Beaumont Middle School

Beaumont Middle School (also known as Bluemont Middle School) is a decommissioned middle school located in Kissimmee, Florida. Beaumont once served as the magnet middle school for the Osceola County region. Other students, many under protest, were relegated to Denn John Middle School, located on the outskirts of Kissimmee, while Beaumont celebrated its proximity to the seat of Osceola County government and center of its commerce at Lat: 28.29528 Lon: -81.41056.

History

Beaumont was built on the grounds of the original Osceola High School, a few blocks from Lake Toho and downtown Kissimmee at the corner of Sumner St and Beaumont Ave. Classes ceased in the main High School building in 1975. During the 1974-1975 school year, the student body was cut in half, with those generally north and east of the campus being assigned to the new Denn- John school which was under construction. Those assigned to Denn-John were placed in classrooms in the old original Osceola High School building, and those assigned to stay at Beaumont Middle occupied the newer section of campus. Common areas such as the cafeteria, shop, PE and Home Ec. were shared. Each school had its own office and administrators, the office for Denn John being in the Old building. In January 1975, the new Denn-John middle school campus was completed, and all the students assigned to that school moved to the new campus. At that time the Original Osceola High School building was no longer being used for students. The School Districts Audio-visual department and 16MM film library continued to be housed at that site, as it had been for several years prior to the closure to students in 1975.

The property however remained in use by the County as a textbook storage facility and by truant students looking for a quick smokesess.

Treasured memories

Recently, the location was investigated by treasure hunters, who found many unique items, but no American Civil War musket balls. [http://www.treasurenet.com/westeast/200001/feature/]

Corporal punishment

During its operations, Beaumont drew the ire of various human rights organizations who decried its practices of corporal punishment on the student body. Unaccredited eyewitnesses describe instances of 14 and 15 year old male and female students being paddled repeatedly on the buttocks by administrators behind closed doors for such indiscretions as gum chewing and running in the halls. Rumors abound of a certain instrument of punishment utilized by school officials nicknamed "The Purple Passion." Despite its critics, the State of Florida officially supported such practices. [https://secure.nsba.org/site/doc_cosa.asp?TRACKID=&DID=32929&CID=488] Opponents cite to studies which suggested that corporal punishment was racially-biased in its execution. See for example: "The University of Florida 'Alligator' vs. The Educational Establishment: Why More Blacks?", Ibid., Vol. 12, No. 2, p. 10; "Task Force At Odds Over Spanking Law: Florida Doesn't Like First Place", Ibid., p. 11; "3000 Paddlings a Year on 500 Students", Ibid., Vol. 13, No. 2 (Winter, 1985), p. 19.

Decline and abandonment

In 1998, Beaumont closed its doors to the youth of Kissimmee. The county purchased the property and many of the Beaumont buildings were torn down, lost forever. Others were renovated by the County and now serve as the base of operations for the tax collector, supervisor of elections and property appraiser. [http://aroundosceola.com/index.php?option=sports&task=viewarticle&sid=3944]

Fire and redemption

In June of 1999, lightning produced by a severe thunderstorm ignited a fire that consumed the historic portion of Beaumont. [http://www.wftv.com/news/4170590/detail.html]

Osceola County officials determined the building a complete casualty and planned to re-develop the site as office buildings. A coalition of former students argued for the design and construction of a community center. In the end, neither plan was approved. This portion of the site remains vacant.

Future

As of March 2006, there are no plans to re-establish Beaumont Middle School at this location. There are rumors however of a collaboration between local officials and an area theme park to create a hybrid middle school/family entertainment industry career training facility at the site, which would teach local teens both academic and career skills while providing the sponsoring company with a labor supply for both unskilled and minimally-skilled positions at various Central Florida attractions.