Newtown High School collects fees for student parking passes at the beginning of every school year. As of late, it appears as though there may be some controversy about the high price of the passes. Admittedly, many kids do not seem to mind the cost, but others that have inconvenient parking spots have voiced their opinion that the costs of parking spots should directly correlate to their location.
Currently, seniors are guaranteed a parking spot and apply for them during four days in the summer. Seniors must show security their license, registration, and car- so the sticker may be affixed. Juniors apply on a first-come-first served basis.
“My parking spot is down by the pine trees near the Blue and Gold Stadium,” NHS senior Kaitlyn Pierce said. “I wasn’t around when they were processing the passes, I was on a church retreat, so I got stuck with a spot far away. I still paid the same $85 as other students that got spots closer to the school, I just wasn’t around when they did the parking lotto.”
Pierce is not the only one who feels that parking system could use a change. In terms of proximity to the school, NHS science teacher Trent Harrison seems to have a few thoughts of his own.
“If there is a medical need I think a spot closer to the building can be arranged, but this would be on a case by case basis,” Harrison said. “I think it would be a great project to have a business or Econ class, maybe with some help from math, put together a tiered parking price structure: closer to the building are more expensive, farther are less, just like a stadium seating.”
In order to get a spot at Newtown High School at the start of the year, students must fill out an application for which they are enrolled in a parking lottery. To qualify for an NHS parking permit, students must have a valid Connecticut driver’s license and have regular access to a vehicle. The cost of the school year permit is $85.00, by check only.
In comparison to Newtown High, parking rules at other schools are similar, but prices vary. Danbury High School, for example, charges seniors $60 and juniors $65. Danbury’s parking system also seems to be focused mainly around academia. Any student that registers for a spot must have at least a 70 grade average and a certain amount of credits must be attained. Another rule the school has is that students applying for a space must have passed all their classes in the previous semester.
Schools like Masuk and Cheshire have rules less focused on academia and more on the driving itself, much like NHS. Both Masuk and Cheshire charge students $125 at the start of the year. Although, according to Masuk High School senior Anna Martinsky, parking prices do change throughout the year depending on when you apply.
“Parking is $125 at the beginning of the year and $60 if you apply in the middle of the year,” Martinsky said.
In terms of processing parking permits, Masuk assigns on a first come, first served basis. Cheshire High School’s processing favors those involved in certain extracurricular activities such as Cadet Training, Work Study, and Co-Op.
As far as private schools are concerned, they charge even charge less for student parking. St. Joseph’s charges students $50. The Canterbury School students, according to one of their seniors Matthew Sherrick, are not even charged for parking on campus.
“I park on campus all the time. I don’t pay anything and I never have. A lot of people live on campus so there is not much of a need for cars so maybe that’s why. I live at home and commute so I need to park somewhere. It’s great for me that it doesn’t cost anything,” Sherrick said.
Though students at NHS do not pay as much as some other schools, that does not change the fact that students feel price should change depending on where their spot is. Regardless of how students feel, it appears as though there will be no changes for the current 2015-2016 year.
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