Students at the high school are asking the school board to lower parking fees.
Kristiann Kassey, the student representative to the Board of Education, presented a petition with 220 signatures to Board of Education at the March 15 meeting.
The students turned out to have at least one sympathetic voice on the board.
“I do not believe we should be balancing the budget on the backs of the students,” school board member Fred Stanek said.
The students saw their parking fees increased 9 fold between the 2008 – 2009 school year and the current academic year, leaping from $20 to $180.
While a permit is only good for one academic year, the fee is prorated.
A permit bought last August cost $180. One bought this month costs $54.
In total, the new fees have brought in $14,886 so far this year. Compared to last year, the new rate has brought in an additional $10,000 so far.
“The money raised is insignificant given our $30 million budget,” Stanek said.
Board member Yashu John Putorti agreed that the fees seemed a “little high.”
The board however opted to table action regarding the parking fees for now, ostensibly to gather more data on parking trends and the status of their budget proposal.
Information on hand only went back to the previous school year. The data shows less than half as many permits were purchased this year, but the administration notes there are more factors at play there than just the costs.
For one, the 2009 permits issued the previous year included 62 Oxford students who are no longer an impact on the parking situation.
Secondly, Superintendent of Schools MaryAnne Mascolo said tougher driving laws may be contributing to fewer students driving to school.
This year only 97 students have purchased parking permits, down from 209. With a few months left it is possible more will buy the prorated spaces.
School Board Chairman Ed Strumello said more information about the history of fees and parking density was needed. The board for now has decided not to decide until after that information and possibly the budget process are concluded.
Meawhile, the town’s Board of Finance is scheduled to review the school district’s proposed budget March 22.
