The Newtonite v Monday, Sept. 24, 2018 • Volume 97
Newton North High School, 457 Walnut St., Newtonville, Mass. 02460
Furniture creates new energy for Main Street Amy Xue Students entered the Tiger Drive entrance one morning in mid-September to see tables and chairs lining the walls where students used to sit on the floor to study and eat lunch. This new furniture arrived as part of an initiative to create more hangout spaces for students around the school. Principal Henry Turner and student representatives on the Student Faculty Administration (SFA) worked together to create a “common space for students and teachers to chat, get ready for the day, get some work done, or even just destress and relax,” Turner said. The furniture was funded by the Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO), he added. Turner informed students of the furniture in an email sent Aug. 22. Students have mixed opinions on the new furniture. “I definitely think that the furniture met my expectations, if not exceeded them,” said senior Charlotte West. “I’m very grateful for them because the school is overcrowded and it’s a nice spot to do work and hang out with friends.” Many other upperclassmen agree with West. Senior Isabella Nielsen said, “I feel like it’s definitely a good initiative they’re taking. I’m glad they’re finally listening to students and fixing issues about overcrowding.” Some are pleased but expected by
Joelle Sugianto
Senior Josh Castleman puts new Main Street furniture to use as he completes his homework Monday, Sept. 17. more furniture due to the build-up of excitement from last year. “I had super high expectations to start,” said senior Michael Cornish. “It was hyped up a lot, but it’s definitely better than just sitting on the floor.” “I thought they meant couches at first, but any place we could stay in without getting kicked out is good,” said senior Evan Dyer.
Overall, the new furniture has been well received by the students. Sophomore Cole Martin said, “I think it’s pretty cool. It’s a place to sit and socialize, and it’s very comfortable.” According to Riley House dean Michelle Stauss, Main Street is currently only open to upperclassmen during school hours. During second semester, sophomores will
also be allowed to hang out on Main Street. This rule is a continuation of the open campus policy, in which upperclassmen with good academic standing earn the privilege of free blocks and the ability to leave campus. Before and after school hours, anyone is free to use the furniture. This furniture is part of an ongoing effort to address a lack of
hangout spaces and overcrowding at North as its student population grows each year, according to Turner. He added that the new space has behavioral “norms similar to those in a Starbucks” that a group of now sophomores, juniors, and seniors developed. The furniture is a product of an SFA bill passed at the end of the 2016-2017 school year that turned Main Street into a student hangout space. After a series of pilot runs, the administration officially opened Main Street and the corridor near the Tiger Drive entrance this April. While the issue of hangout spaces started years ago, there was a growing call for more such spaces last year due to a clarification of behavorial norms establishing the Library Learning Commons as a learning space, not a social space. As a result, many students were left without places to go on campus during free blocks, according to junior Dina Gorelik, an SFA representative. “There really isn’t a communal space for people to go when they have frees,” she said last year. Using money from the Class of 2018’s senior gift, carpentry is currently building benches to add to Main Street, according to Turner. “We still have some money left,” he added. “If people want, we could purchase some more of this furniture for Main Street.”
Students express frustration over restricted parking Jacques Abou-Rizk Student drivers with and without parking permits have struggled to find parking spots in the opening weeks of school due to limited space and regulation changes over the summer. Over the summer, Upland Road, a street near campus and a popular parking area, changed from all-day parking to two-hour parking. According to Captain Paul Anastasia, Newton Traffic Bureau Commander, parking was restricted “due to complaints from neighbors last year and a verified public safety issue of emergency vehicles not being able to get through Upland Road on school days.” Even for students with parking passes, finding a parking space has also proven difficult. “Even though 150 permits are given out, there aren’t nearly enough spots to fit 150 cars,” said senior Alison Wong. Each year, the Newton Police Department issues 150 parking permits to North students for $25 each on a first come, first served basis, with priority given to seniors. Permits allow students to park in designated spots on Hull Street and Lowell Avenue. Those who do not receive passes usually choose to park on nearby streets with all-day parking. “One class is about 500 people,” said Wong, “so 150 cannot even fill half of that.” At a senior class assembly Tuesby
day, Sept. 11, school police officer John Panica reassured students that there are enough spaces for all those with parking permits. However, “as someone that parks with a parking permit, I could not believe when they say there are 150 spots available,” said senior Maya Mathews. “They don’t account for spaces between cars. There is no way 150 cars are able to fit on Hull and Lowell.” According to the student parking regulations on the North website, “A parking permit allows you to legally park in a designated area. It does not guarantee you a space.” Senior Emma Klein, noted that parking may be limited by North’s location. “I think it’s never going to be enough, but they are limited by how many parking passes they can give out,” said Klein. “There’s nothing the school can do, and the location of the school does make it difficult for them.” While the Newton police manages North parking permits, according to Anastasia, they can only set and make temporary parking regulations when deemed an emergency. All parking laws are handled by the Traffic Council of the City Council. Klein added that many student parking problems could be solved if the city, school, residents, and students discussed such issues. “I think it would be about communicating with neighbors,” Klein
Joelle Sugianto
Senior Morgan Britt-Webb walks from her car on Hull Street to school early in the morning Friday, Sept. 14. said. “There are a lot of side streets around for students to park on, but a lot of them are very narrow and have time limits.” A school committee initiative last year attempted to encourage students to bike rather than drive, according to Mathews, who is a student representative of the School Committee. Currently, the city is working to improve road safety for bikers by adding bike lanes and altering bus schedules. “The initiative was promot-
ing not driving, simply because of the crazy congestion of Newton streets,” Mathews said. “The Newton school system, in general, makes up about 50 percent of the street congestion in the morning. That means every other person behind you is on their way to a Newton Public School in the morning.” With the new school year having just started, Wong added that student parking is only going to get worse.
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“Since most juniors don’t have their licenses right now, it isn’t as bad,” Wong said. “But when they do, around March and May, Bulloughs and the few other side streets there that allow all-day parking are going to fill up super quickly in the morning.” Looking to the future, senior Morgan Britt-Webb added, “The freshman class is much bigger than my grade, and when they can drive, there is going to be a huge problem.”