During the first week of this school year, each class at at PVHS squeezed into the auditorium for their annual class meeting. During the senior meeting, students were excited to finally be sitting in their last official beginning-of-the-year gathering. Throughout the usual “you need 23 credits to graduate” and “245 is the magic number to get you into college,” students were surprised to hear something they didn’t know. After the mutual cheers for the announcement of the new tower additions, students were a little less excited to hear that senior lot will be closing in the spring of this school year. It’s all for the good, of course, even though seniors will not benefit from it, but it raises yet another parking-related dispute. If parking is tough now, what are we going to do with an entire parking lot demolished?
“I’m sad I’m not going to see the finished product,” says senior Julia VanHouten. “When the senior lot closes, juniors are going to park in the new lot and there will not be enough parking for seniors.”
“We’re not even going to see the new building,” adds senior Maddie Johnson. “They should start the construction over the summer so they will have time to create another new lot. They shouldn’t take parking away from students and make the issue worse than it already is.”
As students express their concern for the upcoming event, administrators have a clearer view of what will happen this spring.
“First we will have to see if the entire lot will be closing, or if a small portion of it will remain open,” says Associate Principal Darren Erickson. “The more parking spaces we can save, the better.”
“The new lot will also have an addition next summer, so next year should not be an issue.” adds Erickson. “However, for about the last two months of school this year, parking will be tight and sophomores will be the first to have parking revoked.”
To take away parking from a sixteen-year-old who just got his or her license is a battle that will not go down easily. “Honestly, students will just park in the neighborhoods and the residents will probably get very mad,” says Johnson. “No one likes riding the bus.”
So as students dreadfully anticipate the closing of the senior lot next spring, it should be remembered that this troublesome construction will lead to something that will make PVHS a much better place for future students. Even though many will not be here to experience it, it can’t be denied that the new addition is very exciting.
