Parking shortage frustrates some Naperville North students

More than 100 Naperville North High School seniors got the red light this summer when they tried to get a parking spot on campus.

The school has fewer student-only spaces than in the past and fewer students willing to carpool, creating a shortage that has left some students frustrated.

But administrators say more spaces may become available in the coming weeks.

Parking spaces are doled out to students through a lottery system available for $100 each to seniors who do not have extensive disciplinary records. This year there were 318 student spots available, about 60 to 70 less than usual, according to Principal Kevin Pobst.

Roughly 124 qualified seniors who applied were not able to get a space.

"I'm really angry because I live in one of the furthest neighborhoods ... and not many people are able to pick me up because they have to backtrack ... and I also am involved in sports and clubs year-round so I don't have the privilege of taking the bus home a lot of the time," senior Kathleen Gallagher said.

The parking lots at Naperville North, 899 N. Mill St., recently were reconstructed as part of a renovation project at the school, resulting in about four fewer parking spaces. However, more spaces this year are being allocated to faculty and visitors.

Pobst said in the past, some employees were parking off campus or in inappropriate places such as across sidewalks because they didn't have a spot of their own.

"The bottom line is we have an organization where we have employees and the minimal expectation employees should expect is to have someplace to park," he said.

He said he understands some people's frustrations that additional spaces weren't added to the campus when the lots were reconstructed, but it simply wasn't a priority.

"The priority was to create a safe parking and driving environment," Pobst said.

For example, the east lot is now exclusively for buses, a move he says will be safer because they won't be mixed with student and parent traffic or pedestrians.

District officials also have cited an effort not to take up all the green space with asphalt.

One way for students to guarantee they'll get a parking space is to sign up to carpool, sharing their spot with another senior or seniors.

However, only 58 students signed up this year, about half as many as last year, according to Jeff Farson, dean of students.

Senior Tori Tanaka, vice president of student government, received a spot because she carpools and said she'd like to see more of her classmates do the same. But she also knows it can be tough to find a partner.

"With all the different sports and clubs that a student can be involved in at school it is rather difficult to find someone that lives close to you and has the exact same schedule as you," she said.

Some students say they wish there was a different system in place to get a spot. Senior Miya Thalmann suggested going back to a first-come first-serve system. She and Gallagher also wouldn't mind an application process that takes into account things like how many activities they are involved in, where they live and whether they have early dismissal.

Administrators say those who don't currently have a parking pass still have options. Once classes begin the school may get spots back from faculty and staff who ended up not needing them, Pobst said. Those will be reallocated to students.

Farson said major clubs and athletic teams each have one pass to hand out as well and a handful have been set aside for students who need to leave during the day for an internship or similar curricular program.

He suggests students consider carpooling and said there also are street spaces available near the school. Some businesses and nearby apartment complexes also rent spaces.

"I hope the kids understand the school doesn't want to be exclusive," Farson said. "We don't want to do that at all and we're trying to find ways to accommodate everyone the best we can."