The Bayou
THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2009
Daybreaker: What if the BISD loses?
If there is any week where Doc Thomas has earned his gazillion dollar salary, it might be this one. Alright already, STOP SCREAMING! "Earned" is a poor choice, more like "worked for." That better?
With the South Park drama unfolding for a third day and a board meeting this evening, Thomas has been grilled more than an overcooked Whopper.
All this talk of demolition got our synapses firing: what IF the BISD loses? What if their grand plan to tear down South Park Middle School is thwarted by a few hundred people in color-coordinated green t-shirts?
Aside from egg of their faces, the board would have some major league 'splainin' to do. And Thomas, despite his tumultuous tenure, would suffer perhaps the greatest setback of his entire reign.
Don't laugh, it could happen. In the past two days, we've heard some compelling testimony, especially from one of the engineers that took the stand yesterday.
Could a loss be the beginning of the end for the current power structure? Anyone's guess, but a defeat on this kind of grand stage could linger...and linger.
A few months back, we opined:
"All of this whining and moaning over an 87-year-old building that isn't fit for human habitation. Too bad we can't get this kind of grassroots effort rolling when it comes to replacing the BISD board and King Thomas. If anything needs to be demolished, it's the BISD brain trust."
Maybe we misspoke (don't smirk, it doesn't happen often) -- perhaps a BISD loss would have bigger consequences.
We can dream.
16 Gator-baiters:
Late to the party said...
Why is the Beaumont Enterprise so late getting to the Carrol Thomas must go party? Your competition i.e. The Examiner, has been calling for his ouster for a decade, or more, and all you guys did was writing a bunch of crap saying how great the district was. You can't have it both ways — either he needs to go or he is as great as your reporters have written in the past. Which is it?
July 30, 2009 12:34 AM
GFFG said...
Paul Brown isn't denying he said that South Park represented segregation and needs to be destroyed. So Paul Brown lives with a reparation chip on his shoulder. Carrol Thomas could care less what happens so long as his pockets continue to be lined with gobs of taxpayer cash and his already inflated ego be adorned with esteem power suited best for the likes of one great and powerful wizard of Oz. Save the South Park building and get back to educating the kids......with a history lesson of what it means to save local history when given such a opportunity.
July 30, 2009 12:54 AM
GFFG said...
GFFG = Greenie forever / Forever Greenie
July 30, 2009 12:55 AM
BISD employee said...
2002 - Thomas faces grand jury over district's involvement in $50 million bond promotion.
2004 - Thomas investigated by Jefferson County and Harris County District Attorneys for claiming homestead exemptions on three properties. Repays money owed.
2005 - Thomas caught catering private party with district equipment. Repays the district
2007 - BISD accepts Parsons inaccurate reports and press forward for a May vote on bond
2007 - Bond passes in November after BISD promises to save South park.
2009 - Thomas admits that Maintenance and Operations money used to pay for Ozen HS. Told court he didn't remember publication promising to save South Park.
What other lies will he tell today?
And, yes, I really am a BISD employee.
July 30, 2009 6:55 AM
talking to the wall said...
Whose money does Carrol Thomas use to go to his NABSE meetings. Not to mention half of his Admin staff he takes with him, against their will, at the taxpayers expense. Just so they can see him get "installed" as the national president. An elected position he won by campaigning with our tax dollar paid district employees and supplies.
July 30, 2009 7:41 AM
S. said...
What a crock of s***!
I doubt any electrical spark could cross that great chasm between your synapses, Garden Lizard. When they do they certainly misfire.
We've heard this all before.
Remember when the first bond issue didn't pass and they said it was over for Thomas? He persevered passed a larger more ambitious bond issue than the first. Like the cockroach you have to admire Mr. Thomas' tenacity for survival.
July 30, 2009 8:00 AM
Anonymous said...
Dr. Thomas needs to go! He has done nothing for this district. I wish the BISD trustee's had the backbone to get rid of him and reverse the decision to tear down South Park. He's "too proud" or maybe it's stubborn to back down and reverse the decision. If he truly wanted to show some good will, he would acknowledge the mistake and reverse the decision. then focus on GRADES and Academics rather than the building/mortar from which education is supposed to happen.
