As school starts back up, one item school administrators stress to students is purchasing their parking passes. The pass allows students to park in the student parking lot, next to the high school. Without a pass, it is technically prohibited to park there.
The cost of one parking pass is 60 dollars and when purchased, students submit their name and their license plate number so the pass is registered to them. This pass is valid for use for the entirety of the school year.
Parking passes are an important part of keeping students and our school environment safe, as they are a visual for anyone who passes by to see if the cars parked there belong to the students of East Lansing High School as well as another way to see who is in the building.
However the pass system, as enacted at the high school, has downsides. Speaking as two students who work part-time jobs, 60 dollars is an outrageous price for one pass to park in the school parking lot. Students who begin driving in their sophomore year, will have paid a total of 180 dollars to park at school by the time they graduate, a cost that could be difficult for many individuals to cover. Even if a student makes 15 dollars an hour, with taxes taken out, most students would have to work at least five hours to afford a pass. That is more than most single shifts at workplaces. This leaves students who have to buy their own pass with few options. Furthermore, there are many other expenses that those jobs cover, such as gas money or college savings.
Another clear issue with the cost and payment of the parking pass is the variety of times students start driving. For example, one student may begin driving in September making the pass last the entire year. Another student may not get their license until March meaning they pay full price to only have a valid parking pass for the remaining 3 months of school. Having to pay such a high amount to not be able to benefit entirely is utterly ridiculous. One should at least have access to a discount based on the time they begin driving.
While it is up to families whether the student or guardians pay for the past or if the cost is split, it is an unnecessary expense that families should not have to incur.
Students who may not have enough money to afford the parking pass are invited to have a conversation with administration to find a solution or receive financial aid. Conversations are also held for students who attend the Wilson Talent Center for half the day, or have classes at Lansing Community College (LCC) where they only pay half the usual price, depending on their situation and the agreement that the administration and the student come to. However, even 30 dollars is still a large amount of money that some students still may not be able to afford.
The money gathered from parking passes is said to go towards an “educational fund” by school administrators. Most students who attend East Lansing High School are East Lansing residents which means that they pay taxes to have them attend the school district. As the taxes paid allow students to attend the school, paying an extra 60 dollars is unnecessary.
In summary, parking passes are a great way to hold students accountable but should not be this big of a financial burden placed upon them. There are many options for fundraisers that could be organized by the community if raising money for an “educational fund” is important. If the school were to lower the price to a reasonable amount for students to pay, it would not only be more inclusive but also help ensure the safety of our school and students.
