Beginning next school year, student parking lots will no longer be a free first-come, first-served system. Instead, parking spots will be auctioned to the highest bidder.
In the past school year, Mills has had many unresolved incidents circulating around the student parking lots, as well as high demand to secure a parking spot. Many juniors and seniors that commute via car to school often come up to half an hour earlier to obtain their parking spot.
Admin has announced that using this new system for students to acquire parking spots will be more beneficial for both the students and school. Dean of Students Tim Christian says, “By using this system for auctioning parking spots, not only would the school gain more profits to benefit our students’ education but students would also be able to have a fair system for parking spots instead of fighting.”
The starting bid price for a regular parking spot is $500 and the VIP parking spots, which are closer to school and receive car washing, start at $800. “I’m already saving up for next year. I need a VIP parking spot,“ Mafuyu Asahina (11) says desperately. Many students have already been talking about how they will attempt to get their hands on the VIP parking spots that are set to be auctioned on the first day of the new school year. It’s also confirmed that freshmen will be the ones to wash students’ cars in the VIP parking section. They will be required to take shifts on different days to wash cars with premium supplies, fresh rainwater collected from the school roof and the finest soap transported all the way from Aleppo, Syria. During these shifts, freshmen will wear uniforms: bright yellow jumpsuits with the words “Car Wash Crew” on them.
Some students say they are already planning strategies to secure their dream parking spot. Miku Hatsune (11) stated, “I’m preparing like it’s a concert ticket drop.”
Others are worried that the auctions may become too competitive. “If one of my friends outbid me for the good spots near the front, that’s honestly betrayal,” said sophomore Toya Aoyagi. “I would maybe have to reconsider our friendship.”
Though this situation might become a problem for incoming juniors and seniors, current seniors are glad this new system will be implemented in the next school year. Senior Joyce Lee says, “I’m so glad this auctioning system will come next school year after I graduate.”
These new rules will be implemented in the Mills parking lots forever. Students who park where they want without winning that spot will be heavily punished. The Parking Vigilante will arrive at 6:00 a.m. sharp to watch over the parking lots with the list of which students park in which spot memorized. If a different car parks in someone else’s designated spot, their car will be towed along with a $500 fine and the student will be sent to the dean’s office to talk about possible suspension.
Despite mixed reactions from students, the administration believes the auction system will encourage students to think carefully about their parking privileges. The first official auction is expected to take place at the beginning of the next semester, where students will log on to https://mhs.auction.com and bid for their wanted spot. Until then, many students say they are saving money, coming up with strategies and preparing themselves for the competition.
