9/21 South Park Hearing Will Continue Tuesday

Reported by: News Staff
Monday, Sep 21, 2009 @03:17pm


Just three days after the Texas Appeals Court upheld a ruling temporarily stopping the demolition of South Park school, a hearing to decide its permanent fate is being held.

The hearing started Monday morning and will continue tomorrow.

Judge Bob Wortham granted a temporary injunction earlier this summer. He said voters were led to believe that South Park would be saved even if voters passed the 2007 bond proposal.

Wortham cited a pamphlet published by the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce that stated South Park would be saved.

Monday, former school district communications director Jolene Ortego testified that she provided that information to the chamber.

She said she got it from superintendent, Dr. Carrol Thomas.

School board attorney Melody Chappell has argued that only the board members can legally bind the district.

She also says that the appeals court didn't uphold Wortham's decision based on his argument that voters were misled.

The appeals court ruling says that the district couldn't tear South Park down, because it had not placed the item on the agenda.


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