This past fall, both Valley and Brandford started their year with students painting their parking spots. Many here at Morgan wonder why we don’t do the same. Pawprint sat down with Superintendent Maryann O’Donnell to learn why Morgan doesn’t paint parking spots and the potential issues behind it.
For superintendent O’Donnell, the main issue regarding painting spots is safety. O’Donnell fears that having designated parking spots will make it easier to target students. “The potential that people can be targeted, right? And so while you may know a certain person’s car or whatever, [it’s important that] the outside public doesn’t.”
O’Donnell is not alone in this fear; it also raises safety concerns for the administration and the first responders in town. “We have a group we work with, our first responders. That is one of the checklist pieces, that you don’t necessarily have assigned spots because they can be used for targeting students.”
In 2023, the administration grew concerned regarding the separation of students and staff parking. At that time, the district decided to change the policy so that there were no designated parking lots specifically for students only or staff only; currently it is a mixture of students and staff in all parking lots. Prior the parking lot near the A wing was for teachers and the one near the D wing was for students
Unaware of the safety concerns, many students see the painted spots as a bonding opportunity for the senior class. Senior and president of the social justice club, Anadaly Lopez said, “I think that senior parking spots should be allowed because it’s a really fun activity that people can do before the school year starts, and it’s a really good bonding moment. We have a lot of artistic people here at Morgan, and it’s a great way to express yourself.” Lopez wishes she had the opportunity to paint her parking spot and hopes that future classes will be able to.
Lopez added “I don’t think bullying [student safety] is a huge issue here at school, and I don’t think people would care what your parking spot is… everyone knows that we all have different interests you know.” Lopez believes that rather than people being targeted people would be brought together by their interests. Senior Julia Shove says “yes I would want too, one because I have a Jeep and would like to do something duck related”
Acknowledging that students are interested in having their own spots, O’Donnell stated, “It’s really a community facility, so I love students’ creativity. I love seeing the ways that you guys impact [the school]. I just don’t think I want to do it in the parking spaces.” She would prefer non-permanent creative opportunities.
At Fitch High school in Groton students are given the opportunity to paint their parking spots. In order to paint parking spots students must pay 50 dollars, show their drivers licence and insurance card. Students also need to submit their design beforehand and get it approved by the school. The paint students use is mandatory to be latex water based so it will stick to the ground, is weather resistant, and won’t crack.
“The seniors have been so excited, the kids have done a great job,” says assistant principal Erin McGuire at Fitch Highschool. Fitch had a past tradition of painting their field house but it is now structurally damaged, the class of 2018 was the first to start their new tradition of painting their parking spaces.
Morgan students wish to paint their senior spots in the future and want to find a way to make it happen, lots of seniors shared how they wish they had the opportunity to do this as a memory and class bonding experience for their last year of high school.
