Parking permit applications far exceed available spaces

Blair administration has rejected 29% of the students applying for parking permits, resulting in discontent and a flood of appeals to the business office.

Out of an approximate total of 210 students applying for parking permits this year, only 141 seniors and nine juniors have received permits thus far. Blair's business manager, Anne Alban, has already accepted 27 appeals for the four remaining spaces.

Alban, one of the adult supervisors to the permit selection, believes that Blair's lack of student parking causes anger and tension among students. "The application process is fair and the review board is unbiased, but there simply are not enough spaces. The decision-making becomes very difficult with such limited parking availability,” Alban said.

According to Alban, much of the students' anger stems from a lack of understanding and knowledge of the exact evaluation process. To be considered for a parking permit, a student must have no financial obligations and a minimum of a 2.0 GPA. After eliminating students who have not fulfilled those basic requirements, the selection process becomes more difficult, said Alban.

The next cut is made based on whether or not students have school-sponsored activities that require them to stay after school at least three times per week. Grade also impacts which students receive permits; for example, seniors with the same extracurricular responsibilities as juniors receive preference over the juniors. Clubs and sports are counted as equally time-consuming activities in the decision-making process, said Alban.

Still, many angry students criticize the application process and the circumstances surrounding which students receive permits. Eleventh grader Amy Scheer is one such student, claiming that the process is flawed. "In my mind, I was more than qualified for a permit. I participate in swimming and lacrosse, and I started an intramural lacrosse program at Takoma Park Middle School, which I have to attend every day. I can think of at least two students who clearly do not have the same extracurricular responsibilities as I do, and who definitely do not deserve permits.”

Alban denies flaws in the application process, saying that everyone involved in the permit decisions made unbiased, fair choices. "Once everyone understands the process, they basically agree with my decisions. I think that's the biggest thing- that people know the criteria and that it's fairly administered.”

Most students who received permits share Alban's perspective. Shira Levy, an 11th grade student, believes that her permit was well deserved and that the application process is just. "I realize that there were deserving students who didn't receive permits, but I participate in four clubs and I need my parking space.”

According to Alban, a major problem is that students believe that they are entitled to parking spaces by attending Blair. "The bottom line is that students need to understand that a parking permit is a privilege, not a right.”