Pupils Ponder Over Revising 20-Minute Pick-Up Spot
Hellgate High School, located in Missoula, has commenced the 2025-2026 academic year, but not without a few hiccups. The parking situation at the school has become a source of frustration for students, with the current drop-off zone on Gerald Street causing particular issues.
On the first day of school, many students arrived early to secure front row parking in the drop-off zone. However, this has led to a financial burden for students, as tickets issued for parking in the zone continue to be a significant expense. The white curb, designated for pickup and drop-off, but not parking, is enforced for 20 minutes. Despite a sign reading "pickup and drop off only- no parking," students have been parking outside Hellgate High School, specifically on a 20-30-foot-long white curb.
The majority of students are angry about the tickets, and some are in shock, as the 20-minute parking enforcement hasn't been as strict in the past. Construction on Connell Street has further complicated the parking situation, preventing students from parking there.
Ella Lambert, a senior at Hellgate, is one of the students affected by the parking issues. She received a warning ticket for parking in the drop-off zone. Lambert suggests moving the drop-off zone to the school bus loading zone on the other side of the street. She argues that the loading zone is used more frequently for student drop-offs than the current drop-off zone.
The school bus loading zone is currently being used by Hellgate students as an alternative parking area. Moving the drop-off zone could improve parking efficiency at Hellgate High School. The Missoula County Public Schools district is responsible for moving the drop-off zone on Gerald Street to the other side to improve parking for Hellgate High School students.
If the drop-off zone is moved, the current 20-minute parking enforcement in the drop-off zone may become stricter, as it would be moved to the school bus loading zone. This could make the parking situation more effective for rushed teenagers in the morning.
As the school year progresses, it will be interesting to see if the proposed solution to the parking issue at Hellgate High School will indeed improve the situation for students.
Read also:
- Urgent Action Needed to Ensure Voting Fairness - Weekly Advocacy Alert from Action Weekly Organization
- Navigating the Fundamentals for Launching a Thriving Enterprise
- Early Onset Puberty: Its Definition, Triggers, Risks, and Managing Strategies
- "Satanic Worship Owns the Spotlight in America: QAnon Spurring Modern Day Satanic Panic"
