The annual parking lot selection in August became particularly frenzied as students scrambled to submit and obtain their parking permits.
First, on Aug. 21, students received a parking number, which indicated their place in line after filling out a Google form with their grade, contact information, and vehicle details.
On Aug. 26 at 8:00 a.m., approximately 340 people gathered at the front of school to get their parking permits, bringing the necessary documentation with them.
Something unique about this year is how quickly the passes sold out. Happening within three hours of the start, all 451 spaces were filled. According to secretary Mrs. Allen, this is the first time that the parking passes sold out on the very first day they were available.
Mrs. Allen, who oversaw the distribution of parking passes that day, stated that students were cutting in line to get their passes first, despite her hopes that the new system would dispel disorganization.
There was an atmosphere of skepticism about how smooth the process was to obtain a parking pass. However, most students were surprised by how surprisingly easy it was. We have heard several accounts stating that it was difficult compared to before. Along with these statements, most have noted that the design is flawed, as multiple tight intersections and slow traffic are generated by neighbouring streets and the middle school. The general consensus is that the parking lot is outdated and cannot hold the number of students.
“It can take 20 minutes to get out of the parking lot alone,” said senior Conor Enright. “In fact, I have been rear-ended in that line because the person who was behind me did not pay attention. Furthermore, people come flying into their spots, and I was also side-swiped last year by somebody who took a turn too sharply. The parking lot needs to be more accessible for students to enter and exit safely.”
Added sophomore Preston Koehler: “When you try to get out of the parking lot, sometimes people are trying to get into one lane, sometimes you have to cut someone off. It’s like a dogfight seeing who could get out of there the fastest.”
As the school year progresses, changes are being considered and reviewed by the administration about the application process, said Mrs. Allen, due to complaints from parents and students who want to secure spots. “The most consistent issue we face every year is finding a time because people often have conflicts in their schedules.”
Mr. Roger Allen, DPHS principal, discussed the development of a digital system for issuing parking passes.
“Everything is kind of on hold right now; the district is doing a traffic study to find the problem with what is wrong,” he said.
Administrators are collaborating with Mr. Wentland, the director of building and grounds, to develop and understand the issues with the parking lot design. Although the parking lot has its problems, the district is working to address them so that students can easily obtain and use the spots with less confusion.
