Parking passes at De Pere High School sold out faster than ever before.
In years past, sophomores who turn 16 mid year were able to get passes until about January or February. This year, passes sold out the first week of school.
”This year is an anomaly,” said DPHS principal Roger Allen.
Mr. Allen said that extra spaces are needed. Secretary LeaAnn Allen, who sells the passes, explained that even though 10-12th grade class numbers are down, the number of students buying passes increased.
The lot currently has 451 parking spaces, Mrs. Allen said.
“We need to look at adding spaces if possible,” Mr. Allen said. “Obviously, we’re restricted here.”
Mr. Allen said that the City of De Pere has partnered with the De Pere School District in a traffic flow study on the high school, Dickinson Elementary and De Pere Middle School. District officials are hesitant to make any final decisions until the study is wrapped up and a decision is made regarding a new high school.
When the study is concluded around January, Mr. Allen is confident there will be recommendations on whether the parking lot should be enlarged and what direction they should move with those extra spots.
“I’m sure street parking is a big piece of that as well,” Mr. Allen said. “So stay tuned.”
Of the 242 students who answered a Crimson Aviator survey, 96.7 percent thought the parking lot should be expanded: 42.7 percent thought towards the back, 37.8 percent said toward the softball field, and 16.2 percent agreed it should be expanded toward Chicago Street.
In the same survey, 72 percent of the students said that they had either been in a crash, seen one, or both in the past 12 months.
