The former South Park High School building was the crown jewel for the SPISD and the first building that held generations of students for what would be known as Lamar University. Since the "merger" of the SPISD and Beaumont Independent School District in the middle 1980's it has been the ultimate goal of the BISD to remove (regardless of cost or reason of pride) that jewel from the landscape of the south end of Beaumont. It's just a fact. It has been and remains a visual thorn in the side of BISD because it reminds them and their past and present so-called leadership that they were, in fact, attached to SPISD and not the other way around. Then after a quick name change to the former defunct BISD they began the dismembership of SPISD structures. No? What happened to Pietzsch Elementary School? Same thing. "Oh, it would require too much to maintain. It would be cheaper to tear it down and build new." Same old song today with the building in question now. But, you won't hear of the former BISD high school main building located a few blocks off 11th St. falling victim to the wrecking crew. Oh, no. That would never happen. It just goes to show how the hate for SPISD lives on in today's world. It's also why so many folks send their children to other school districts or have moved from the South Park community. The BISD has no concern for preservation of the history of Beaumont and for that matter Lamar University. They don't teach pride of local history in BISD anymore. They instead reveal to the entire world how a greatly overpaid superintendent combined with a board of revengeful and arrogant members can continue to fail the Beaumont education system (or what's left of it) and denigrade it to it's lowest form of existence on record. There is no pride in the BISD for the history of education and the preservation of anything regarding SPISD. That's a fact and they prove it slowly but surely over the course of time. To think otherwise is just foolish. For those of us who have witnessed it.......we know the whole story. It's just another nail in Beaumont's education coffin. It's sad. But, it's the direction BISD has been heading for such a long time. There's no real surpise that they want to tear down a beautiful building and construct a non-descript edifice as a replacement. They're losing a chance to hold on to history and teach the kids as well as the community that pride is worth preservation. But, don't look for BISD to change their course. Do expect your taxes to go up, however. Remember you have to pay the superintendent enough money or he and his family will go elsewhere. Hey. Now there's a thought.

Jerry Oglesbee

Sour Lake, TX.

To that I might add: The BISD board members are as determined to knock down the SPHS building with hatred in a similar fashion as the terrorists who waged several attempts on the World Trade Center before the finally succeeded. We just want to prevent the BISD terrorists from destroying the SPISD building. Their hate is disgusting and I pray that it comes back to them tenfold.