Daybreaker: BLOGGIN' THE BISD

Hmmm, might we have another potential BISD tempest in the offing?

A few weeks back, the BISD reached out the Curtis Elementary parents -- organizing a few town hall-style meetings. The district sought out parental input in the initial relocation/rebuild plan. Sounds good, right? As David Copperfield might say, "it's all an illusion."

"Although parents were given a slip of paper to choose one of two options previously outlined regarding student placement during construction of a new Sallie Curtis Elementary School, a third option emerged instead."

This "3rd option" was an offer by the current head of the Beaumont YMCA to have students move into temporary quarters set up on the 12-acre grounds abutting the new Dishman YMCA site (to be completed in March).

According to reports, "Superintendent Carrol A. Thomas said the district would make a decision based on the recommendation forwarded by Sallie Curtis Principal Susan Brown." Brown was quoted -- in that same article -- as saying she would relay that there was strong support for this YMCA option.

Very strong support for this "alternative" plan. A reader clued us in to a new blog that recently popped up on the intertubes: Parents for a New Curtis.

The blog had an intriguing entry yesterday, mentioning a proposed flyer that parents wished to distribute to ALL Curtis families prior to tomorrows board meeting.

"The Parents for a New Curtis Committee made a flyer to send out to students today. We were told yesterday by the principal that we could make a flyer so long as the information did not lean one way or the other. The flyer was sent to the school this morning. They then forwarded it on to Mr. Terry Ingram for approval. At 2:46 p.m., I received a call from Mr. Ingram. I asked if we could make any changes to the flyer to help make it suit their needs. He said he spoke with Dr. Thomas about the matter. Ingram's response: "It will not be allowed to be passed out because it was not one of the two options presented at the meeting."

Don't fault Ingram, he's just doing his "henchman-ly" duties. The real issue is the way the BISD has gone about this "dog and pony show." If you only want to decide between two options of your own choosing, why bother going to the parents at all? Just do it the old-fashioned way: streamroll it through.

Anyway, there you have it. The district reaches out to parents, says they want input and then decides that the suggestions they received don't warrant further discussion.

See, an illusion.

But it doesn't make sense. If you're already planning on taking on the costs of building a temporary facility, why not create it on land that is free of construction. This accomplishes both of the district's claimed goals: a) the students are no where near an active construction site, and b) BISD can stick with the planned construction timetable (instead of waiting for Regina-Howell students to depart their Major facility).

Sounds like a win-win to us, but not to the BISD, which is dealing with an overly litigious South Park bunch, escalating costs and a shortened time window (remember 1994?). Let's hope the Curtis parents don't start acting like the Greenies or the only ones getting rich with be, as usual, the lawyers.

This should all come to a head at Thursday's BISD board meeting.

We'll bring the popcorn, it should be entertaining.




GATOR BAITERS - COMMENTS:

Wanna Buy a Watch? said...
How do you know when Carroll Thomas is lying? His lips are moving!!!
September 16, 2009 12:14 AM

I've got a bridge for sale said...
Carrol is a lying sack of SH!T. That's a known fact.
September 16, 2009 3:00 AM

Thick as thieves said...
You people let Carrol Thomas get as powerful and as rich as he is. Traditionally, there has only been one person who tried to hold Carrol Thomas and the BISD board accountable and it was not anyone at The Enterprise. Now, that Carrol Thomas has $388 million of your money, everyone is paying attention. The corruption and thievery at BISD has been going on for 15 years and The Enterprise chose to ignore it and in some cases they even helped to cover it up. Maybe Mr. Jordan should request how much protection money The Enterprise has been paid by BISD since Carrol Thomas was hired.
September 16, 2009 6:17 AM

poor mommies said...
BISDs Jessie Haynes told one tv station that the YMCA option would be discussed on Thursday at the board meeting. So is it an option or not? And if it was, why not let the parents decide and let them send out the circular? Something smells dirty. Are those moms and dads not playing exactly within Thomas' boundaries?
September 16, 2009 7:50 AM

gator hater said...
Hmmm...you don't want the Curtis parents to act like the Greenies - in other words, you want them to just let BISD lie and not hold them accountable. You may like crawling on your belly Gator, but the Curtis parents are not reptiles. BTW, the attorney for the Greenies is not making any money off of his representation of them - try to get your facts straight
September 16, 2009 11:00 AM

Anonymous said...
The "Greenies" lawyer is doing the work pro bono - the only lawyer making money is the one for BISD.
September 16, 2009 11:01 AM

libragreenie said...
BISD has done the same thing before. Following the voting process then doing as they pleased anyway. Not the first time -not the last. Bond issues have been changed after voting!! NOW, Let me inform anyone who cares to know--THERE IS NOTHING--WRONG WITH THE SOUTH PARK GREENIES. Absolutely nothing wrong with anyone of US--YES I am a GREENIE as were my parents, siblings and many other fine people in this community!! Greenies are proud of our school and our community--we are formed from grandparents, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, neighbors. We greenies grew up in South Park- still have more pride in SOUTH PARK than one BISD board memeber has in the whole district today. What GREENIES do does not have to make since to anyone else; however be aware Southeast Texas--we stand together, we stand strong and never forget "GREENIE FIGHT NEVER DIES!!!"
September 16, 2009 11:08 AM

Anonymous said...
Maybe, just maybe , BISD is doing what's best for the kids. Indeed, Thomas makes too much money, but to accuse BISD of doing the wrong thing at every turn is utter non-sense.
September 16, 2009 11:32 AM

admaven said...
Remember that you "citizens" of Beaumont put Carrol in office via the school board. Thanks for the cluster and spending tax $ that should be going to teach the kids. I want one of those t-shirts, NOT unless the line is drawn.
September 16, 2009 11:37 AM

momma knows best said...
Well, if Thomas wants to do what's best for the kids, he should ask all of their PARENTS. And listen to what they would like to see happen. Not just what he wants them to choose from.
September 16, 2009 12:05 PM

Wanna Buy a Watch said...
Admavan, we have no choice. The districts have been carved up to give minority representation. There is a Black majority on the board who love Thomas. The only way we have to fight is legally and by withholding funds(taxes). I would keep my kids at home too. Every day home is less money the district gets.
September 16, 2009 2:06 PM

Anonymous said...
All this is about is a bunch of uppity blacks trying to be more important than they really are. Thomas is going to let Paul Brown show the white community that he is the master now.
September 16, 2009 2:17 PM

Tyrone said...
You white peoples is crazy
September 16, 2009 5:03 PM

Anonymous said...
I am Damn proud to be a GREENIE and we will fight Thomas all the way. I feel sorry for the children because they are the ones getting hurt. If BISD would have done what they said they would this would be over. But they have lied so many times
September 16, 2009 5:41 PM

Anonymous said...
It`s ashame Beaumont has turned into nothing more than a bunch of racist blacks wanting to lower the morals of our once proud city. Everything that happens to a black person negativly is blamed on white people. The blacks ingest drugs, try to rob or break into a business, runs from the police, falls dead from a heart attach, and it`s the white mans fault. Maybe we can get carrol dumbmas to take some drugs. He and his pro-black panthers are already stealing from us
September 16, 2009 6:42 PM

Anonymous said...
I just found out that next years dress code for BISD would be butt cracks, underwear for everyone to see, and lots of gold teeth.
September 16, 2009 6:55 PM

Anonymous said...
I heard that South Park was being torn down. Does anyone know when?
September 16, 2009 8:03 PM

Anonymous said...
Better listen to someone that knows what is happening. As of today(9/16/09) South Park still stands tall and will for a long time.BISD will be the one that is tore down
September 16, 2009 8:33 PM




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