity reigns in Rooster Land...and I would appreciate it if you could provide me documented true facts of this entire episode because I would share these with the judge that you inferred was in with the stupid group...thank you and may God bless the USA... 04/07/2010 09:55 AM CDT corky2 wrote: I agree, what fact applies after "no demolition of old South Park." Thanks for clearing up that little issue (fact). Rooster, can you bring yourself down to a level that will allow you to address that fact? There would be no controversy if that promise was not ignored. The business of the school district is the PEOPLE'S business. Those properties are owned by tax payers and the FACT that they were lied to has not been dealt with except with denial by those who lied. What facts would you share that would make that promise vanish? You have 2000 characters... 04/07/2010 09:51 AM CDT boogsma60 wrote: FACT: ROOSTER IS NO GREENIE!! 04/07/2010 09:09 AM CDT boogsma60 wrote: FACTS FIRST, ROOSTER IS NO GREENIE!! 04/07/2010 09:07 AM CDT Mamagistra wrote: FACT: BISD lied and defrauded voters when it promoted the bond with "no demolition of old South Park." 04/07/2010 08:40 AM CDT Rooster Cogburn, II wrote: Winston Hamby who now lives in Benton Arkansas, you hit the nail dead on the head when you yourself stated "it really is a shame when stupidity reigns. you have definately shown your stupidity along with all of the liars alike regarding South Park. Jerry Stopher, you mind telling me what will the board agenda entail once we "elect Greenie as board members?" The issue can't always be about South Park, can it? BISD has to continue to be about the business of this district, the children who attends the schools and the tax payers. This country has a lot going on right now with the war, a recovering economy, greedy CEO's, ignorant fools like the ones who have spewed stupidity on this blog today! The thing is, if any one of you had taken the time to come to each and every bond, town hall and board meeting, and then the court room, you would know that most of the things being said on the blogs, and in this newspaper is a bunch of bull. I have personally spoken to several angry greenie people this past week, and once they realized that what was being said was a lie, and it was only because they asked questions, they toned down their anger and apologized. My point here is to not get on your level of thinking, but to point out that you really need to get the true facts FIRST. 04/07/2010 08:29 AM CDT