“The Lancaster Lady Tigers Track team has earned their seventh straight Back to Back State Track and Field Championship. Beginning with the tradition of State Championship wins in 2000; the Lady Tiger Track team continues to inspire our students, community and others across the State of Texas.”

As a concerned parent of Lancaster High School students, I don’t feel this is a true statement. The Lady Tiger Track team does not inspire our students, community, and others across the State of Texas. I am ashamed to be a part of this educational community. Dr. Larry Lewis, Coach Beverly Humphrey and the entire Lancaster Independent School District Police Department need to be fired for sweeping the dirt under the carpet as it relates to the Lancaster ISD athletes!!! There is general knowledge that several track team members were primary participants in staged gang fighting. They would send text messages or e-mails to the individual(s) who they were in conflict with to inform them of the fighting location. In addition, this information was also sent to other students to assemble an audience. Often times, individuals were jumped and beaten, even the spectators. The seniors were jumping the freshmen to prove dominance. Some of the male members of the track and basketball teams would show up to instigate and record the fights. The participating athletes were so proud of these accomplishments until they were posting pertinent information on Myspace.com and recording the events.

My daughter, who is a freshman, was jumped by three members of the “prestigious” Lancaster Lady Tigers Track Team. These types of fights went on for days.

Several parents called the Lancaster City Police but they never showed up. On or about April 20, 2007, there were several fights at the school involving several of the Lady Tigers track team members. These individuals are the same individuals who were using profanity, wrestling, and tussling like wild animals; they were protected by Dr. Lewis and Coach Humphrey as though they are “perfect angels”. They were given “special treatment” and taken into a room with their parents and Coach Humphrey. The other female individuals involved in the altercation were handcuffed, thrown to the floor, and taken to the school’s on-site police station, where they were treated as though they committed a terrorist crime. The Lancaster ISD Police Staff needs training. The manner in which they speak and act towards the students is ridiculous. The LISD Police Chief habitually curses and puts his hands on the students inappropriately to challenge them. He loves to scream and yell as if he is a drill sergeant. Why is he so hands-on?

Is this a method to get exercise or remind him of the good ole’ days?

Coach Humphrey’s behavior was very unprofessional as she continually rolled her eyes at the other students’ parents and closed the door in their face. In my observation, she was not interested in the problem but, was plotting a strategy with the parents of the track team members to prevent the Lady Tiger Track Team from being exposed. What “exemplary” contribution has she made to The City of Lancaster or the school district to have Dr. Lewis name a stadium after her?

Many of the instructors were aware all week that these staged fights were occurring off campus, but chose not to take preventative measures.

Subsequently, these fights re-ignited on-campus.

The result of the altercation was my daughters and two other students were pulled out of class and not allowed to take portions of the TAKS test, received 3-day suspensions, tickets to appear in court, and referrals to the J.D. Hall Learning Center (Alternative School).

However, members of the Lady Tiger’s Track Team were not equally reprimanded, but allowed to complete their TAKS testing and participate during the track meet scheduled the same day. After several parents complained, the Lancaster ISD High School staff called parents in the 12th hour as Dr. Lewis scheduled an impromptu meeting at 6:00 p.m., Monday, April 23, 2007, with the parents to cover his ass. However, the meeting was insulting, he referenced the track team members as “Good Girls”, and he circumvented the real issues. Dr. Lewis took the opportunity to promote himself and preach a sermon. His sermon was on how we are not raising our kids properly and how we should be raising them. Several of the parents appeared to be in disbelief, but many appeared to buy into his side show indicative of a street corner evangelist.

After this meeting, several parents and their children met with Mr. Randall, the high school principal, who provided an alternative solution to our children attending the alternative school for six weeks. The solution was 14 hours of community service to be planned and executed with the individual you had an altercation with. With the intention of keeping our kids from attending alternative school, the plan seemed manageable. Well, not everyone agreed. In fact, one child and her father adamantly refused and the father threatened to remove his child from the school district. This particular junior student, who is also a track team member, acted as though she did not do anything wrong, continuously kicked my freshman daughter along with two other females, while she was on the ground. Another child, who was not a significant contributor to the track team nor fought with anyone was sacrificed and paired with another child in attempt to appease parents of students who did not participate in track. So, the actual resolution was a “sacrificial lamb to protect the reputation” of the infamous Lancaster Lady Tiger’s Track Team.

It is my firm belief that Dr. Lewis has ill-intentions and does not care about educating the children of Lancaster, Texas, but more importantly, about his reputation and being the HNIC. I have never known a superintendent to have unlimited control over any school district and within the circle of city government. Dr. Lewis has been given carte-blanche to cleverly mimic the actions of the previous superintendent, Mr. Bill Ward. To mask his bulls__t, he has hired many incompetent staff that does not ask questions or express concerns about their role in the school district or the legality of issues in the work environment. Dr. Lewis has taken advantage of the community and played on the intelligence of many.

I believe all of the kids involved in the fights, whether on or off campus should have been punished whether they were athletes or not. The “good girls” who were primary participants were not punished. My children and several others were punished unfairly and must contend with upcoming court costs.

So, I ask, what type of inspiration does The Lancaster Lady Tigers Track team really offer? And, why is Dr. Lewis the superintendent?