Hallways have not been the only crowded place at Lockport Township High School (LTHS).  With parking passes going on sale, the deans office has been swarmed by students anxious to receive one.  The $100 price has not appeared to have turned away many students.

LTHS offers parking passes to seniors for the first couple of weeks before opening it up to the juniors in the form of a raffle.  The students have the chance to park until the raffle is drawn then the patrols of the parking lot begin.  The parking lot has sold out every year since parking passes became available and this year is no exception.

“The senior class has jumped on the opportunity , not leaving as many passes available to the juniors as previous years,” said Dean Lawrence Thompson Jr. “ The parking lot is always filled to capacity.”

The amount of passes sold ranges from 600 to 700 due to the changing number of faculty from year to year.  The passes are usually divided half and half between juniors and seniors.  The juniors were stuck with the leftovers in the raffle.  The seniors did not view the price as a deal-breaker taking full advantage of the head start by purchasing roughly 350 of the 700.  The students appreciate the privilege the parking provides them.

“Going to work straight from school makes my life a lot easier,” said Senior Steven Rokosz.

“The price is not too high for the privilege provided,” said Junior Paige Livingston.  “It is much easier to not have to wait at the bus stop or rush to the bus after school.”

The money may seem like a big fee but it goes back into improving the education and making every school day more productive said Dean Thompson.  The money allows the school to make needed improvements to the school to provide an improved learning environment.

The ability to save the time and be able to start work earlier is a huge benefit.  For another year the parking lot will be full of students eager to receive their knowledge for the day.  The system is mutually beneficial and will stay for many years to come.