Day 3: Beaumont Heritage Society vs. BISD

July 30, 2009 6:26 PM
Ashley Rodrigue

The Beaumont School District has begun presenting its case in a hearing that could determine the fate of the South Park school building.

Day three of the courtroom clash was filled with P's: petitions, Parsons, people and propositions.

The 2,600 petitions provided by South Park alumni were brought into question when BISD's attorney pointed out many of the petitions came from outside of the original South Park ISD area. The largest stack of petitions came from outside of the Beaumont area while the smallest amount came from the original South Park ISD area.

BISD attorney Melody Chappell also said there was no clear purpose indicated in the petitions. They listed three different reasons at the top of the page, including items about busing students and reopening South Park as a new high school.

Representatives from Parsons, the company charged with managing BISD's $389 million bond project, discussed the costs and steps involved in tearing down South Park and rebuilding another school in its place. Program Director Bob Menefee says there has always been at least half a million dollars in the project's budget for preservation, furthering the district's claim it promised if it had to build a new school on the old site, it would save as much of the old building as possible.

"The existing building is an impediment to meeting state and BISD requirements for this project," said John Reagan, Parsons senior estimator. He also said the legal delay could cost the district an extra half a million dollars. After questioned from plaintiffs' attorney Mike Getz, Reagan admitted the costs associated with the project are all guesses, but, he added that they're proving to be accurate.

The South Park PTA President said he always understood the district's intention was to tear down the school, while a member of the Beaumont Rotary Club said he was led to believe it would be saved.

Questions were also raised about the bond proposition on the ballot in November of 2007.

BISD bond attorney Lance Fox told judge Bob Wortham because the wording on the ballot was so broad, the BISD trustees are free to make changes without legal punishment.

Fox was also asked about the Community Advisory Bond Committee. Fox told Judge Wortham that while he would advise the district to address inaccurate information spread by CABC members, the district is not legally responsible for the information or making corrections.

The defense, BISD, will continue its case tomorrow. However, the plaintiffs will have the opportunity to present one more witness before both sides rest for a resolution.


http://www.kfdm.com/news/school-33208-beaumont-day.html