July 30, 2009 8:02 AM
Anonymous said...
I've heard from several people that a few school board members want a new school in that neighborhood to "revitalize" it. Well, a new brick/mortar building is not going to improve the neighborhood. A good solid academic program, Test scores and graduation rates are what will really bring the focus on that community. Update the building and bring back the neighborhood high school, then you'll see pride in the community and a revitalization. The down swing in that neighborhood happened when they closed South Park High School.
July 30, 2009 8:04 AM
Anonymous said...
There are rumblings that if Carroll Thomas doesn't get his way with the SP building, he is outta here. Oh, if we could be so lucky.
July 30, 2009 8:06 AM
Anonymous said...
I'm not sure why Paul Brown thinks South Park represents segregation. South Park High school was fully integrated when I attended in the 70's. We didn't have a "majority" anything. Kids were just kids - GREEN one's - LOL. I remember meeting kids from Forest Park who couldn't believe I wanted to go to "that" integrated school - they were afraid of all the "racial" issues. I remember telling them we didn't have any issues, that was all BULL.
July 30, 2009 8:06 AM
Anonymous said...
Has everone forgotten that BISD went bankrupt? South Park ISD had to take over the BISD schools. The old cronies from the former BISD got re-elected to the new school board and changed the name to BISD. I guess they want to forever erase South Park. How soon they forget WHO really saved the Beaumont schools. If the people of Beaumont really want to improve their city, they will get rid of Dr. Thomas. People need to call their school board members and tell them to fire him!
July 30, 2009 8:11 AM
Anonymous said...
This should be all about the kids ... but its not. Bottom line-the kids in the south end deserve a new middle school.
July 30, 2009 8:47 AM
Anonymous said...
South Parkers need to secede from the union ( oops, I meant the district). All they do is whine about what happened years ago.It is time to move forward. A city of our size only needs one school district. I'm sure that none of them have children or grandchildren or even great grandchildren that attend South Park today. Yes, it is a beautiful facade. Do we want to spend millions more to renovate it? The engineer that was on the stands yesterday was a leading opponent of the bond. He has not done a study of the school.He is very anti BISD. Is this an I got you move?? Let's remove the Dr. Thomas factor and think of the kids.
My school is a pleasant memory. The building as it was is no longer. The school name was changed. I got over it! I moved on! No one can take my memories away.
Bottom line is no one in Beaumont is ever happy. Where were the Heritage Society members when Amelia was torn down? Blanchette?
Those schools were older than South Park.
July 30, 2009 9:56 AM
GFFG said...
No, anon 8:47 and anon 9:56, the bottom line is the taxpayers and public were lied to by BISD regarding the South Park building. And, THAT may be the only history lesson learned today. South Park could easily be collateral damage in the powerplay war between two former rival school districts. Folks don't like being lied to. Thomas's reputation for anything other than self-serving is beyond reproach. Paul Brown has as much admitted to wanting the South Park building razed as a personal victory. The hell with what anybody else thought they were voting for in that kangaroo bond election. Just so long as Thomas and Brown get their way. It's sad and it sucks big time. Should South Park fall victim to the wrecking ball it will prove that crime pays.
July 30, 2009 10:15 AM
Carroll Thomas is a Liar said...
You want to talk about a crappy building? The former Hebert High was a absolute dump but Carroll Thomas bent over backwards to please Paul Brown and the other Brother in the wheel chair(NAACP Idiot). Spent a fortune on the building. Bottom line Buildings don't educate kids. With the black family in such disarray(the number one killer of black males is black males)it is pretty hopeless. That is why PNG,Nederland, Lumberton and Vidor will end up bigger than any Beaumont School.
July 30, 2009 11:40 AM
Anonymous said...
The youth of the south end need a modern educational facility. If there is another site on which to build the school, then so be it. I'm sure BISD looked at these options. Evidently rebuilding on the existing site was the best option ( just like their doing at Regina, Amelia, etc. ).
Eventually there will be a new middle school built - either on the existing site or somewhere else. Who will take responsibility for the old SP building if BISD builds elsewhere?
July 30, 2009 12:04 PM