Claiming the best parking spot has long been a tradition amongst seniors at Santa Fe. However, a recent change from assigned parking spots to designated sections this year has left the student body asking why.
Junior principal Mrs. Nieves is managing school parking this year with guidance from practices used at other schools in Edmond.
“The reason is that Memorial piloted it first to see how it went,” Nieves said. “It went really, really, really well, and it limited a lot of problems. And then North tried it, and it worked for them.”
Many students think the new parking policy is unsuccessful, but Nieves explains there are visible improvements already showing within just a few weeks of school.
“Students are missing fewer classes because they don’t have to report that somebody’s in their spot,” Nieves said. “It accommodates students, specifically seniors who have concurrent or students who have after-school activities. They don’t have to move their car to be closest to where they end their day if they are involved in after school activities.”
Nieves adds that a positive addition to the new policy is that Francis Tuttle students have a designated lot.
“We were able to designate a Francis Tuttle lot that is patrolled on the west side of the building,” Nieves said. “The students always have a place to park and are closest to the exit when they have afternoon classes at Francis Tuttle.”
Both upperclassmen and underclassmen feel strongly about the new parking lots but for different reasons.
“I like assigned parking because nobody has to fight for a spot, so many underclassmen park in the senior parking spots and no one does anything about it,” senior Jade Sossa said. “It’s extremely annoying because if you’re late from lunch you have to find a parking spot which leads you to being tardy.”
On the other hand, underclassmen tend to like the new parking policy.
“I like that I don’t have to worry about someone stealing my parking spot, and then, therefore, having to take someone else’s,” junior Chloe Lamprecht said.
If a student sees an underclassman parking in the wrong spot, Nieves urges them to report it to the back attendance office.
As the new school year begins and new procedures are in place, Santa Fe students and staff will continue to work together to ensure safety and efficiency during the school day.
