By: Lucy Cronin and Sai Velamala

   On February 2, the MRHS admin announced that they would be reinforcing the use of parking permits and imposing penalties on those without one. Students without the $15 pass for the 2025-2026 school year are prohibited from parking in the school’s parking lot. Administrators plan to check for passes soon and are prepared to discipline those without one, but specific disciplinary actions have not yet been revealed. Although this isn’t a new policy, it hasn’t been enforced heavily in recent years, leaving many students scrambling to get a pass.  

   Students’ reactions to the policy have varied. Some strongly agree with having parking passes, while others don’t see the need for them. Most students fall somewhere in the middle, acknowledging the need for parking passes but disagreeing with how the system currently works, some even proposing new ideas for the policy.

   “I think that parking passes are good and that everybody should have one, but there should be designated spots. Seniors could customize their spots, and nobody would have to fight over spots cause everybody would have a designated place to park,” senior Nathaniel Silverston said. 

   Other students have already purchased a pass but have not yet received it, even months into the school year. Issues have been reported with both purchasing passes online and obtaining the physical pass from the front office.

   “My friend tried to get [a parking pass], and her mom paid, and she still got multiple emails asking for the payment, even after attaching a screenshot of the payment,” junior Kala Rulison shared. 

   Addressing students who paid but never received a pass, Assistant principal Mr.Vandenberge explained that they should contact the front office. 

   “There should be some documentation of payment. [Students] should be able to get them by going back to the front office and asking for the pass, because there should be some record of them having paid,” Mr.Vandenberge explained. 

   Admin also clarified the consequences for not displaying a parking permit. Students without one may receive a warning and will not be allowed to park on campus. In addition, parking privileges can be revoked for repeated tardiness. “Parking is a privilege, and people who are regularly late will not be allowed to park on campus,” Mr.Vandenberge expressed.

   Despite the admin’s warnings of discipline, many seniors are choosing not to purchase a parking pass, believing that since they will be graduating within the coming months, they shouldn’t have to pay full price for a pass. This pushback brings up important questions and concerns regarding parking at MRHS, and as of now, those questions remain unanswered.

   As the school prepares to start checking the student lot for passes, students are encouraged to confirm their payment and obtain their pass as soon as possible. The administration hopes the policy will reduce conflicts in the parking lot.