Beaumont Enterprise editorial criticizes BISD

The Beaumont Enterprise eloquently puts what happened last week into perspective. Please take a look at what they wrote.


Sallie Curtis decision handled poorly; BISD must boost trust - The dilemma over new construction of the Sallie Curtis Elementary School was not an easy one to resolve, but the Beaumont ISD didn't rise to the occasion. The solution leaves many parents feeling that their views were solicited and ignored by an administration that promised to listen to them.

Read the rest of the editorial, it's good.

Stay tuned for future posts. I'm going to let you know how you can receive the answers to the many questions you've got about BISD. I'll share tips as a former journalist as to how to get information and I hope that we can all share what we find out on this site and continue to band together to make sure we hold BISD accountable for the promises they make to us -- including starting construction when they say they will with the money they've promised us.


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Curtis in the news

Sallie Curtis has been in the news lately and we wanted to share the three links to where you can see what is being reported. And please vote if you haven't yet: CurtisVotes@yahoo.com!

Beaumont Enterprise Bayou blog - 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. For more of the blog writing, click here:

KBMT-12 story - Less than 48 hours until decision is made on Sallie Curtis. In less than 48 hours, parents at Sallie Curtis Elementary in Beaumont , will finally found out where their kids will go to class while a new school is being built. "If you want to see things happen, then you need to stand up and speak," said Paula Gresham who has two kids at Sallie Curtis. Click here to read the entire story.

KFDM-6 story - Sallie Curtis transition plan up for board consideration Thursday. In two days, the Beaumont ISD school board will consider where to send Sallie Curtis Elementary children when construction at their school begins. See the full story here.

Also, KBTV-4 will have a story tonight. We continue to keep you informed about the latest developments or information on the school construction status.

What do you think of the news coverage? Comment below!

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Editorial in Enterprise (Sept 13)

Third option needed earlier at Curtis school

Parents at Sallie Curtis Elementary School should have a third choice regarding the placement of their children during construction of a new school...


See this link to read more:

http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/opinion/editorials/curtis_elementary_parents_deserve_voice.html

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Article in Beaumont Enterprise

Here is a copy of the story that ran in last week's Beaumont Enterprise. The story was not posted online otherwise we would have posted the link here.

Beaumont Enterprise 09/11/2009, Page A07
YMCA land a third option in Sallie Curtis fight
BEAUMONT
By Dee Dixon
DDixon@BeaumontEnterprise.com
(409) 880-0733

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.

Jeff Moore, Beaumont Metropolitan YMCA chief executive officer, said it is a viable option for Sallie Curtis students to move into portable buildings on 12 acres adjacent to the new West End YMCA, a building scheduled to be completed in March.

Moore, whose children attend Sallie Curtis, told the parents that YMCA board members supported the option and that “innovative programming” might be a side benefit.



Thursday was the last of a series of town hall meetings on the subject.

Initially, the two options were: remain in the existing Sallie Curtis until the new Regina-Howell Elementary is finished, then move into the buildings those students have been using along Major Drive; or build the new school on the back portion of the property occupied by the present building.

The first would have delayed completion of Sallie Curtis until August 2012.

Amanda Sheldon, who has three children at Sallie Curtis, said she was leaning toward the YMCA option.

“The big frustration is all of this should have been decided a long time ago. We’re two months from building and we’re just now deciding where it’s supposed to go,” said Sheldon.

Tiffany Nickles, who has one child at Sallie Curtis, left the meeting after selecting her option.

“I’m leaning toward moving off-site and waiting until Regina-Howell moves out,” said Tiffany Nickles, who has one child in Sallie Curtis.

She expressed safety with a nearby construction zone. Last week, Superintendent Carrol A. Thomas said the district would make a decision based on the recommendation forwarded by Sallie Curtis Principal Susan Brown, according to Enterprise archives.

“I will relay there is a strong support for looking at a third option,” she said Thursday.

The Beaumont Independent School District board of trustees takes up the issue at its Sept. 17 meeting.

"I hope we take the time and do the research instead of voting right then," board member Tom Neild said. "I believe we have a responsibility to consider that and look at the details and see if it will help the overall decision and budget."

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