As the 2024-2025 school year began, the hot topic around school was the loss of student parking in the overflow and half circle. Each year the staff is introduced with a different complaint given usually by the upperclassmen. This year it just so happened to be parking.
Historically, as juniors got their licenses, they would start parking in the overflow lot by the field house. The half circle also contains potential spots for 10 of the 173 seniors. This year students are unable to park in the bottom lots.
Feedback from the upperclassmen include issues of cars being blocked in by the buses at the end of the day, having to walk further from place to place, less accessibility, and losing a privilege the upcoming seniors have looked forward to since freshman year.
Senior Quinn Brigham says, “It’s an inconvenience especially for the students who play sports, and it’s frustrating having to wake up even earlier just to get a parking spot.”
Principal Mr.Samuelson says, “Student safety is at the heart of everything we do. These changes to our parking procedures ensure we can closely monitor who enters and exits the building, allowing us to protect the well-being of our students and maintain a secure school environment for everyone.” By changing the parking rules, it makes it harder for students to sneak out to their cars, leave school, and come back.
Vice Principal Amanda. Batty said she “found it very positive that students approached me with their questions and concerns about parking. It’s important that students feel comfortable voicing their opinions, and I want them to know that we are here to listen.” She also said that “while any new policy or rule may take time to adjust to, we are always open to considering changes that benefit the school community as a whole.”
Not all students feel heard. Senior Brady Sutman says, “I think that we should be able to be heard when we voice our opinions, but I feel that we need to be heard by staff and to fix things that we feel are necessary for the betterment of our education and time spent at school”.
Although parking privileges and new protocols have caused lots of controversy, students are following the rules and parking in the upper lots. Although many students, especially seniors, are annoyed at the fact that the half circle isn’t available anymore, it seems like everyone is settling down and making due with the situation.
