Photo Source: Aj Haynes

Getting your driver’s license is said to be one of the most ‘coming of age’ experiences of your life. There’s no longer a need to wait for a ride home, and the first taste of adulthood is just in reach. However, much responsibility comes with driving– especially parking your car at school. 

Here at Pentucket, we look out a window and see our brand new parking lot, yet with not enough spaces for each student and staff member. Many students are assigned to park up by the football field, and are forced to make a brief journey down the hill and across the lot to the lobby door. This causes, according to some students, additional time spent getting in and out of school, along with the set back of traffic. 

For initial information, Vice Principal Mr. Bates was asked about the minor inconveniences of our parking lot, and explained that the online forms for reserving parking spaces were open to only seniors for the first seven days. The form was then opened to juniors as well, and Ms. Brackbill, our receptionist, assigned the spots randomly. He also reported that roughly thirty students (or their parents) have contacted him and other principals about their parking space. 

Students and parents have reached out to our principals about spaces for various reasons. Some are concerned with the after school traffic, and getting to work at 3:00; others have sports bags to lug to the locker room, etc. In a small survey, students reported that the traffic after school adds up to fifteen minutes to their drive home. This often conflicts with students’ jobs after school, whether it’s being left with barely any time to change, or as senior Emily Jones mentioned in this survey, being “late to work on multiple occasions.” 

Another concern from students is the price of parking spaces. In the survey, 41.1% of respondents have paid for their own parking space, which is $180, and 23.5% have split the payment with their parents or guardians. “I think that the spots up by the football field should be cheaper than the flat 180,” one anonymous student said. For some, this price can put a dent in savings for college, their own car, and many other things students need, especially before graduating. 

“I do understand cost could be an issue for some people, but I think there needs to be some type of cost involved to help maintain the property when it needs it,” said our hall monitor and crossing guard, Mr. Mottram. He was asked what he thought about our lot; “The traffic pattern has significantly improved since last school year,” he replied. “Adding another lane for students to exit the parking lot has helped improve exit time by five to seven minutes.” He also believes that walking the distance into the building should not be an issue, and “Students and staff should be able to plan accordingly in the morning.”

Students were also asked what they think could or should be done about the traffic situation. Many suggested multiple exits out of the school, separate from the bus traffic. “Kids that play sports that have practice after school should park at the football field because they don’t have to leave right after school,” junior Morgan Trout suggested. Others mentioned that there should be more parking spaces near the building, but these solutions seem out of reach on such short notice. 

To ease the dismissal traffic, Mr. Bates mentioned that a new traffic pattern for the new lot is in the works, and more signs will be posted outside for more safety precautions. 

Hopefully, this will decrease the pressure and stress of getting out of school on time, for students and staff alike.