By Karissa Erven
This is not the first time seniors have claimed their territory in the school parking lot. It was a school tradition during Coronado’s early years. Underclassmen came to know this section as “senior parking.”
The senior lot was previously enforced until that perk was taken away because it was too difficult to keep others from parking in those spaces. After senior parking was eliminated in 2012, the rules of parking were easier to administer, but it lead to an “every man for himself” battle to find a parking spot each day.
Jason Wright, the Administrative Assistant, said, “It was getting too difficult to enforce the younger students to not park there.”
Although having free parking made it easier for the younger students to park in the mornings, seniors couldn’t find a spot. Because of CCSD policy, schools are not allowed to charge for parking. So the parking problem continued.
“After hearing complaints from the class of 2014 about the parking situations, and talking to other schools and other student councils, they wanted to know if it was something that they could use as a fundraiser,” senior adviser, Mrs. Barlow, said.
After convincing the school to allow senior parking as a fundraiser for senior activities such as the senior sunrise, sunset, barbeque, and general funds for the class, the seniors were relieved.
“We don’t need to stress about where to park because we know it’s now guaranteed. It felt good hearing the seniors had their own parking back. I just wish we didn’t do a raffle because all our friends aren’t together,” Mia Robinson, senior, said.
Most seniors put little pictures like a paw print on their parking spots. Others put their name or nicknames on the parking curbs. Senior Samantha Green decorated her parking space in memory of another.
“Kiip Living is for my good friend Tiare who passed away this summer. It’s to stay positive and to keep her in my thoughts,” Green said.
