Parking Chaos At Pentucket
The beginning of Pentucket Regional High School’s year started off with a major parking catastrophe.
As some students from PRHS enter the new school year with the typical nerves and first day jitters, other come into school angry and parking on the grass.
With the Rocks Village Bridge still closed and the incoming juniors anxious for parking spots, tempers are running high at 7:35 a.m. in the school parking lot.
The main issue is there are not enough parking spots for juniors, seniors and faculty. What is the resolution? After interviewing students of both junior and senior classes many renditions of the same idea were given.
Following an interview with Josh Kemper, a senior driving to school from West Newbury, he made it clear that he is furious with the situation. “Every time I have had senior sign-in the same car is in my spot.”, “The whole system should start sooner.” Juniors eagerly awaiting their parking spots, that may in fact never come, are parking in seniors spots before they even arrive at school; causing a very hectic situation in the morning.
Parking is now the primary problem for many juniors. A common answer to the question: “Do you have any better ideas for a new system?” many replied the system should be in affect much sooner. Both juniors and seniors agree that the system should rely on seniors pick first then juniors.
Madeline Ammon, a junior driving to school from Merrimac, would also like to see the system start sooner. An idea she had was, “The school should have the incoming seniors pick their parking spots at the end of the year and the incoming juniors pick their spots at the beginning of August.”
Where does PRHS go from here? Are the new parking spots coming to our school just a rumor? Is administration planning on improving this issue?
To answer the question of many, the new parking spots are hopefully soon to come. After an interview with Mr. Evans, assistant principle of PRHS, the “rumor” is very true. Efforts are being made every day by Mr. Evans and himself and other administrators. As of September 20th, 2013, two students from the waiting list had new parking spots.
Mr. Evans is working on new spots all around campus. This includes three new spots behind the gym, and on the grass behind the baseball dugout. “I spent a week looking for extra spots, and hopefully everyone will have that they need by the end of the year.” 20 to 30 spots have been located and will hopefully be given out in the near future.
Although the complaints on parking confusion are being heard and trying to be accommodated students must remind themselves that, juniors are not entitled to parking spots and it is a senior privilege.
Andrew Capobianco • Oct 23, 2013 at 12:25 pm
ive never personally had parking problems, but im always hearing about butt heads taking other peoples spots!!!
Victoria • Oct 23, 2013 at 9:41 am
I think it is great that new spots are becoming available, however I think they need to be stricter about the parking lot rules. They say that your car could potentially be towed but they have never done it. If you pay the 180 dollars for a spot and someone parks in it, something should be done. This causes someone to take another persons spot, which just adds to the commotion. I also think it is time for the lines to be repainted, they are barely visible.
Nick Soter • Oct 23, 2013 at 8:50 am
I really liked this article, it was very direct and knowledgable about parking here at pentucket. It hit a little close to home to me though because I couldnt get a parking spot until late, and ended up in the tennis courts… are those new spots still available?
Emily Mikson • Oct 22, 2013 at 10:54 pm
This article is very well written and it points out a very big at the problem. As a junior its frustrating to try and receive a spot because you don’t want to take the bus anymore. But then the seniors are taking up most of the spots and leaving little to no room for the underclassmen. They should definitely give out parking spots early and also people shouldn’t be able to hold spots until they have a car because that isn’t fair to the people who have cars already. This article was very informative!
Thomas Byron • Oct 22, 2013 at 10:01 am
Good article. I’m a senior and still waiting for a spot because I came in late. Its a unfortunate situation.
Katherine Scholz • Oct 22, 2013 at 9:48 am
I think the idea about adding more parking for next year is great! there was so much confusion with it this year, and there were too many people parking in other peoples spots. I like how you interviewed Mr. Evans and other students about the problem too.
John Sirois • Oct 22, 2013 at 9:43 am
Watch out for Luke Strange, spot sniper. The article is relevent because this is the major crisis with under classmen sniping seniors parking spots. there should definatly be more parking spots next year to solve the parking problem.
Chad Legault • Oct 22, 2013 at 8:51 am
Wow!! Great article!
Noah Curtin • Oct 22, 2013 at 7:32 am
This article is well written and structured. You addressed the problem and also gave potential solutions. I liked how you got interviews with a range of people such as faculty, juniors and seniors. its too bad i wont be here to see the situation resolve
Whitney Lischke • Oct 21, 2013 at 10:09 pm
I agree with Maddie and I also think that students should pick their spots for senior year, at the end of their junior year to assure that all of next years seniors will have spaces and the open slots will be there for the juniors.
Mike • Oct 21, 2013 at 1:09 pm
I thought this was a great article and it made me laugh becasue this happened to me this morning. I got to school right at 7 and there was already somebody parked in my spot. The problem was resolved quickly, but it was a little frustrating. I liked how you added the ways they are trying to solve this issue. It is good to know this should be over soon.
Danika • Oct 21, 2013 at 7:13 am
Good article! Its good hearing there will be new parking spots to prevent some of the chaos. And glad to know we are addressing the problem this year. This is something everyone should read. Hopefully it’s better next year!
Carlos Del Castillo • Oct 21, 2013 at 12:58 am
With everyone getting their parking spaces stolen, it almost makes me glad I don’t have a car. Hopefully things get fixed by next year.
