By Izabelle Ditzler ‘27
It’s 7:35 a.m., and the school day begins in just five minutes. You’ve already spent the last five minutes circling the parking lot, hoping to find an open spot before the bell rings. For many students at Conestoga Valley High School, this has become a repeated morning struggle since the new school year started.
Students face a new challenge, as limited parking and restrictions on available spaces this year create frustration during the morning rush and open campus blocks. The issue has sparked concerns among students who believe the current parking restrictions are making an already stressful start to the school day more difficult.
According to senior Makenna Burkholder, “I think it’s just another reason for kids to be late… It’s hard to time-manage and walk across the whole building when you have to go through the office for open campuses.” Burkholder also feels there is a concern for the possibility of accidents caused by students being so tightly packed into one lot.
Officer Chad Snader, one of the CVHS resource officers said, “This year, with all the open campus students, I would probably have to spend my entire day out there checking cars to see who would park in teacher parking or not.”
Snader expressed his understanding that students feel the need to park closer to the building, especially as more sophomores and juniors begin to get their licence. He stated that as much as he dislikes ticketing students because he knows they have other things going on, it’s his job.
Kenzie Miller (12) is frustrated that the closer parking lot appears open. Miller said, “It’s so annoying when I walk into school and walk past the empty lot.” Miller feels that administration has taken away parking for teachers who don’t use it, while students are struggling to find spots in the farthest lot from the main office.
CVHS graduate Joshua Morgan ‘26 said, “When I had 1st block open the parking lot near the tennis courts were always full, so it was much easier to park on the side, closer to the building, since I always came in later.” He expressed that the ability to park where there were more spots, as well as closer access to the main office, made his day better at CVHS.