Cy-Fair school district charging young athletes to use high school track

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A controversy has erupted as young athletes are being asked to pay for the right to run at one public high school track in Cypress.

The school district says people started complaining about groups on the track here at Langham Creek High School, and so two weeks ago, school officials kicked them off the track. But one coach says it leaves his young athletes without a place to train.

Maddie Wilson is just seven years old, but already she can hit 10 feet 4 inches in the long jump.

"Maybe if I keep on jumping more and higher and higher I can finally live my dream and go to the Junior Olympics," said Wilson.

But with her first meet of the season coming up this weekend, her training has hit a hurdle.

"It's really no fair," she said.

Wilson is one of a few kids who works with Carnel McIntyre, a private track and long jump coach. They worked out at the Langham High track, beginning last year until two weeks ago.

"On that Monday, they had a staff person post saying you could not be on this track if you were coaching," McIntyre said.

Cy-Fair ISD says it's board policy -- non-profit groups must pay a $40 an hour fee and for-profit groups aren't allowed to use the track at all.

The district didn't enforce the policy until two weeks ago, saying in a statement to Eyewitness News, "Signage reflects that the Langham Creek High School track is designated for individual/community member use only. Patrons have complained about groups monopolizing this track."

"I got a call from the administrator over at facilities and she said I could rent the track," said McIntyre.

But McIntyre says he shouldn't pay a fee to train a Cy-Fair ISD student.

Wilson and her mom say they don't monopolize the track and they can't afford the rental fee.

"I don't see why a child that goes to a Cy-Fair school should be charged, but a walker who lives in the community doesn't get charged," said Chantel Wilson, Maddie's mom.

We called other school districts to find out their policies. Katy ISD does not charge for use of its tracks. HISD and Spring ISD did not get back to us. But another private running coach we contacted said in his experience, public schools don't charge unless the group is too large.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

cypress fairbanks, local, adela uchida

View the original article here

Two accused of illegally charging people to park at Med Center parking garage

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Two men are accused of charging healthcare professionals to park at a Medical Center parking garage for nearly two years despite not having the authorization to do so.

Jose Guadalupe Luna, 30, and Ramon Valdes are charged with aggregate theft. According to court documents, the two men illegally collected money on a monthly basis from UT Health employees to park in the Prairie View A&M University College of Nursing parking garage next door to the UT Health parking garage at 6436 Fannin.

Police say Luna admitted to using his position in the UT Health parking office to activate parking cards to the Prairie View garage, but not enter them into the billing system. They say Luna would then give the cards to Valdes to give them to the employees that would pay $100 a month to park in the other garage -- about $50 cheaper a month than the UT Health garage. Valdes would collect the monthly fee from employees, police say.

Both men told police that they started the scheme after coming upon rough financial times and that they stopped the scheme when some people became suspicious.

Luna told police that he profited about $2,000 per month and would split the profits with Valdes.

UT Health alleges it lost nearly $30,000 in revenue.

Bond has been set at $58,839.96 for each defendant.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

texas medical center, local

View the original article here