While senior parking has been a controversial topic at Mamaroneck High School (MHS) for many years, it has recently become a more widely contested issue as the school administration continues to restructure the parking system at MHS to accommodate a growing student and staff population. It is widely agreed upon that the parking system is not ideal, but the district’s attempts to promote equity and convenience have failed to take into account several important factors.

Prior to the 2023-2024 school year, students, staff and visitors had specifically designated parking areas. Students were not allowed to park in the Palmer lot and were allotted designated spots in the Post Lot and AP Lot, while staff could park in designated staff spaces in all lots. There was a first come first served system, so whoever arrived at the parking lot first, whether a teacher or senior student, could secure a space. Generally, this would leave those who did not come early in the morning with nowhere to park.

This system was problematic for many years, which caused the school administration to reevaluate parking at the high school. According to Susan Natale, MHS Assistant Principal, there has been an “increasing strain on parking spaces” these past few years as both the student and staff populations at MHS have increased. The race to find a spot in the morning has become “unrealistic” and “problematic” for students and staff.

Due to the increase in teachers, administrators, staff, central office administration and staff, other district employees who are housed in the high school building, there was a need to increase the number of spaces allotted so that when they arrive to work there is space available for them to park. Prior to last year this was often not the case and they would be forced to park inconveniently far away, often making teachers late to class, central office staff late for meetings, and other district employees late to work.  Similarly, if visitors came into MHS midday, they would not be able to find parking and would have to go to crowded side streets and the parking lots of nearby businesses, risking getting towed or ticketed.

While senior students had fewer complaints, some aspects of the system were still “not perfect,” according to Natale. Those who were unable to arrive at school as early as their peers, either due to “dropping their siblings off ” or “doing other work,” found that the parking system did not “work for everyone.”

With these issues in mind, a parking committee inclusive of teachers, students, parents, central office administration and school building administration devised a new parking system.

As of last year, the first come, first served system for the designated areas was eliminated in favor of a “lottery” system, where seniors could enter a quarterly raffle to win a “parking pass.” If a student won one of these passes, they could park in one of 41 designated senior parking spaces in the new “senior lot,”previously known as “Jlot.”

This shift in location from Post to Palmer “makes sure the seniors are in one place and they don’t bleed into the staff parking area in Post,” Natale says. However, this change has also significantly limited parking opportunities for seniors, with 425 students vying for one of the 41 spaces. The “parking pass” quickly became a rare and sought-after commodity.

A significant change for the 2024-2025 school year is the addition of more slots to the lottery system. Last year, the school administration gave out the exact amount of parking passes as spots available: 41.

However, many of these spots would often stay empty throughout the day, either because the owner of a parking pass would not be at school that day, decided not to drive, or left early during the day. This year, the administration has given out 55 parking passes for 41 spaces so that the senior lot will maximize “equity” and “usage.”

While this system has made parking less stressful for those with a pass, it has introduced multiple new complications for those who do not have one.

More than ever before, as fewer student spots are available than in the first come, first served system, those who were not lucky enough to obtain a pass are often forced to park far away.

This can cause them to be late to class, which can have lasting repercussions on a student’s academic career, considering that the state mandates that “parking and car troubles” do not entail an excused absence or tardy to class.

While the school administration encourages students to avoid tardiness and other parking issues by “planning better,” it is difficult to anticipate what the parking situation will entail each morning and, therefore, hard to plan when to leave the house to get a spot.

Furthermore, this new parking system has not solved the “equity complaints” that existed in the first come, first served system. Those who do not have a parking pass and cannot leave early in the morning due to familial responsibilities are still disadvantaged.

Emma Freeman (’25), who does not have a parking pass this quarter, has to leave at seven in the morning to get a good spot. “Many people are driving, and there are not enough parking spaces for them.” Freeman says.

“I have seen people park close to half a mile away because they can’t find a spot.”

The staff at MHS have also complained about the inconvenience of this new system. Teachers whose classrooms are located on the Palmer side of the building previously were able to park in the “senior lot,” formerly “Jlot,” which was relatively close by.

Now, they have to park in the Post lot, creating a strenuous and unnecessary hike.

Overall, the parking problems at MHS are far from solved.

While the administration continues to seek a solution to satisfy all parties involved, space limitations continue to restrict most possibilities.

There is still work to be done, but Natale remains confident that the new parking system will soon become the “new norm.”

She explains that “by the time the freshmen are seniors, this will just be the practice they will follow.”

Ultimately, creating an effective solution will require trial and error, student and staff feedback, and the revaluation of school policy and priorities.

There is still work to be done, but Natale remains confident that the new parking system will soon become  “the new norm.”

She explains that “by the time the freshmen are seniors, this will just be the practice they will follow.”