Parents question Sallie Curtis options

By EMILY GUEVARA
September 2, 2009
Posted: September 1, 2009, 10:46 PM CDT Last updated: September 1, 2009, 11:34 PM CDT

The decision about when and where to construct a new Curtis Elementary School will hinge on the voices of parents and the recommendation of the school's principal.

About 80 parents and teachers gathered Tuesday evening at the West End school to hear from district officials about several new options for the construction of their new school.

Curtis is one of nine elementary schools to be built as part of a $389 million bond packaged approved by Beaumont voters in November 2007.

The original idea was for a new school to be built behind the existing campus on North Circuit Drive while students studied in the exiting building.

But Terry Ingram, assistant superintendent for administration/operations, said the more the district looked at the option the less feasible it became.

Ingram said this summer the district in consultation with architects, project managers and campus representatives decided that the campus would be better positioned toward the front of the property where it is currently located.

So Tuesday, district officials presented two alternatives. One would require the school to move to the temporary Regina-Howell campus located at 850 Major Drive after Regina-Howell students move out in 2011. This would delay the opening of the new Curtis until August 2012.

The other plan calls for students to be housed in portable buildings behind the existing campus while construction takes place.

Curtis Elementary parent Paula Gresham questioned why the district so readily provided a temporary campus for Regina-Howell and yet could not provide Curtis with a facility either on-site or elsewhere that would allow their school to be built on time.

She also is concerned there will not be enough money to pay for the school if it is last in line.

Parent Carol Davis agreed.

"How do we know that Sallie Curtis is going to be built and finished?" she asked. <

Superintendent Carrol A. Thomas said the district will make a decision about the construction based on a recommendation from Principal Susan Brown after she meets with parents, gather their opinions and provide him with a recommendation no later than Sept. 15.