Posts published in “Day: May 27, 2008”

By Gilbert Hoffman
NORTH HOUSTON– The public attended a meeting last Saturday at Jeff Davis High School, a community meeting to discuss the new Light Rail line for the Northside. METRO had exhibits and staff to answer questions, and a forum session in the auditorium gave the public a chance to comment on the design and details.
METRO presented an update called the Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement. Essentially, the plan has changed from a Bus Rapid Transit back to the original Light Rail Transit plan. The North Corridor line is now 5.26 miles long, LRT (Light Rail), with 8 stations including 2 new ones. The cost is estimated at $677 million.

Since Dec. 2006, METRO has incorporated the following changes in the plan:
• Light Rail
• Typical section revised to a 26 foot guideway profile with one travel lane, one parking land on each side
• Inclusion of 5 traction power stations
• Burnett Station no longer a BRT to LRT transfer point
• Quitman Station changed from a transfer station to a drop-off type station
• Parking Garage at Northline Station eliminated
• Right of Way reduced, but additional 13 parcels impacted.
The two new stations are known as Boundary Station and Graceland Station. See map for more detail. The location of the Cavalcade Station has been moved. Catherine Station has been renamed to Moody Park, and Fulton/IH-610 to Melbourne.
According to METRO, the schedule now calls for Environmental Approval in Summer 2008, Acquisition of Right of Way from 2006 to 2009, Construction to begin by the end of 2008, and the North Corridor line to open for service by 2012.
The exhibits also covered efforts to preserve historically significant buildings, and a safety education program that will be conducted by METRO in nearby schools.
Present for the presentations were METRO president Frank Wilson, Congressman Gene Green, and other officials. The official presentation was made by METRO’s George Smalley and consultant Sandy Wesch-Schulze.

When Jerry Lowry joined the Greenspoint District as public safety director in 2000, it didn’t take long to realize he was the right fit for the job.
He has risen through the ranks at the Greenspoint District and today serves as executive vice president and chief operating officer. Although his responsibilities today extend beyond the District’s public safety programs, it’s his work with expanding, implementing and building successful partnerships with law enforcement that has gained him recognition. Lowry has once again been recognized as the right fit by Governor Rick Perry, who recently appointed him to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.
“I’ve had the opportunity to impact crime and safety from different angles,” said Lowry. “I’ve fought crime on the streets as a police officer, traveled to other countries as a corporate security consultant and built crime-reducing partnerships with local law enforcement here in Greenspoint. I’ve been fortunate to gain valuable insight that will help in addressing issues facing Texas jails,” he added.

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards is the regulatory agency for all county jails and privately operated municipal jails in the state.
The nine-member commission sets the standards for the treatment of prisoners and the construction, maintenance and operation of county jails. In addition, they review inspection procedures, enforcement policies and rehabilitation programs for prisoners. Lowry will serve a six-year term and is one of the four members of the commission who represent the general public.
Lowry received a degree in Criminal Justice with Magna Cum Laude honors from the University of Houston – Downtown. He has served as an officer and sergeant with the Houston Police Department and co-owner of an international security consulting firm. He holds the designation of Certified Protection Professional from the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS), an organization for security professionals with 36,000 members worldwide, and an Advanced Certificate from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education.
An active leader in the community, Lowry is the past chair of the North Houston Greenspoint Chamber of Commerce, executive director of Greenspoint Community Partners, advisory director for Amegy Bank of Texas and board member for Leadership North Houston. He resides near Conroe and is Co-Pastor for the College Park Church of Christ and board member for Heaven Sent Ministries.

By GILBERT HOFFMAN
NORTH FOREST– At their monthly board meeting last Monday night, the NF District voted to adopt the name “North Forest High School” for the two consolidated high schools, and to have the official school colors black and gold, and the mascot name the “Bulldogs”.
Input on the new name and colors came from cards handed in by students, staff and the public at several meetings, according to Nakisha Myles, spokesperson for the district.
Other names that were considered in the voting were Obama High School, Northeast High School, MLK High School, and George W. Bush High School.
This vote continued the consolidation and downsizing that the district is going through, with the goal of returning to financial stability and to satisfy the Texas Education Agency so that the state monitors or “conservators” that are overseeing the district could be concluded.

However, financial problems continue to plague the district, exemplified by a $250,000 electic power bill that was questioned by the board as out of line, and no one seemed to have a good answer as to why. Assistant Administrator Carl Williams said he thought part of the problem was lack of A/C controls, that allowed the buildings to run 24/7.
Trustee Lemons indicated that the district needed an Energy Efficiency plan, and that it needed to be implemented with an inservice training, and with penalties and rewards for those in charge of useage. He indicated that this program was in effect in his school in Houston ISD, where he is a principal.
TEA report on possible Probation, closure
During the meeting, a “preliminary” report to the district from TEA was discussed. This report was not to be made public, according to a frustrated TEA representative at the meeting, Ron Rowell, and he suggested that someone on the board or the superintendent had leaked the report to the media. The report detailed the failures of the district, and laid the groundwork for a possible closure of the district, a drastic step which TEA now had the authority to do, but has not exercised elsewhere in the state.
During the meeting, a new Special Ed director, Dr. O’Connor was introduced. He replaces Dr. Ruth Watson, who was criticized in the media for the way she ran her department, and who the board says is now on medical and family leave.
Academic Conservator Barbara Wilson made a report to the board that indicated improvements in the academics of the district, and that TEA had found her Improvement Plan acceptable.
In the public comment section of the meeting, Robin German Curtis spoke on the need for cooperation between the board and her organization, NEEF. She said “Let us make a Plan together, for the good of our children.” NEEF was the group that brought former U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige to the district a few months ago to encourage this improvement.
Interim superintendent William Jones noted, in the discussion on the Visor Camp and other summer programs, that federal funds use and related programs were being investigated by the District Attorney. He stated that all children would have summer programs available, but that he was limited in what specifics he could promise.
In a note of levity during the meeting, Trustee Albert Lemons was asked if he would consider being superintendent. He answered “No. I’ve tried to live to make it into Heaven.”