At many public spaces, like malls such as Old Orchard or restaurants like Chipotle, parking is free. Why should it be any different for a school? Specifically at a high school, where many students drive to school every day. Whether it’s balancing an extracurricular activity or an after-school job, the use of a car is important to any high school student. Yet in many high schools across the country, students are all faced with the daunting expense of parking in a school lot.

At Niles North, for an annual parking pass, you must pay $300 annually, or $3 for a daily parking pass, which must be obtained before 8 a.m. This can be a significant expense for working-class families or students with part-time jobs, especially when combined with the cost of school supplies and clubs. Why are students being charged at all?

Paying for parking in the main lot doesn’t guarantee a spot either. Students not only have to share this lot with peers but with teachers as well. This causes the lot to become extremely crowded, forcing students to leave their homes earlier than usual just for a spot. Students who have paid a hefty fee may still end up parking at the mall’s parking lot across Lawler Avenue, which is even further away from the main entrance, adding walking time and inconvenience. 

So exactly where is the money going? The parking lot has already been built, where could the money possibly be going to? There is no clear explanation of how the funds are being used, which leads to the thought that there is a lack of accountability. While not knowing where their money is headed, families may be more unwilling to pay the $300. If families knew that revenue was being put towards parking lot improvements or security costs, they may be more inclined to pay the price. 

Ultimately, transparency and accountability are essential. Without a clear understanding of where the money from parking passes is going, the community will continue to wonder about the use of their money. Until then, students and their families are left in the dark, paying a high price for parking and hoping for change.