Beaumont school court case goes to the judge

July 31, 2009 6:04 PM
Ashley Rodrigue

The fate of the old South Park School is now in the hands of a district judge. A temporary injunction hearing wrapped up this afternoon after four days of testimony.

The fate of these walls and the classrooms inside them.. now rests with a judge in this courthouse.

The week long temporary injunction hearing between BISD and the Beaumont Heritage Society ended Friday afternoon with two very different messages for the judge.

Plaintiffs' attorney, Mike Getz said, "If people go to the polls and rely on that, make their votes thinking that that's going to be the case and then the school board changes their mind, we'll that's just not right any way you slice it."

"The Beaumont Heritage Society claims that somehow BISD did not address their claims, but it's clear from the testimony that they never approached BISD about anything," said district attorney Melody Chappell.

The Beaumont Heritage Society filed for an injunction against the district at the beginning of the month. The group wants to prevent the district from demolishing the old South Park school.. a part of BISD's $389 million bond.

When the hearing began, the plaintiffs said South Park should be saved for three reasons: They believe the district lied to voters, that it's financially irresponsible.. and they argued the building is a historic landmark.

Both sides believe they made their points for and against those arguments.. between Tuesday and Friday.

Chappell said, "I don't think that the court in this case would put itself in the position to determine what's best for the students of BISD"

"Our goal is not to further fragment this community but to see that the community comes together and I think everybody's goal is to do what's in the best interest of the children," said Getz.

While the hearing focused a lot on what has been, the two sides, and much of the community, are anxiously awaiting what will be for South Park.

Judge Bob Wortham did not announce when he will make a decision about the injunction request.


Here are some highlights from Friday's testimony:

-A revised project cost estimate by Parsons to renovate South Park, as opposed to demolishing it, showed a cost increase of about $10 million from the current price tag of $33 million. The actual item just addressing renovation of the main building showed a cost of less than $10 million.

-BISD Assistant Superintendent Terry Ingram testified that the district has made changes to other promised projects, including Regina Howell, high school auditoriums and a new multi-events center at the Athletic Complex.

-Beaumont City Council member Nancy Beaulieu as a member of the political action committee sponsored by the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce. Beaulieu testified that she confirmed information about South Park's plans from a district employee, who said the school would not be demolished. That information was later published in a newsletter, paid for by the Chamber, and distributed throughout the city just before the bond election in November 2007.


http://www.kfdm.com/news/judge-33234-school-south.html