The recent construction of the Genshaft and Greenbaum Building of Learning and Discovery, also known as the BOLD building, has put campus in a bit of flux as the new school year comes into full swing. Changes and accommodations to preserve the safety of those entering and exiting campus have been put into place, but not without side effects on students themselves.
For many students who drive, the construction poses a few obstacles in the mornings.
“It is a lot more difficult to get into the parking lot this year,” LiLi Lechman (11) said.
According to Gentry Burns (11), the overflow of students and teachers has caused the junior lot, next to Julian B. Lane Park, to become “super backed up” in the mornings, contributing to the slow-moving line of cars. Students who have previously driven to school have noticed that compared to last school year, it takes longer to get into the parking lot. Some have compensated for the long carpool line by adjusting their morning routines, causing them to need to wake up and get to school earlier.
“I have had to leave the house fifteen minutes earlier,” Lechman said.
Particularly in the junior lot, newer drivers are having trouble parking quickly and efficiently as they adjust to not only the congestion in the parking lot but the time restraints of getting into the building quickly.
Tonya Nembhard, the security officer who oversees the junior lot, has struggled with keeping the carline traffic moving because of student drivers who are having a hard time parking properly, or foot traffic as drivers leave their cars and enter campus.
Nembhard has also noticed that there are some senior drivers who don’t even attempt to park in the front lot to avoid the traffic, causing even more traffic to build up in the back lot.
Due to construction, the front lot, typically where seniors and faculty park, is down 50 spots. This also results in an overflow of senior students and faculty members looking for a spot to park once the front lot is full.
“I feel bad for [the seniors],” Nembhard said. “They just got unlucky this year, but we will all get acclimated to this new system soon.”
While students certainly feel the brunt of the problem when it comes to arriving to campus, teachers seem to be adapting a bit easier. Middle School Language teacher John Seary gets up a bit earlier to try and make it to a parking spot in the faculty lot before it fills up.
“I haven’t had to park off-site yet,” Seary said, alluding to the annex lot that Prep established by partnering with Beulah Baptist Institutional Church located 2 blocks off campus on Cypress Street.
In a survery sent to all teachers, 30% responded that they were having a more difficult time parking on campus. It seems teachers have had an easier time adapting to the changes and are more prepared for additional hardships that may come as the year goes on.
“I understand the complexity of our situation,” Seary said. “I don’t envy those who made these decisions because no matter what someone will be unhappy with it.”
Over the summer, Head of School Kevin Plummer worked with other senior administrators to develop a plan for parking on campus throughout the construction project. It was determined that the current procedure was best for all students and their safety. As far as Plummer is concerned, things could be a lot worse.
“[Parking] is in the best place it can be,” Plummer said.
On the contrary, in a recent survey, 76% of students believe that something could be done to improve the parking situation. When given this information, Plummer encouraged students to share their thoughts.
“I’d like to see students come to us with solutions,” Plummer said.
With construction causing many abrupt changes to the flow of traffic on campus, it could be assumed that there is an influx in student tardies, however, Health Coordinator Kate Mesa has found that is not the case.
“[There have] actually been [fewer tardies] this year,” Mesa said.
She noted in years past it’s been typical that students arrive on time during the first week of school, but tardies tend to increase as the year goes on. Mesa has observed that students who are frequently tardy are arriving even later, possibly due to parking restraints.
“Kids that are usually late come in later now–some days [even] 5 minutes later,” Mesa said.
As construction continues throughout the year, students and faculty may find themselves continuing to adapt as other challenges arise. Despite the changes, all Terrapins are excited for what’s to come as the BOLD building takes shape.