Park district fees $100.00 to park at Frontier

[blankcheck]

So no the Park District wants to get in on the cash wagon. Students who wish to park behind Neuqua at Frontier Park will now have to pay a $100.00 to get a permit for the year. So let me see, to park at the high school it costs $150.00 (Which I thought the voters already paid for in the cost of building the school) or $100.00 to the park district. For that fee, is the park district also be patroling the area to make sure the cars are safe? or is it just for snow removal and painting of lines? Either way you look at it, the kids/parents are screwed.

[wvhsparent]

Or they could take the bus....for free.....

I am all for charging for the privilege to drive to school and park. If it were to be free then there should be enough spots for all students who want to drive and park, which would amount to over 3,000 spots.

In fact, if the school is charging $150.00 for a parking permit, then the Park district should charge the same

[blankcheck]

Follow Up Comment - Let's just say for argument sake there are 300 spots to park at the High School. The district takes in $45,000. That's a lot of money. Now I know you are going to say that it is a privelage to park there. What if these students have extra activities and there parents can't pick them up for a variety of reasons? (waiting for a younger sibling ect) or if the student needs to leave early for work, college classes Etc? The district has no activity bus for these students to get home. It's just another way to put the screws to the tax payers.
I can see a nominal charge (for painting lines) but $150.00? NO WAY. Oh , and thanks park district for jumping on the band wagon as well.

[gatormom]

More than likely the park district is trying to discourage students from parking there. Usually they like to keep spaces open for people using the park facilities.

I don't know, I have no problem paying $150 for a parking space at WV. They have to do more than just paint lines now and then, seal coating, resurfacing, et cetera. As far as cost goes, pretty cheap. The Catholic church near WV charges more for the spaces, and people pay.

Another problem with not charging for the spaces at the high school is the fact that since there are limited spaces available(approximatelty 500 at WV), what happens to those who get there just a little bit late? Where do they park? It goes a long way towards maintaining some sort of order in the parking lots.

By the way, I happily paid the extra money for a space last year at the church. I was grateful that it was available for my child.

[blankcheck]

1)Most of those additional costs should fall under the operations budget - you know - that one for maintaining our schools. The cost to park was never that high. Not until the first referendum failed. Then they increased parking fees, registration fees, technology fees etc.

2) Who uses the park district lot during the week? Kids are in school, no baseball, soccer etc.

3) Yes, there are limited spaces. Do a lottery like they have always done. Unfortunatly, not ALL families can afford that extra $150.00.

4) If there are 500 spaces, now you are talking $75,000/school for a total of $150,000. Oh wait "Lite Bulb Moment" . That works out to the same amount they will need to hire the substitutes to watch our kids for that one hour a week. Brilliant!!!

[wvhsparent]

blankcheck said:

Follow Up Comment - Let's just say for argument sake there are 300 spots to park at the High School. The district takes in $45,000. That's a lot of money. Now I know you are going to say that it is a privelage to park there. What if these students have extra activities and there parents can't pick them up for a variety of reasons? (waiting for a younger sibling ect) or if the student needs to leave early for work, college classes Etc? The district has no activity bus for these students to get home. It's just another way to put the screws to the tax payers.
I can see a nominal charge (for painting lines) but $150.00? NO WAY. Oh , and thanks park district for jumping on the band wagon as well.

$45,000 in a budget of $242million

For those instances they have a "parking pass system" where one has to get a pass in advance to allow for parking during those times (school activities), which is free. Other reasons stated such as; leave early for work or college...which are not school related ...you pay...don't like it? sorry too bad.
My daughter did not want to take the bus ( not cool enough) and wanted to drive. (she was in volleyball, etc. too) I let her drive, but she had to purchase her parking pass herself She had to park at the church her junior year...now it's the son's turn and same rules apply, although he thnks he may take the bus as gas is so high.

[bob]

4) If there are 500 spaces, now you are talking $75,000/school for a total of $150,000. Oh wait "Lite Bulb Moment" . That works out to the same amount they will need to hire the substitutes to watch our kids for that one hour a week. Brilliant!!!

And land magically appears from thin air to produce those spots.
It is called a USER fee.

[gatormom]

Bob
Are you saying you would rather not pay to maintain my child's parking space at WV and he should pay for it himself? Poor kid, it is so expensive to pay for that insurance, gas, and a parking space.

[ilove204]

Since we are talking about parking...

My neighbor pays approx. $500.00 per year just to park at the $2.00 spots at the Naperville train station.

When is this city going to get off it's rear end and build some parking garages for the commuters.

[jenrik2714]

gatormom said:

Bob
Are you saying you would rather not pay to maintain my child's parking space at WV and he should pay for it himself? Poor kid, it is so expensive to pay for that insurance, gas, and a parking space.

I know before I even go my license I had to get a job to pay for insurance and I was a student athlete and an honor roll student. Then I had to pay for parking when I went to UIC. I survived and so will these kids. They live the cushy life

[cantretirehere]

FYI - there are classes at the high school that have options for the students to do off campus work, internships or observations and studies. My son did one last year.

First criteria is a certain grade on tests at the beginning of the class. Second criteria is a car or access to one through winning a lottery to car pool with a kid that is willing to drive you to the off campus location.

My son helped a teacher at a 204 elem school with her class and observed the students' behaviors. He loved this experience and it may not have been possible if he had not had a car at school.


Also - Is the park district selling permits to park at the garden plot parking lot? I'm sure the NC students wouldn't mind shelling out $100 for the park district to pave that lot!

[cantretirehere]

Oh yeah, don't forget that there are Juniors and Seniors with early and double early dismissal, and late arrival that need a way to get home and to school at times when school busses don't run. Remember these late arrivals and early dismissals help with the crowded hallways.

[wvhsparent]

CRH- I understand your arguments, but those reasons IMO mean those students should have priority in getting (and paying for) parking permits, and I believe they do. Those reason do not justify free parking, unless one has enough space for all who wish to drive, which they don't. If they did 1st come 1st serve free parking what happens to all those kids who are there too late...they park anywhere.......It would be 10x worse in the surronding subdivisions near the school.
The fee is partly a limiter based on available space, not as an income generator.

[blankcheck]

I disagree. It is an income generator for the district. Students need to drive for a variety of reasons. Some of them actually need it for a class - Kid to Kid program run through the Psycology dept. Kids are sent to an elementary school in the district to help out a teacher. In order to do this, they need to have transportation. The school does not provide it. So now you have a student helping out the district yet the district charges the student $150.00? And no, they are not given any special privelage about getting a permit.

I know there are not enough spaces. They already do a lottery system - so you may or may not get a space anyway.

You do not realize how much behind the scenes the district charges for certain privelages. One example: My child involved in a club needed to send out to all the elementary schools in the district a flyer announcing the event. This club is part of the high school. (not like the YMCA or outside program) The district charged $50.00 just for the secretaries in the feeder elementary schools to put the flyer in the teacher boxes.
Another example: Activity fees. The doubled last year. So in order for your child to participate in a sport or activity it cost you $80.00 (or $160.00 if it ran all year)

So remember, after the referendum failed, they double the parking fees, activity fees, added the technology fee all on top of registration fees. Then the increase in taxes for the passage of the referendum and now upcoming another referendum?? When will it end.

BTW - Very glad to see the renovations have gone well at WVHS. Questioning the hole in the wall for a TV which divers can see their dive off of TiVo.

[bob]

If you really want to bitch, ask the SD how much they charge the churches for holding services there? It is insanely cheap. Something like $150 and the cost of a janitor.