As students shake off their summer laziness and prepare themselves for a brand new school year, they also need to adapt to the new rules and regulations enforced by the superintendent, Mrs. Clarke and the principal, Dr. Sforza. Detention policies, new lunch and student-athlete code of conduct procedures, and parking regulations  are just some of the changes facilitating a smooth and productive 2014-2015 academic year.

One of these new policies is assigned senior parking. While previously, upperclassmen who drove to school were forced to find their own parking, the completion of construction has allowed administration to provide a senior parking lot once again. Because there are only 40 spots available, Dr. Sforza created a lottery system to ensure “fairness and equity.”

The new parking system has received nothing but high praise from seniors and juniors alike. “It’s really convenient,” stated Senior Tania Castro. “No one has to rush to school anymore because we know we have a definite parking spot.”

Seniors also appreciate the fact that the lottery will be repeated every 45 days because it gives everyone an equal chance for a space, regardless of their birthday or when they receive their license. Meanwhile, the few juniors who own cars can park on Cornelia Street with ease now that seniors have their own designated spaces.

In addition, new procedures prohibit juniors from leaving school grounds during their lunch periods. “The lines are so crowded,” said Junior Brianna Felidi. “Some people get stuck waiting 15 to 20 minutes just to order their food.”

Although this decision has received much criticism from the student body as they adjust to longer lines, it has not been put into practice without purpose. Dr. Sforza and Mrs. Clarke both stress that allowing too many people to leave the building at once is a security risk and difficult to control. Being that the cafeteria has the capacity to accommodate all four grades, administration deemed it best to keep off-campus lunch as a senior privilege.

Moreover, one of the major adjustments is a more rigorous disciplinary system. Students who violate school rules or avoid teacher detentions now face much harsher consequences. In lieu of in-school suspension, students accept the possibility of central detention which is held after school for one hour and 20 minutes or Saturday detentions which take place for three hours from 9 a.m. to noon.

This new system has been implemented to maximize class time and deter students from making poor decisions. Mrs. Clarke believes that central and Saturday detentions are highly effective academically because they limit classroom interruptions and “keep the learning experience going.” By administering stricter punishments and holding students accountable for their mistakes, she hopes to discourage misbehavior and have fewer suspensions in the long run.

Furthermore, Dr. Sforza hopes that the new Student-Athlete Code of Conduct will supplement stricter disciplinary measures by emphasizing that students must “adhere to attitude, behavior and conduct guidelines set forth by the athletic department and administration of the high school.”

This contract, signed by every athlete in the school, reminds players that they are primarily students, and academics should always be their chief focus. Violation of the Code of Conduct can result in decreased playing time and loss of athletic privileges. By enforcing more stringent consequences, administration aims to encourage student-athletes to be responsible pupils and role models in the classroom as well as on the court or field.