SCARBOROUGH, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Despite the new parking fee that's in effect today, students at Scarborough High School drove their own cars and parked in the school lot this morning.
The Scarborough Board of Education approved a $50 fee for students who drive to school ($25/semester). Activity seemed like a typical morning in the parking lot as seniors entered the building for their senior breakfast. Students we spoke with said they're frustrated with the fee, but that won't prevent them from driving to school; in their opinion, it's still a better option than taking the bus. Principal Dean Auriemma previously worked in Illinois schools that implemented a similar parking fee. He says it's all about communicating directly with the students and answering their questions honestly.
"We talked about this and they said, 'well, as long as you explain what the money is for, we'll be ok,'" Principal Auriemma said. "But I don't think they had $100 in their head. I think they probably had closer to what it is now, you know, $50 or $25. I think the $100 thing for the was just 'wow'. But it's been working out fine so far."
The school has sold about 60% of the available parking passes, but the students aren't giving up the fight quite yet. They're planning an event that's expected to happen Thursday morning.
NEWS CENTER