Judge: South Park ruling might come by Christmas

By KEN FOUNTAIN
October 20, 2009
Posted: October 19, 2009, 7:57 PM CDT

Last updated: October 20, 2009, 12:16 AM CDT



The judge in the South Park Middle School case said Monday he might not make a ruling for almost two months.

Meanwhile, the Beaumont Independent School District has taken tentative steps to get bids to tear down the 83-year-old building.

During Thursday's school board meeting, board member Dr. William Nantz asked Superintendent Carrol Thomas to seek bids for the demolition of the 1923 structure, originally called South Park High School.

That proposed demolition spurred alumni of the school to sue the district this summer.

Last month, 58th District Judge Bob Wortham concluded a two-day trial to determine if he should grant the Beaumont Heritage Society a permanent injunction to prevent the district from tearing down the structure.

The district would build a new school on the site at an estimated cost of $43 million.

The heritage society, a plaintiff in the lawsuit with South Park High School graduate Eddie Estilette, wants to preserve the building and renovate it for use as a school.

At the end of the trial, Wortham announced he would take some time before he issued a decision.

He said he planned to read the transcripts of both the September trial and a four-day evidentiary hearing in late July, after which he had granted a temporary restraining order.

Wortham also said he would review all of the case law presented by the two sides in the case.

Monday Wortham explained by phone that he has presided at other trials almost every day since the September trial and has not yet had a chance to read the transcripts.

He also has several trials set on his docket in the weeks ahead, he said.

While he originally had hoped to issue a ruling by Thanksgiving, he said, it might not come until around Christmas.

"When I do it, I want to do it right," he said.


Read much more in Tuesday's Beaumont Enterprise.


COMMENTS:

GREENIE 1969 wrote:
Some GREENIES do still live in South Park.Some citizens are upset that we (GREENIES) are fighting to save South Park.They could have saved their school if they wanted to. South Park Teachers taught students that when you believe in something fight for it.And that is what we care doing. Over 3500 GREENIES and Beaumont Citizens have signed petition stating this.I can show you the evidence
10/21/2009 08:18 AM CDT

GALATIONS 4:16 wrote:
Legaleagle, dont pay attention to Legend. Typical of the "somebody owes me" mentality. We really have slavery today just in another form. Think about it. When a person is dependent on another person for their livelyhood, they are a slave to that person. I bet Legend is in this category.
10/20/2009 02:50 PM CDT

legaleagle wrote:
Legend - Why should BISD be allowed to build a new school at a cost of 43 million dollars when the new one can be completely renovated and made state of the art for around 20 million? Are you willing to pay the difference? As a taxpayer, you should be offended at the outrageous ways that BISD continues to waste YOUR money! By the way, kids in the West End are not getting new middle schools, even though the facilities report compiled by BISD's contractor stated that Marshall and Vincent were in virtually the same condition as South Park and that they needed to be replaced as well.
10/20/2009 02:22 PM CDT

Legend wrote:
Judge Wortham asked for the case to be heard in his courtroom. Who knows why? He couldn't make a decision to save his life. I can't believe someone who is so indecisive could be a judge. There is no way it should take this long to make a decision about this school. I guess he wants to get opinions from his colleagues and voters before he decides. Tear the school down and let these kids get the new school they deserve. These Greenies don't even live in the neighborhood any more. Why should these alumni be a factor in the education of the up and coming students? Tear down the school, build a new one, and let the Bmt Enterprise and local media talk about something else.
10/20/2009 12:43 PM CDT

GREENIE 1969 wrote:
We(GREENIES) believe Judge Wortham will make the right decision. BISD has enough money to do the right thing.LEAVE SOUTH PARK ALONE. Emergency meeting scheduled for 10-19-09 was canceled by trustees. That shows Dr.Thomas is losing some of his power.THANK GOODNESS.
10/20/2009 08:42 AM CDT

HillebrandtHoney wrote:
I hope the judge does the right thing and agrees that the building should not be torn down. BISD is just wrong to do this. Several viable options were presented. I can't understand why the BISD trustee's don't take this opportunity to bring some much needed jobs to the south end by moving the administration to the old South Park HS building, then building a new school on the vacant land. They could sell the current Admin property on IH-10 to offset the costs. That's prime real estate on IH-10 and should bring a hefty sum to the district. The jobs in the south end would be a great way to help that area of Beaumont. That would grow some small businesses around there like they used to have when it was a high school. Don't the people in the south end want those jobs? BISD trustee's show some good will and get some great publicity on this!
10/20/2009 07:55 AM CDT