On Wednesday, Nov. 8, the Archie Williams front parking lot closed for solar panel installation. The installation, part of a district-wide solar energy plan, also includes Redwood High School and Tam High School. The parking lot is expected to be reopened in late January, and according to the district’s Facilities Modernization Website, all three of the solar installations are expected to save TUHSD an approximate $630,000 dollars in annual utility costs.
Due to the construction, student parking moved to the softball field, and staff can now park in front of the Devonshire building and the Saunders lot. Despite these alternative parking options, issues with parking and traffic have risen. According to Archie Williams Assistant Principal Kaki McLachlan, student pick-ups and drop-offs have become an issue for driving parents as well.
“Drop-off and pick-up cannot happen in [the front] parking lot anymore. Parents and other drivers have had to be more creative, so I’m sure that there’s an impact in the community and the neighborhoods, because more traffic is on the side roads, rather than [Sir Francis Drake Boulevard],” McLachlan said.
Along with parent-driving issues, students who drive have trouble finding spots. Senior Gia Debok has struggled finding parking on the school’s side roads as well as in the lot.
“Since the closure of the front lot, everyone now parks on the side street instead of the front, making me late to class. Even when I leave early, spots are so difficult to find,” Gia said. “The new parking situation is causing traffic to build up on every other side street.”
Despite the parking difficulties students currently face, according to McLachlan, the positive side of the closure is the evolved energy source that Archie Williams will have in just a few months. After the installation of the solar panels and reopening of the parking lot, Archie Williams will have green energy, canopied parking spots, and a slightly more organized parking system. Students with a parking permit currently have the ability to park in any free spot, however post-installation parking will have numbered spots, with students assigned a new pass with their own number.
Aiming for organization and green energy, the lot is predicted to be functional in January.
