SCARBROUGH – Scarborough High School students who return to classes Wednesday won’t hold an organized protest against parking fees after all.

When the school board voted last month to charge students $25 per semester to park in the high school lot, students said they would boycott the lot and “flood the school buses” in protest on the first day of school.

Senior class President Jack Sullivan said he still refuses to pay to park on campus, but found that other students didn’t want to follow through on the plan. He said many of his classmates don’t want to leave their cars at home because it’s an inconvenience.

Scarborough students in the 10th, 11th and 12th grades return to school Wednesday. All others started school Tuesday.

“Most kids kind of gave up (on the protest), which disappointed me,” Sullivan said. “I refuse to pay the fee and will try to encourage kids to carpool to limit the money the school gets” from parking fees.

Students spoke out against the fees at the school board’s meeting on Aug. 16, saying it was unfair to put such a burden on students who need to drive to and from after-school activities. The school board approved the fee to raise revenue for the district.

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The school board originally proposed a $100 yearly fee, but dropped it to $25 a semester. Students who cannot afford the fee can apply for waivers.

Cape Elizabeth and Kennebunk high schools also charge students $50 per year to park on campus.

Staff Writer Gilliam Graham can be contacted at 791-6315 or at:

ggraham@pressherald.com


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