A new school year means new drivers are in the back lot. While new drivers aren’t causing severe problems, such as hitting cars or people, they are parking backward, which disrupts traffic flow at dismissal. These new drivers are not at fault, as the rules of the back lot are never taught.

Jayden Clutter is a senior at Park. She started driving to school in her sophomore year. She says when you first start driving, it can be overwhelming.

“The back lot is extremely intimidating, especially with all the upperclassmen back there,” said Clutter. “I did mess it up at first”.

Don’t let this cause any fear of driving to school, however. If you encounter a problem, you will be promptly corrected by our dismissal attendant, Mrs. Lawson, who will explain the rules to you.

“You just have to tell them to follow the protocol of how I release students,” said Lawson. “You have to park facing the school, unless you have a spot along the outside, which you do have to back in to”.

Another problem the backlot faces during the first few weeks of school is underclassmen parking in senior spots. For the first few weeks, seniors are the only students with designated spaces to park in. Underclassmen often accidentally park in these spots without realizing they are reserved.

“Some sophomore took my spot last week, but I just parked in a different spot and let it go,” said Clutter.

As the school year continues, the students will eventually learn the routine. To recap: everyone must park facing the school, those who park on the perimeter must back into their spots, underclassmen can not park in senior spots, and you must wait to be dismissed by Mrs. Lawson. Happy driving!