From: Darlene Chodzinski
Date: 6/25/2009 10:37:56 AM
To: D. Pearson
Subject: Re: Can we save historic South Park?

Dear Ms. Pearson,
 
The Beaumont Heritage Society has been working on the South Park School situation for many months.  As an organization, our board has taken a stand to save the building.  I personally have travelled to Austin to meet with the Texas Historical Commission and have enlisted their help. Unfortunately, the State marker on the building affords it no protection.  I am on the Historic Landmark Commission and many months ago, we requested a tour of the building so we could determine if it was beyond saving, the City of Beaumont refused to allow us to put it on the agenda.  In January, our board invited Martha Hicks, who was on the school board, to attend our board retreat to explain to us why the BISD refused to listen to the citizens of our community and not destroy the building.  We were told that the decision had been made to tear the school down and the school board would not listen to any comments on the subject.  In our 1st quarter newsletter, the entire front page was dedicated to our efforts to save the building.
 
I personally went through the building last Monday and agree that it is as solid as the day it was built and there is absolutely no justification for tearing it down.  It is scheduled to be imploded the second week of July.  This prompted immediate action so last week we consulted with attorney Mike Getz.
 
I am pleased to tell you that as of yesterday, June 24, the Beaumont Heritage Society has initiated proceedings to file an injunction against BISD to stop the demolition of the building.  The basis of this injunction is that BISD has completely ignored and refused to comment on the fact that there were more than 3,000 signatures on a petition to prevent the demolition and that in a publication that they put out prior to the passing of the bond, they stated, in writing, that they would not tear down South Park.  This injunction is for the purpose of stopping the demolition and forcing BISD to address the community on this issue.
 
Please help by continuing to communicate with all of your contacts and ask them to give their support to our efforts.  We need our voices to be heard loud and clear - BISD must be accountable to the people of this community.
 
Please stay in touch and I will do the same.  
 
Thank you,
 
Darlene Chodzinski
Executive Director
Beaumont Heritage Society
409-832-4010