Students Urged to Avoid Teachers’ Lot, Fines

By Kathya Anguiano

Although students have access to this big parking lot behind Rough Rider building by the baseball field designated to them in 2010, and some space behind the portables, students are still trying to find a way to park in the teachers’ area.

“I used to park in the teachers’ parking lot because it’s closer but I stopped because I got like three tickets, so now I park behind the portables,” Oscar Gonzalez, a senior, said.

There have only been 105 student parking permits issued which allows for the 170 spaces by the baseball field to be more than enough plus the 108 parking spaces behind the portables. There are currently 340 staff member parking spaces for teachers and all other staff. While some students feel this leaves a surplus, administration says the spots are needed for visitors to have easy access to the check-in area.

“Faculty parking needs to be available to our visitors that come in and out of school during the day,” assistant principal Allan Pruiett said. “It becomes very hard for them to find parking spaces and not enter through the front office to check in and failure to do that can get them in trouble. There should be no need for that to be happening.”

Pruiett said the student parking lot is a lot closer walking distance to the academic buildings than that of other district schools, some students still find the need to park in the teachers’ lot.

“I don’t mind parking behind the portables now because they’re a little closer but when the portable parking wasn’t available you bet I was parking in the teacher’s area, it’s closer,” Juan de Rueda, senior, said.

Mr. William Sturgis has been actively issuing tickets to students parking in the teachers’ area. School issued tickets are $55, city-issued tickets for parking in handicapped areas are $250. As graduation day being that much closer, administration recommends that students, especially seniors, try and avoid the teachers’ parking lot because any unpaid tickets will become obligations that can prevent them from walking the stage. Any dues that need to be paid can be paid in the AP office.