Parking at DSHS has continuously become a pressing concern, which has escalated alongside the high school’s rapid growth. This issue will continue to bring concern as each upcoming class is anticipated to be substantially larger than the last. However, if we can utilize our spaces more efficiently and consider alternatives, then we can seamlessly find a solution.
The current status of DSHS parking is composed of 6 lots (C, D, E, F, G, and band lot). Several of the students’ concerns revolve around the convenience of parking. Specifically, many suggestions from students refer to getting off campus quickly for off-periods, lunch, (etc.) students. On account of the large population of the high school, exiting school has also become a large issue of commuting from school, the highway, and home.
One viable solution to parking could be to re-establish the parking lots. Lots G and F are exceptionally distant from the school with very few students considering parking there. If we were to move bus parking into those lots and have shuttles or walk ways that students can travel earlier towards these buses. In addition to these expansions, slightly pushing forward visitor parking by two rows would help to slightly increase room space for parking. Not removing the visitor section overall but slightly modifying the space would make a large impact on overall parking. The visitor parking usually has many gaps that would result in the equivalent of two rows. Thus, not completely taking over too much space. As well as utilizing teacher parking in a specific organized area rather than small strips along the various parking lots can also improve the space.
Additionally, one other solution could be enforcing and encouraging the underclassmen, specifically placing a spring notice for the sophomores and new drivers in which have to park in a certain lot for their first semester of driving or a parking permit that is only valid in the spring and further. Alternatively with that, the upcoming drivers or new drivers could get a specific parking pass for the underclassmen that assigns a parking spot. With this we could organize the underclassmen because they have less opportunities to leave the campus early. This would exclude upperclassmen specifically because if they had to leave early or move spots they wouldn’t be taking up extra spots. Therefore, the upperclassmen would get slightly more authority in the parking lots as they get free decisions in order to park.
Overall, if DSHS were to expand the parking lot we would have more spaces for the upcoming class as they continue to grow and populate the school. This would be able to be done with the accommodations of the upperclassman needs while keeping parking available. Along with the encouragement of underclassmen to take the buses, carpooling, and alternatives to driving help to decrease the traffic flows within the school.
