Earning a driver’s license can be tedious for Portola High students. It requires a driver’s education class, permit test and the behind the wheel test. Imagine completing those requirements, only to then pay $80 for parking at school. Administrators in Portola High should lower fees and inspect permits daily to make permits more affordable and fair for students.
The $80 parking permit is too expensive for many students, especially those who only park occasionally. Parking permits should be set at a lower price to help ease financial strain on students while also fully utilizing currently empty parking spaces.
“It’s not fair. $80 is too much,” senior Sanah Durrani said. “I think as a student, that’s a lot of money for you to personally have just for parking permits. I think the majority of students may get the money from their parents because a student paying $80 to go to their own school is a hefty price.”
The $80 fee pays the staff overseeing the parking lots and funds for equipment, according to Assistant Principal James Coney.
“We’re at three CCAs [Campus Control Assistants] where we definitely have to use that money to supplement one of those positions because we’re at 2500 students now, and I wish I could have 10 CCAs,” Coney said. “So anything to do with signage, any kind of repairs out there, we just use that money to supplement those kinds of things. We have three parking lots, cones, anything you can think of to make parking safer or more accessible.”
Though funding equipment may be understandable, the district should be the one paying staff to look after the parking lots. The school should not be relying on the students to pay a high price to maintain CCA positions.
Price isn’t the only main issue with the permit system at Portola High. Parking permits are currently checked weekly, according to Coney. Instead, the parking lots should be checked daily to ensure only students who paid full price occupy the spaces.
“I actually think the only flaw in the parking system is that parents can come in and park on days where an administrator is not checking,” junior Katie Le said. “For example, if George and Kathy weren’t there to direct traffic, parents sneak into the parking lot which definitely creates an unfair environment because, as students, we have to pay that $80 in order to get the spot, but parents can come in whenever they want.”
With price and regulation being two of the main issues of the parking system, it’s only natural that the district should take on the responsibility of hiring CCA staff without relying on students to pay.
