In the MVHS parking lot, there are two distinct sections, located on opposite sides of the school. The smaller lot on the side is reserved for teachers only, and the main parking lot is for student use. The students have reported issues with the parking lot, which has a prominent problem with entering and exiting due to the constant influx of cars. The most challenging area to exit at the end of the day is the stop sign located on the south-most side of the building. According to students, it sometimes takes upwards of 20 minutes to exit the building at the end of the day.
The school sent out an email informing students that at the stop sign, they should not turn left, but people still refuse to listen. Several students have expressed their concerns about the parking situation at school, claiming that it is “unorganized and takes too long to exit”. There has been discussion among the student population at MVHS regarding parking issues and how to address the concern. The main consensus they had come to, which is the same suggestion the school made, is to change the stop sign to a right-turn-only sign.
Even previous MVHS students have expressed having the same issue when they were in school. Kia Fung-Chuk (MVHS 2025 graduate) expressed, “If the school were to issue a sign saying to make a right turn only instead of allowing left turns, it would help relieve the consistent traffic jams.”
Among other issues in the parking lot there is a big issue with food left to rot in the parking lot for people who decide not to bring in their trash with them. When there is trash flooding the lot then that brings more animals, primarily birds. They are constantly flying around the parking lot, picking off the leftover food. When birds eat, they will poop and that can land on the cars in the parking lot. Luckily, there is a car wash across the street to help with cleaning off the poop that is trying to cake itself onto their car.
What effect does this have on the birds? It will change their behavior to start to rely on the dropped and abandoned food left around. Who knows, maybe 20 years down the line, the birds might have their DNA changed so they come around every year for their great feast.
What does the administration say on these issues? The MVHS Dean of Students, Todd Clark, was reached for comment about both the trash and the packed parking lot. “MVHS Administration believes that both a clean parking lot and safe entry and exit from it contribute to a positive culture and climate at MVHS,” Said Clark. When asked about whether or not the school is trying to fix these problems, Clark said, “MVHS Administration has been, and continues to be, committed to working with Thompson School District Administration and District Safety and Security to find ways to enhance our environment and to ensure safe practices for our students, staff, and guests.”
This shows the current progress on this pressing issue. The students of MVHS hope that there will soon be a solution, but as of now, it looks like the student population will have to ride out the storm.
This shows the current progress on this pressing issue. The students of MVHS hope that there will soon be a solution, but as of now, it looks like the student population will have to ride out the storm.
