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BISD faces social media backlash over possible stadium name change

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Isaac Windes
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Beaumont ISD faced swift backlash on social media Monday night and Tuesday morning after it was reported that district trustees would be discussing a possible name change for Memorial Stadium at the School Board's monthly meeting tonight.

“So they are making it a priority to spend money on this, instead of taking care of the academic needs of our students,” one post in a community group read. “What fools.”

Before the sign was officially changed to Memorial Stadium in January 2019, the facility was called the Carrol A. “Butch” Thomas Educational Support Center — named after the former longtime superintendent.

Some on social media rehashed arguments from when the name was initially changed saying that the move diminished the achievements of the prominent African-American educator.

In addition to the cost, others said the district should be focusing on more important matters instead of the name change, like student academics and teacher retention.

Many of those issues will be discussed at tonight's meeting. Agenda items include a public hearing on the district’s financial integrity, a report on student outcomes and the approval of a contract with a charter school partner to operate one of the district's failing campuses.

Read more about the name change discussion here.

isaac.windes@hearstnp.com

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