Changes to Parking Lots for ‘16-’17 School Year

Changes have been made this school year to parking for students. Passes are now sold by lot rather than class and students must have fees fully paid to obtain a pass.

According to Principal Dr. Paul Milcetich, this change was brought on by the students themselves.

“Last year, we had many discussions with Senior Senate and other students about the parking situation. Students brought up the idea of selling different passes for designated lots, so that students could select the lot they wanted... the change was made based upon student feedback, which is the ideal manner!” said Milcetich.

Milcetich, with the approval of the Board of Education, made this policy change also to make sure school fees were getting paid, to avoid accumulation and scrambling to find the funds before graduation.

However, for some students, this has posed a significant problem. Students who are not able to pay their school fees immediately, cannot buy a pass for the lot of their choice.

There was some upset the first week of school, specifically amongst seniors, because the blue lot was sold out before school even began.

Senior driver Jessica Peters, said, “If you could pay quickly, you got the parking lot you wanted, but if you didn’t have money to burn, you were stuck with a lot that might be less than stellar for your situation.”

If students couldn’t pay, they lost out on that lot. However, the administration explained that there was no financial discrimination here.

Milcetich was concerned of this problem from the beginning and gave a possible solution for those who are financially disadvantaged, saying, “If appropriate, we can set up a payment plan with a down payment, and the students are able to purchase their pass. We set up these arrangements in a very confidential manner... Any student or family in this predicament only needs to let me know, and we make the arrangements together.”

Furthermore, a grace period was provided so anyone unable to pay their fees had until August 26th then to find the money and buy a pass.

The administration sent home several reminders, in report cards at the end of last year, in opening letters, and in an All Call to parents before school began. Though a lot of students were still unprepared on schedule pick up day.

Brooke Kozar, senior, said, “The process on scheduling day was terrible though. I was lucky and had enough money to pay my $400 school fees on my debit card, but it was still really stressful. Everyone was so confused and a lot of people were running around, trying to get money so they could get the lot they wanted.”

Next year, Milcetich plans to tweak the policy, allowing students to buy passes if they have paid off the previous year’s fees without having to pay the current year’s fees.

There are some, however, who seem not to mind the change. Senior student driver Samantha Marotta said, “I prefer the new system, because I am guaranteed a spot in the lot most convenient for me. Under the old system, I felt greater pressure to get to school early in order to find a parking spot in my preferred lot.”

As with any policy change, there is always acceptance and dissention..