Emergency hearing Thursday afternoon in South Park school case

August 06, 2009 12:58 PM
Scott Lawrence

A judge is holding a hearing this afternoon to allow discussion of his Temporary Restraining Order preventing the BISD board from holding an emergency meeting Thursday night.

The Beaumont board was scheduled to hold an emergency meeting at 7 p.m. to discuss whether to appeal Judge Bob Wortham's ruling preventing the district from demolishing South Park Middle School.

Judge Wortham sided with the Beaumont Heritage Society Monday when he granted a Temporary Injunction. The organization wants to preserve the South Park building, although it's not mandating the building be used as a school.

An assistant in Judge Milton Shuffield's office told KFDM News the judge granted a Temporary Restraining Order Thursday afternoon. He set a hearing for 2:30 p.m. Thursday. The Examiner Newspaper sought injunctive relief because it says the meeting doesn't fit the guidelines prescribed by the State for an emergency meeting.

BISD spokeswoman Jessie Haynes told KFDM News the district's position is the posting meets all state guidelines for an emergency meeting.

The district issued a new posting Thursday afternoon, indicating the meeting is an emergency because the board must consider whether to appeal the Temporary Injunction issued by Judge Wortham, as well as consider immediate mediation ordered by the Court. The posting states the emergency further exists because of the immediate need to possibly relocate students from the South Park campus to an alternate site if the restraining order becomes permanent.

Judge Wortham set a September 21 trial date on a Permanent Injunction.

BISD attorney Melody Chappell said the district might decide to ask Judge Wortham to make his Temporary Injunction permanent to expedite an appeal.


http://www.kfdm.com/news/school-33349-meeting-attorney.html