The parking at the Mount Vernon schools is an ongoing issue on a daily basis. Teachers, staff, and students struggle to find parking near their building. At the high school the east parking lot got closed off due to the construction of a new auditorium, so a gravel lot was made behind the school. The gravel parking lot has lessened parking spots compared to the old lot which makes students have to park on the entrance to the school. This makes it difficult for big vehicles to get through and that’s still not enough parking for everyone. Students tried parking in front of the middle school, but that wasn’t allowed for long. Students are told to “Get to school earlier” but that won’t affect the number of parking spots. The students are told to park by the elementary school next to the softball field which is a long walk, especially in this cold winter.

The Mount Vernon schools need another parking lot because students are getting upset and find the closest spot so they don’t have to walk as far. Those parking spots they find are not allowed by teachers and staff because it affects other vehicles being able to get to where they need to go. That makes the teachers and staff upset with the kids because they don’t want to park forever way, but who can blame them? The teachers and staff threaten to have their cars be towed if they don’t move them, but there is a solution. The solution is to make another parking lot.

In front of the high school, there is a big grass area that is completely useless. Throw some gravel in there so water can still drain and make an entrance so students can park there. This could add about 30 parking spots which would be enough to hold everyone that needs to go to the high school on a daily basis. The big parking lot and grass area could connect to make one huge parking lot. The road that is used to exit right in front of the high school could stay there the curbs would just need to be taken out on each side so the parking lots can be accessed.