Will Sergeant • Oct 20, 2013 at 6:39 pm
People will do as they please, even if it wrecks a perfectly good system. Parking spots are great, but we should be lucky to have them. Many schools do not, and if they do they have GPA requirements and sometimes only Seniors can park. It is unfortunate how some people think they can just do what they want.
Gianna Rosenau • Oct 20, 2013 at 6:18 pm
This was a very well written article and got right to all the points. The title of the article catches your attention right away and makes you want to read what it is all about. I do see the sympathy for the seniors and juniors and I am glad that they have made the effort to find more parking spots. Also I agree with the part that they should start the process earlier so it isn’t as stressful at the beginning of the school year.
Molly Kirmelewicz • Oct 20, 2013 at 12:46 pm
Great article Nicolette! I think that maddy’s idea is a great solution to the problem.
Amy • Oct 19, 2013 at 10:10 am
Good article, I didn’t know they were making new spots thats awesome.
Tayla Racca • Oct 18, 2013 at 11:24 am
I completely agree with Maddie’s idea about choosing parking spots. This is well written, nice job Nicolette!
Trevor • Oct 18, 2013 at 11:22 am
Great job, intersting artcile for the start of school.
Robby Haselton • Oct 18, 2013 at 10:26 am
the school is making around 40,000 a year on us for parking passes. I dont think its unreasonable for some of that to be spent on parking lot expansions.
George Barlow • Oct 18, 2013 at 7:38 am
Nice article, it’s good to see that some progress has been made in the school parking problems. The next thing to work on is making the parking lot less chaotic.
Donovan Smith • Oct 18, 2013 at 7:30 am
I think that the seniors pick there spots at the end of the year is a way better idea than what we have now, I feel bad for the juniors that have to wait so long just so they can chose a spot to park at their OWN school.
Great Article
Allie Ligols • Oct 18, 2013 at 7:21 am
I think personally that everyone should be able to get parking spots earlier in the summer to prevent the chaos on the first week of school as well. It is also good to know that Mr. Evans is looking into having the parking lot extended. This article was very informative as well as intriguing.
Tyler Murray • Oct 17, 2013 at 10:21 pm
Very well written article..good job simply addressing the problem as well as possible solutions for the parking crisis. I actually learned that more spots were located around campus and going to be handed out in the near future. Great job clearing up the confusion of the parking problem and the rumors that accompanied it. Too bad this is my last year at Pentucket and I won’t be able to experience the new parking spots..):
Makayla Lingerman • Oct 17, 2013 at 9:48 pm
I really like that you brought this issue up because it has been a problem for as long as I have been at the high school. It has always raised a question about what we could do differently. I like how you talked to Mr. Evans about adding new parkng spots and it is reassuring to know that he is. The way you wrote this article was interesting and had me reading every word right up to the last word. Good job!
Vanessa Beauregard • Oct 17, 2013 at 7:51 pm
I personally never have had my spot taken by someone else, but I hear it was happening a lot, especially in the beginning of the school year. I think the news about more spots will be exciting to juniors who didn’t get a spot.
Bobby h • Oct 17, 2013 at 5:47 pm
Nothing more aggravating than not knowing where to park.
Ashley Forrest • Oct 17, 2013 at 5:02 pm
I also had parking issues at the beginning of the year. I’m glad administration is trying to resolve it for future years. It was definitely annoying.
Kenny Carnes • Oct 17, 2013 at 1:41 pm
I thought this article was pretty good. It actually caught my interest because it is still an ongoing situation at the school. I didn’t know there were new spots coming.. but I guess its something to look forward to.
Juliet Bote • Oct 17, 2013 at 12:44 pm
Very interesting article, and most things mentioned are accurate. Hopefully something is done in the future to resolve the issue.
jon spohn • Oct 17, 2013 at 11:57 am
Plan and simple, the junoir’s shouldn’t drive to school until they have paid the 180$ and recieved a parking spot. They need to wait just as my class had to do along with previous classes and earn the right to own a parking spot at the highschool. And if you can’t get a parking spot o well wait until next year and take the bus or some other way to get to school , and stop stealing people’s spots it cost money and time to get one.
Julia LaMarca • Oct 17, 2013 at 11:39 am
This article was great! It was nice to be informed about the new parking spots being made. Hopfully juniors won’t have to park in senior spots anymore because that was seriously frustrating… Good luck next year.
Yasmine • Oct 17, 2013 at 9:04 am
I think this article is very interesting and a well rounded topic. I also like how you included people’s opinions and how it may be getting resolved!
Matthew Thompson • Oct 16, 2013 at 7:23 pm
Glad a lot of this got cleared up before the school year… Didn’t stop people from randomly parking in my spot, but eh. Didn’t know they added new spaces, though. That’s cool.
Logan Sherwood • Oct 15, 2013 at 8:49 am
I likd this article a lot. Looking back at the parking fiasco I cant help but laugh. I am glad you included what will happen to fix the situation (the interview with Mr. Evans). To bad I won’t be here next year…
Emily Queenan • Oct 13, 2013 at 9:52 pm
Interesting article..there always seems to be parking problems at Pentucket.