With more students driving this school year compared to any other year, Champion’s parking lot traffic has become a major problem. Even with the band lot opening up this semester—which was closed the first semester due to it being the practice area for band students—many student drivers believe that parking is still a problem.

“[Parking] is about the same,” said senior Anna Voigt when comparing if parking was better in the first or second semester. “It’s still the same amount of seniors going in and out.”

Many student drivers try to get to Champion early so they don’t get stuck in traffic.

“I get to school around 8 am. It simply works out with my morning routine and gives me leniency with traffic,” said senior Anderson White.

However, after school traffic becomes a major problem for student drivers trying to leave.

“Parking at school isn’t difficult since most students have assigned parking, but getting out of the parking lot during senior release is chaotic due to the odd layout of the parking lot and the aggressive drivers,” White said.

Reserving parking spaces is also another big problem, due to how many students have not been able to reserve a spot when they were available. With students getting to the school as early as six in the morning for a reserved parking spot, many of them still weren’t able to claim a spot out of the 388 that were available for seniors.

“There weren’t enough reserved spots,” Voigt said. “All my friends got [to the school] at six A.M. and it still wasn’t early enough…it’s ridiculous how people get here [so early] for a parking spot. I have to park in general even though I’m a senior, and I’m one of the only seniors that has a general parking spot because they ran out of reserved spots for seniors.”

Matthew Clayton, an assistant principal and now in charge of the reserved parking spots, gives advice to student drivers who are looking to reserve a parking spot for next year.

“Only seniors and Staff members are eligible for reserved parking spaces. All other students are general parking,” Clayton said. “Students can purchase a General Parking space on the BISD website REVTRAK link for $40.  Students must also register their vehicle using the parking registration form on the Champion High School website. Students can visit me during their lunchtime to receive their parking sticker.”

Clayton also said that students who have a general parking sticker and park in a reserved spot will be ticketed. Students can pay their fines in person or online on the BISD website. The date for students to claim a reserved parking spot for the 2024-2025 school year is still being determined.