To the Editors of The Spartan Spin,

Student parking and parking enforcement have been very prevalent issues of the
2024-25 school year here at SHS. With students parking in the N3 lot often, teachers have been
having to start parking in student lots; which has caused many teachers to be unhappy with the
lack of parking lot zone enforcement. I am here to propose a solution that is not costly in a long
term perspective and would utilize already existing infrastructure.Our issue stems from students
being expected to park far away from the only door that we are able to access the building
through, while teachers are able to park close and enter through any door.
To get into the building, you must either have a valid badge, which enables you to badge
in at any entrance to the building, or, you must check in at door N1 with our Secretary Elaine
through the intercom system there. At Superior
High School, badges are only distributed to
staff members, meaning that licensed students
have to either be let in by staff or travel from
their parking space to door N1.

Our group will now take this time to
remind you that there are two designated
parking areas only for students, and one split
parking area for both teachers and students. In
the figure, students’ lots are outlined in yellow
while teachers’ lots are outlined in green. The
distances that students are expected to travel if they’re late or have senior release are
unreasonable and can be dangerous in the winter months. Superior’s average low temperature
is negative six degrees fahrenheit. Please understand that does not mean that our weather
stays around this temperature however. Per the Duluth INTL Airport Station the average low
temperature in January was -18.85 degrees and never being higher than -13 degrees.
We are here to propose an idea which will improve the issues with parking while
prioritizing and increasing the protection of students. If we install a second intercom system into
the E16 door area, students will be able to check in with the main office in a similar fashion as
the N1 door. Intercom systems range typically between $500 and $1100, meaning this would be
an investment for the district. This solution can be carried out in a variety of ways:
1. A staff member is stationed at the door to check students in and out similarly to how you
do when entering/exiting the N1 doors with Elaine.
2. Students will use the intercoms to give the necessary information that the sign in/out
sheet asks for over the intercom through speech and office staff will log it.
a. If students are in need of passes, they may either travel to the office OR the
districts may purchase a receipt printer such as the Epson TM-T20III, which
retails around $140. This printer may be used to provide time, date, and the
student’s information and then could be used as a pass.
Our group firmly believes that our solution is possible and could be implemented into the
high school with minimal issues. This idea would make traveling much easier for students and
would mitigate the majority of parking issues between students and teachers.

Thank you for your consideration,
Kennedy Popplewell, Paige Johnson, Mercedes Gordon, Blake Jenner, Gabe Killian