Perry currently caters to student drop off and pick up with two parking lots, both lots are also reserved for staff and student parking. “[As Perry increases in population, we are] all feeling the strains of parking,” said Assistant Principal Joe Greene. As the student population increases, the staff is increased.
There are currently around 500 seniors and 840 freshman, meaning that 13 new teachers were brought in. “[Perry] is at capacity; every year new students are added,” said Serrano. As new students are added, that is a new number of students driving, whether it be in the Fall or the Spring. When Spring comes around, sophomores are turning 16 left and right, meaning more of them are now driving to school.
Not only is the parking lot for students and staff, parents use it for daycare, and people work in the houses across from the pool in the parking lot. The parents that use the daycare park in the spots to bring in their children, leaving less spots available. “[The issue] is size and population,” said Greene, “and if we get another class of 840 the school will continue to grow.” Currently, the administration does not think that Perry is grown out yet, and that the campus can expect more students each year.
Although students park in the “student” parking lot, staff is required to park out by the library. “I can’t even park out front anymore, I’m parking all the way over past the library; Mr. Serrano is, so we all are…basically, it’s not just a select group, we are all feeling the effect of growing,” said Greene. Now most of the teachers are not only in the back, but are over by the library too. The non-teaching staff were moved to the East side of the school, for parking, so that there was more room for students on the West side.
The auditorium is also used by elementary and those students need their parents to park; that parking lot is reserved for those parents. “Any high school parking lot is a zoo [during school hours],” said Serrano.
Greene does not see the flow of traffic around the school slowing down. “I don’t think so, I think kids will wait to the last minute [to come to school], “said Greene. The population will continue to grow and with the new students comes more staff. Students will continue to arrive at the same time, and it will continue to cause traffic.
