bisd

Community, electrician represented at BISD roundtable

Four meetings in two days gave Beaumonters the opportunity to sound off on a number of issues pertaining to the community’s school district. What was offered to those in attendance was the good, the bad, and the ugly of what citizens really feel about their local school district and those who run it.

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Hold your peace

Community members had two opportunities to voice concerns regarding the Beaumont Independent School District’s (BISD) proposed districting maps and now, during a meeting scheduled for Feb. 21, the Board of Trustees will have the final say on which scheme will be in effect for the 2013 voting season. 

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Beaumont ISD hosts championship swim meet

Students from six Southeast Texas school districts will compete in the District 22 Class 4A and Under Swimming Championships at the Thomas Center Natatorium at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31

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School district to nullify voter intent

A special public meeting of the Beaumont Independent School District Board of Trustees will be held at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 10, to discuss, among other things, submitting a districting plan that would nullify the intent of voters who passed a measure to change the board’s current make-up in May 2011. The 2011 voter initiative directed the BISD board to change from the current process of selecting trustees via seven single member districts (7/0) to that of five single member districts with two at-large positions (5/2).

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Justice department defies Beaumont voters’ intent

The U.S. Department of Justice has denied the Beaumont Independent School District voters who elected to change the trustee make-up of the school board from seven single member districts to five single member districts with two at large representative seats (a 5/2 plan) when called to the polls in May 2011. According to the decision letter penned by Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez, the reason for the DOJ decision is due to the retrogressive effect of instituting the change and in his opinion, racist motivations that potentially led to the change proposal in the first place.

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Worker ‘walk-out’ at Beaumont ISD campus

West Brook decay

Several employees working on the West Brook High School field house and auditorium have walked off the job, saying the Beaumont Independent School District has failed to pay them for work rendered. 

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Electrician allowed to keep BISD contract

Although U.S. Attorney Special Prosecutor Bob Rawls attempted to make Beaumont Independent School District contract electrician Calvin Walker forfeit employment with the school district, federal judge Ron Clark refused to make the stipulation part of Walker’s plea agreement with the court Dec. 12. 

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U.S. Attorney’s Office amends Walker plea agreement

Beaumont Independent School District (BISD) electrical contractor Calvin Walker must again report before a federal judge to answer allegations he bilked the school district and the federal government out of millions of dollars. He is scheduled to appear in Beaumont’s federal courthouse Dec. 12. Walker is expected to take a plea deal, but paperwork filed at the court earlier this week changes the scope of the deal.

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Mother worries for missing teen, 14, after school sends child away

UPDATE: Marchelle Washington, 14, is reported safe at home with her family as of Friday morning, Nov. 30.

Twenty-four hours is a long time when you don’t where your child is.

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Trustees prepare to fight BISD for information

Beaumont Independent School District trustees met with their attorneys behind closed doors six months ago to discuss how the group could be collectively unaware of a stipulation in new superintendent Dr. Timothy Chargois’ contract allowing a mandatory base salary percentage increase for the $215,000-a-year administrator. The increase, according to the contract signed May 1 by Chargois and BISD officials, is required to be greater than or equal to the same percentage raise given to teachers in the district.

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