For the senior class of 2025 and junior class of 2026, nothing has come easy. Their middle school years were ruined by COVID, and each year of high school has come with many unexpected changes. The parking spot situation is no exception to this pattern.
Old vs. New
Before the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, it was announced that parking spots for the seniors would open before the juniors could purchase one, as it has always been. However, the students who woke up early and came to the school when it opened would not be guaranteed a good spot. Rather, this year, spots would be assigned randomly through a lottery system instead of the old way.
In previous years, students who purchased and came to the school early were given spots that were closer to the school, and those who bought one later were put either in the back spots of the lower lot or in the upper lot.
Juniors were able to purchase spots shortly after the seniors and were most likely given spots in the upper lot, assuming the lower lot was full. The system has always worked in the past and has provided a fair way for spots to be distributed to the students without any major issues.
Starting this year, the spots were distributed differently, causing an upset reaction from the upperclassmen. As usual, the spots were opened for seniors prior to the juniors, but instead of passing them out based on who picked first, they were distributed through a random selection process.
Senior Ava Greenbaum expressed that, “If someone is up early to get their spot, they should get a better one than someone who waited until the last minute to get their spot. I do like that seniors get to get their spots earlier though, it is a good system in that way.”
This point is clear. Seniors should without a doubt be getting better spots than juniors, but why is it that seniors who signed up later are getting better spots than the first group of students to sign up early on the opening day?
Another senior stated, “I was one of the first people to sign up for the spots when it opened, and I still get sent to the upper lot. I think it does not make sense to randomize it, it should be first-come-first-serve.”
Senior Cece Cammett agreed with these statements, saying, “I personally did get a spot in the lower lot, but I have friends who didn’t, even though we all signed up at the same time.”
However, when asking Mrs. Brackbill about the change, she expressed, “Over the years that I have been here, the system for signing up for a parking spot has changed a number of times. The reason for this change is an attempt to find the best and most fair way for everyone. A first come, first serve system makes signing up for a parking spot a race and doesn’t work because someone who thinks they signed up early and is assigned a spot accordingly might be very surprised and unhappy to find out there were quite a few people who signed up before them.”
There Are Bigger Issues
The students have not only expressed disappointment in the change of distribution but feel there are other issues that have been building up over the years that need to be addressed as well.
Based on a student survey these are the biggest issues students feel need to be changed regarding the parking spots:
Parking Spot Cost
The majority of Pentucket students have expressed irritation and annoyance by the cost they have to pay both for the full fee of $180 and the half-year fee of $90 cost to park at school. Students are feeling that they should not have to pay such a large fee to drive to school when they are forced to come to school every day.
Junior Elle Pierce stated, “I do think that the parking spots are overpriced. As student,s we earn those spots and we can also get them taken from us without a refund.”
Sophomore Aidan Reade added, “I think it is a strange concept to go get your parking pass at the beginning of the year paying $180 ($1 per day), but then if you get it at the middle of the year it’s still $180 and you’re only using it half the year.”
In response, Mrs. Brackbill explained the reason for “the cost to park and the half-year cut-off date are determined by our business office.”
So even though it is unconventional for students, it is beyond administrative control.
The seniors are also bothered by the parking situation, as senior Zach Bishopp explained, “I find it to be quite expensive [to park] for a place that I have to be every day. Although I understand the way that it’s priced ($1 per day), what happens if a student is absent for a day? Then they would be actively losing money by paying for a parking spot that won’t be occupied for the day. Not to mention with the extreme price of gas, the parking adds to the amount of money that people are spending just to come to school for just 7-8 hours a day.”
Students are bothered by the outrageous amount of money they have to spend on a parking pass. They know that the chances they are at school everyday is not very high, so they feel paying the dollar-a-day fee is not fair. They even think paying the half-year fee is unconventional!
On top of this, the seniors are losing even more money than most since they are not in school for the last month.
Additionally, the school is neglecting students who need this easier means of transportation to get to school. One senior mentioned, “A lot of students can’t always use conventional means to get to school like the bus or getting a ride, and those who have access to driving shouldn’t have to pay a high price for a spot they’re infrequently using.”
They went on to explain, “We’re people, we have sick days and appointments and lives outside of academics. Especially for an upperclassman, considering a chunk of our work and could use a spot to drive to and from work or school. If a student makes an effort to show up for school to get their education, it shouldn’t matter if they park in an unused or unoccupied parking spot. There shouldn’t be a fee for parking in general, you’re practically charging someone to show up. It’s just unconventional.”
It is not only bothering students, but it isn’t fair for them to have to pay such a high price when there is a chance they can not afford it, or the fact they are all teenagers who work hard for their money as it is.
Yet the school does not see it this way. Mrs. Brackbill stated, “I feel that a dollar a day is very fair. I guess everything is relative. I would pay a dollar to park before I would pay $2.50 for a coffee.”
Although it is understandable to pay a dollar a day, some students still disagree since they have to come to school. They should not have to pay an extra expense for something that only makes their lives easier.
Juniors Are Getting Priority?!
Another major issue students, particularly the seniors, have with the parking spots is the juniors getting better spots than the seniors who have signed up for a pass before them.
Perhaps it was the luck of the draw for the juniors who got better spots than the seniors. However, it does not add up as many seniors who likely signed up before juniors were given spots further away. Although the spots are not necessarily that much further, it is just the fact that seniors feel they should be prioritized in the case of having a closer spot.
For example, I am a junior who likely signed up after many seniors did, yet I have what is to be considered a better spot than some seniors. I am parked on the closest strip facing the school alongside almost an entire row of seniors.
Maybe it was just luck for me and any other juniors who got a better spot than a senior, but seniors feel this is not right.
Greenbaum stated, “I think that seniors should get first pick on spots because it is simply a seniority thing. It is unfair to have seniors who have been driving longer parking in the upper lot in worse spots than juniors who just got their licenses.”
However, she does acknowledge that juniors who applied for spots before seniors deserve their spots; she feels this is not the case all around.
Another senior mentioned, “I think it’s unfair that some juniors have a better [parking] spot than me as a senior. I was also one of the first people to sign up for the spots when it opened, and I still get sent to the upper lot (I parked in the upper lot last year and had no problem with it). I think it does not make sense to randomize it, it should be first come first serve.”
Seniors who have already paid their dues in junior or even sophomore year should not be forced on the long, sometimes very cold walk into school every morning and afternoon if they get up and are ready to sign up as soon as they are able.
Senior Gigi Parra added, “I just feel seniors should get better parking because it’s their last year and eventually the juniors next year will get better parking spots anyways.”
She has a point. Juniors who are likely to get better parking spots their senior year should not be prioritized over seniors.
Pre-Order Spots
One minor issue amongst juniors and sophomores is wanting to pre-order spots. Juniors who are soon getting their licenses or sophomores who will be getting theirs as well want to be able to pre-purchase a spot.
Students who have expressed wanting to do this agree to pay the full price but would like to be able to secure a spot without having to worry there will be none left.
A junior stated, “I will not be getting my license until later in the year and wanted to buy a spot in advance when they were opened to juniors. I was originally told this was possible, but with the system of applying for the spot I wasn’t able to do this and I had to wait to get my license.”
Reade agreed, but was thinking, “I feel like there could be some better way to deal with the parking system, like based off the amount of days left equaling the amount of money you pay.”
Although this is not one of the bigger issues it was still a concern among the younger students.
Conclusion
It is clear that many students are unhappy with the parking system, and they are hoping these issues can be resolved in the future.
