The Beaumont Independent School District Board of Managers has voted to change the name of the district's stadium.
The board voted overwhelmingly during Thursday's regularly scheduled meeting to change the name from the Beaumont ISD Carrol A. "Butch" Thomas Educational Support Center to the Beaumont Independent School District Memorial Stadium. Six members of the board of managers voted yes, one abstained.
The board voted for the name change of what is described as the "district's most visible facility" in an "effort to bridge divisions within the Beaumont community" according to the board exhibit cover sheet for the agenda item.
The board faced opposition to the name change from the Beaumont NAACP.
Brenda Spivery, interim president of the Beaumont chapter of the NAACP, has called on the district to leave Thomas' name on the stadium. She told 12News she believes the current board has a personal vendetta against the former superintendent.
"It's really more of a personal issue," said Spivery. "I don't think the board that we elected is being fair."
Beaumont City Councilman Mike Getz approached the board in May, in support of the name change.
"Those in support of Thomas need to read the audit and just see how bad his performance was as a superintendent," Getz told 12News.
The debate grew heated toward the end of the meeting.
The first public comment argued in favor of changing the name to one that represents the BISD community. One woman said she was proud to have a stadium named after the first black superintendent, which was followed by a standing ovation from much of the crowd.
A "no name change" chant broke out after one of the numerous comments against the change. Some implied they might pull their children out in protest.
After the decision was made, many of the attendees left in frustration. Darrel Antwine and Geary Seniguar both approached the board during the public discussion.
"I really feel they didn't listen to the community, that's why part of my speech was to say if you truly want to know the real outcome take a vote," said Antwine.
Antwine felt if the community got the final say, the decision would have swayed against changing the name.
Antwine and Seniguar both agreed the decision would cause a divide in the city.
"You're preaching unity but you're taking something away from a group of people that's expressing the true meaning and how sentimental it is, we expressed that tonight," said Seniguar.
Seniguar went on to explain that the decision is a call to action for the black community.