Emotional Day In Court Leaves South Park Standing

News KBMT
Story Created: Jul 28, 2009 at 9:57 PM CDT
(Story Updated: Jul 28, 2009 at 9:57 PM CDT )

Beaumont Independent School District Superintendent Carrol Thomas showed little emotion exiting the Jefferson County Courthouse Tuesday evening.

He was the main event in court, as the both sides argued over whether or not a restraining order should be lifted-allowing the district to tear down South Park Middle School- and build a new $42 million school on the site.

"I think the main point is that the school district always made a promise to the community that a new South Park would be built,"said Melody Chappell who is representing the BISD.

A handful of South Park supporters who sat in court Tuesday, dressed in school colors, disagree with tearing down the school

"I spoke in front of the school boards several times," said Miriam Nichol who graduated from South Park in 1969. "I took petitions and they still don't recognize us for it."

Attorney Mike Getz represents the Beaumont Heritage Society pushing to keep South Park.

"It's not enough for our school board to just take petitions from people and sit there mute," said Getz. "They actually need to respond to them.

In court, Getz was extremely aggressive when he questioned Dr. Thomas on when the district chose to tear down South Park. supporters say heard no mention of demolition before the vote that approved the bond.

Getz presented documents that he says prove the price of renovating the school could be as cheap as roughly $10 million.

Getz even suggested BISD's population will decline over the next six years, lessening the need for a new school. The district says that is speculation and argues voters have already had their say.

For now, the restraining order has been extended another day. But 58th State District Judge Bob Wortham could rule to lift the injunction that would bring down South Park as early as Wednesday.

http://www.kbmt12.com/news/local/51946112.html