Parking problems persist
photo illustration by Molly English
February 16, 2009 • written by Samantha Rusness, Staff Writer
Filed under News
With class sizes growing every year, the school parking lot is running out of spots. The school no longer has freshmen, but many students still think there is a lack of parking.
Junior Jordyn Byzewski thinks not having enough parking is a hassle that has resulted in detention.
“One day I had to park in the church parking lot and I got detention for being late for class,” Byzewski said. “Not enough parking really sucks.”
The student body has addressed some solutions, including having all teachers park in the back so there is parking in the front parking lot for students. Building another parking lot or expanding it and putting the sophomores in the church parking lot is another solution.
Assistant Principal Karen Olson said there is no room for adding onto the parking lot because it was just done a couple of years ago.
Math teacher Laura Preston does not think teachers parking in the back will be successful.
“If I leave for an appointment or to run errands, when I come back the teacher parking lot is full,” Preston said. “So I have to park illegally and then I get a ticket and have to go to the office and explain.”
Although building another parking lot or expanding on to it would cost money and there is limited space to build, many students would agree it would be a benefit to the student body.
Sophomore Lexi Berg would not mind having to park in the church parking lot when she is a sophomore because she soon will be able to park in the school parking lot when she is a junior.
“I don’t think it matters where you have to park as long as you have a place to park,” Berg said. “I would eventually be able to park in the school parking lot, so as long as I have a place to park now it is not a big deal.”
Separating parking spots by class would be difficult because distinguishing between the sophomores and the juniors or seniors would be nearly impossible.
“I think the juniors and seniors should have passes that they hang up on the mirror when they park so the staff knows that they can park in the school parking lot,” junior Holly Johnson said. “That’s the only way they would know for sure who is a sophomore and who is a junior or senior.”
A few students have been desperate enough to park in the teacher parking in the front, knowing that they will get a ticket but saving themselves from detention.
“We get the complaints all the time,” Olson said. “They come to us with their ticket in their hand and say ‘I’m not going to pay this. It is unfair.’”
Olson understands it is cold outside, but also said that if students get to school early they will get a spot in the parking lot.
“We know it’s a long walk, especially in the cold,” Olson said. “But it definitely is first come, first serve and the students that are early or on time will usually get the best parking spots.”
Although it would be nice, the school cannot tell students to park in the church parking lot because it doesn’t belong to them. Students can park over there on their own free will and thats about it. It would be nice to expand the students parkins lot but like Mrs. Olson said, it was just done so it would be hard to do again. But, how about expanding the teachers parking spot? I think that would be a good idea, then they don’t have to park in the students lot and there would be more room for the students.