Parents say kids in after-school city program ran in sweltering heat as punishment

When Missy Saldana went to pick up her kids two weeks ago from their City of El Paso Parks and Recreation after-school program she said she was surprised at what she saw

“When I got there, my little one made eye contact with me and immediately made a beeline for me,” said Saldana. “He dropped to my leg, and was like ‘mom, I’m so tired.'”

Saldana said her sons told her they had to run laps because some kids were talking out of turn. Both the boys, Quentin, 6, and Ozzy, 8, were flushed, she said, and didn’t look well.

“My little one was kind of hunching over holding his stomach,” said Saldana. “He was super tired, and asked if I could carry him.”

That’s something Saldana said 6-year-old Quentin never does. At that point, she said she had to ask a program workers what was going on.

“Look at him he’s crying, he’s about to throw up,” Saldana said she asked the worker.

With the temperature in the mid-90s that day, Saldana was relieved her boys were able to stop for water, but she said what irked her is the fact that her sons were told if they stopped, they would have to run even more.

Quentin “does exactly what he’s told,” Saldana said.

She raised the issue with staff.

“They were extremely concerned so I do get them props for being responsive to that.”

Deputy City Manager Ted Marquez told ABC-7 the incident was a learning lesson.

“We have followed the proper procedures with employees to ensure that this doesn’t happen again,” said Marquez. “We’re going to use this incident to teach other employees,and other programs.”