Parking lot entrance to be added next year

kate JESPERSON • annabelle MILLER

As Natalie Danner, junior, walks out to her parking spot, she sees the long line of students aggressively trying to drive out of the parking lot.

“I would literally have to scramble and sprint to my car if I wanted to get out on time,” Danner said.

Students cut Danner off as she tries to leave the parking lot, often trapping her in her space as cars line up for at least 10 minutes.

It takes Danner about 20 minutes to exit the lot while her brother, freshman Joey Danner, makes it home on the bus before her.

To address this problem, a new entrance will be added to the parking lot this summer to be open next school year.

A small section of road will be built to connect the upper part of the parking lot to the Clarkson Road entrance, sophomore Principal Dr. Dan Ramsey said. The project will cost $20,000 to $30,000.

The new road will serve as the only entrance to the parking lot, and the current entrance will be used exclusively as an exit.

During dismissal, parents can enter the lot through the new entrance, Dr. Ramsey said, and then drive toward the football field for pick up. The new road will take traffic pressure away from the bottleneck exit nearest to Clarkson Road.

exit to the lot during dismissal times, Sophomore Principal Dr. Dan Ramsey said. Photograph by Annabelle Miller. Illustration by Emma Tyulyayev

“People can’t seem to turn in and turn out of there at the same time,” Dr. Ramsey said.

Dr. Ramsey said the idea came to him during freshman parent orientation four years ago, and he has fought for the update since.

“It will totally change the traffic next year,” Dr. Ramsey said.

Zach Tracy, senior, has been navi- gating the parking lot for two years.

“If I’m not one of the first ones out there, I’m just stuck there until everyone else is out,” Tracy said.

The new entrance, he said, will help decrease congestion and get everyone out of the parking lot quicker.

“It makes it easier for a lot to have that second option to enter,” Tracy said.

Additional Summer Renovations

Theater stage floor

A new stage will be built starting June 1 for the first time in more than 20 years It will be an estimated $40,000; the bids are still being worked out. The stage will be mainly sponsored by the theater parent organization.

Front bridge redone

The concrete bridge leading to the main entrance will be completely redone this summer. Principal Dr. Steve Hankins said this will address safety concerns with the bridge.

Second and third floor bathrooms

The social studies and math wing bathrooms will be redone to match the science and language art wing bathrooms over the summer.

New flooring in multipurpose room

The multipurpose room located near the weight room will get new flooring, which Dr. Hankins said was long overdue.