SIDNEY LANIER HIGH SCHOOL’S
The Blue & White Students in Driver’s Seat on Parking Fees
December 5, 2016 Special Edition
By Joshua Gordon and Emko Pash
Inside this issue: LHS’s Biggest Cheerleader
2
Is ‘The Block’ Hot or Nah?
2
Student Battles Eye Disorder, Bullying
4
‘The Castle’ Top Cop Not Clowning Around
6
Introducing ‘HeartBeats by Dre’: A New Voice
6
Ryan Dalton: Classic Man
8
Comics by Josh
10
Sidney Lanier High School’s students pay entirely too much to park in a parking lot deemed “crappy” by some students. Other schools in the area such as Robert E. Lee High School and G.W. Carver High School pay $10, while Lanier pays $20. At the way prices are set, it would seem that Lanier would have the best parking lot since they pay more. Wrong! It goes deeper than aesthetics.
When asked about Lanier’s parking lot compared to other schools, Ms. German said that students have been lax in paying for parking decals for the past three years. “That could be another reason why the price has stayed at $20,” she explained. “In order to repave the parking lot and make it look nice, you have to pay for the parking decals.”
Paying to Park
School bookkeeper Pamela German, prior to being interviewed, had never called other schools to check their parking decal prices, and to everyone’s surprise, Lanier pays the most. “I’m sure that our current principal had no idea he walked in to this,” she said. LHS Principal Antonio Williams, who said he is aware of students questioning the cost of the parking decal, is in control of the pricing. He has not received many complaints. However, Dr. Williams acknowledges that the parking lot is not in top-notch shape.
Lanier & JD: $20 Park Crossing: $15 Carver & Lee: $10
Ms. German furthers her argument by comparing statistics from past years and the current one:
In 2011, 42 students bought decals, generating $840
For 20162017, 25 students paid for decals, bringing in $500.
Those students are legally able to park in the student parking lot. At press time, more than 45 tow notices had been placed in student parking, Ms. German said. This begs the question: Can students really complain about something when they’re not paying to make the difference? When asked if she would have bought a parking decal even if she saw nothing would happen, senior Deja Robinson said, “I still would have paid even though nothing was going to happen because towing can happen any day and I’d rather pay $20 instead of hundreds.” Student driver Alex Pruitt, who chooses not to park at Lanier, said, “I just didn’t pay for one.”
ATMs: Convenient Banking, Moneymaker for Schools Don’t forget! ● December 16: Grading period ends ● December 19January 2: Winter break ● January 5: Report Card Day ● January 16: MLK Birthday ● February 20: Presidents Day ● March 20-24: Spring Break ● April 14: Holiday May 25: Last day for students
By Tre Hooks & Zakiya Starks
The pros of placing an ATM here, according to Ms. Oliver, boost sales Armed with of T-shirts and give convenience for stuno cash, but dents who need cash for class fees and the only a debit purchase of tickets to athletic events. card, Katlyn On the downside, an ATM Blue has felt tempted could cause heavy hallway traffic or a many times misguided student “may try and break into it,” she added. to sneak off Sidney Lanier High School’s campus and head to the bank just to get School leaders should put the money for game tickets. So, she took to ATM in a secure place so those who use it social media, posting that LHS needs an won’t feel threatened, said Camry Wilson. ATM. Other critics say an ATM promotes conBased on research, The Blue & sumerism, treating schools more like a mall White found that high schools with ATMS instead of a learning institution. have raised an enormous amount of money On the real, many students, like for their schools, with each school making Katlyn, hold part-time jobs and carry debit $1.25 per transaction. cards. Sometimes, they don’t carry cash History teacher Alexis Oliver, and find it inconvenient when they have to who supports this idea, says a school-based shell out funds for class fees or participate ATM has some disadvantages, too.
Katlyn Blue and her plastic money.
in events during school hours that have admission fees. “Having an ATM could help teachers, students and parents get cash if they want," Senior JaCorie Gipson said.
Sidn High Carv Lee