Many Schreiber seniors and teachers can agree that finding parking before school is an issue.  Due to a lack of parking spots at the high school caused by construction, many teachers were assigned a spot in the Monfort lot, where most seniors with a driver’s license park.  

Over the past few weeks, Schreiber students and teachers have voiced their concerns and frustrations in regard to the issue of parking.  There are a number of factors that contribute to the recent parking issues, and may be part of a larger problem, as these issues have been present for quite some time.

Before the construction even began, parking in the Monfort lot was a challenge for most people.  Now, the problem has expanded with fewer spots for more cars.  When people cannot find a spot in Monfort, they park their cars on Bogart Avenue, which can be a disturbance to the neighborhood, or in the Rite Aid parking lot, which can result in a ticket.

“It’s like a warzone trying to get a spot in the morning, especially considering some teachers park in our spots.  It makes it ten times harder to park,” said senior Michael DeLeonardis.

When students cannot find a parking spot but need to get to class, they often park in a spot behind the Rite Aid parking lot or sometimes even in illegal spots.  With teachers being assigned  spots in the Monfort lot, seniors are having even more trouble, which results in this risker parking activities.  There are roughly 20 spots designated for 40-50 kids who drive to school daily, and teachers have the whole upper lot plus roughly 25 spots in the lower lot.  When all of the teacher spots are full, though, teachers overflow into spots reserved for students. 

“There are upwards of 400 students in the class of 2022, and not nearly enough parking spots for our class.  The end of the day is horrendous, and you could end up waiting to exit the parking lot for a span of 5 to 45 minutes,” said senior Danny Alexander.

Traffic tends to start around 2:50 p.m., fifteen minutes before the school day ends, but lasts for longer into the afternoon.  With added activity in the parking lot due to parents picking up their children, students and faculty are left frustrated as they must leave the small, gated lot. 

Aside from illegally parking behind Rite Aid, students can also park on Bogart Avenue. In addition to being farther from the building, senior parking fills the streets of the surrounding neighborhood quite rapidly, making it more difficult for residents to drive around.  Furthermore, cars parked on the street are at greater risk for dents, scratches, and other minor damage.  Students and teachers must get to school almost forty minutes before in order to find a spot. 

Choosing between the possibility of a ticket and being late to class due to traffic and entering and parking in the Montfort is a risky game with no right answer.

“I had to leave an important class, only to find a boot already on my car.  I begged and pleaded with the tow guy but he refused to take the boot off, and I was forced to pay $325 just for my car not to get towed and to make sure the boot was actually taken off,” said senior Hudson Aarons.

Many students face the same problem as Aarons and are urging administrators to search for a solution.  There is a huge parking lot directly next to the Monfort lot, but students are unfortunately not allowed access to it. Within the Monfort lot, there are two different types of spaces: yellow lines for students and white lines for teachers.

“I feel the parking situation is unfortunate for all those who are impacted and I truly understand the frustration of students trying to get home and staff members who sometimes have to wait 25 minutes before they can begin to commute home,” said science teacher Mr. Vincent Jacaruso.

This recognition displays the fact that both teachers, beginning their commutes, and students, eager to return home or drive to their extracurriculars, struggle with the traffic and are enraged by the process.

As Schreiber administrators are looking for ways to fix the parking issues, the current message to Schreiber students is clear: they must follow the rules and drive safely, despite their frustrations. 

“Port Police have been receiving many complaints regarding the traffic and drivers failing to follow the rules of the road on Orchard Farm Road, Montfort Road, etc.  Consequently, there will be an increase in police presence in the area to monitor traffic and issue summons to drivers who do not follow traffic rules.  I am sending this to you as a warning to slow down, obey traffic signs, and drive safely!” said Assistant Principal Kristen Anisis in a message to the senior class.  Ms. Anisis’ recent announcement addresses concerns of the public, but not necessarily those of Schreiber’s students.

The problems of Schreiber’s parking situation affects many students and teachers, leaving them begging for solutions.  Many want the addition of another parking lot and that is a discussion necessary for administrators.