Policy 5.184

Use and Parking of Private Motor Vehicles on School Property by High School Students

1. Purpose. The purpose of this policy is to provide standards for the use and parking of private motor vehicles on school property by high school students, to maintain order and discipline in the schools and to protect the health, safety and welfare of students and school personnel.

2. Authority. The School Board is authorized by § 1001.43 (1) (f), Florida Statutes, to adopt policies regulating student automobile use and parking.

3. Applicability. This policy applies to all high school students.

4. General Statement of Policy. Parking on school property is a privilege, not a right that may be afforded to high school students. Permission for students to park private motor vehicles in school parking lots during the school day must be secured from the school principal.

   1. Students who wish to drive to and park at their school shall comply with the rules and regulations established by the principal of their school and policies established by the School Board.

   2. A failure of a student to comply with the local school rules and regulations and School Board policy may be reason for revocation of school driving and parking privileges as well as other disciplinary action. Penalties for violations shall be determined by the principal and communicated annually to the students, parents and guardians, and school personnel.

5. Local School Rules and Regulations. The School Board hereby authorizes high school principals to develop and publish local rules and regulations procedures governing the conditions under which students may be granted permission to use the parking facilities available on school property. These rules and regulations must be consistent with any federal and state law requirements. The local school rules and regulations shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

   1. A general statement indicating that any student who drives to school and park in the school lot during school hours must obtain a parking permit. Students and parents must submit a completed application form  PBSD Form 1974 (General Parking Section - Parking Permit for Students), that is signed by the student and his/her parent and notarized. This form is attached and incorporated herein by reference as part of this policy and currently can be found on the District's form website.

   2. A requirement for students to have a valid operator's license, vehicle registration and show evidence of maintaining the minimum state requirements of financial responsibility and/or insurance to be considered for a parking permit.

   3. The following statement: "By issuance of this permit, neither the school nor the School Board of Palm Beach County assumes any liability for any property damage to any private motor vehicle, or items of personal property left in/on them, including parking permits, while the motor vehicle is parked or operated on school property. The owner/operator(s) of all private motor vehicles accept responsibility for their own property and agree that they are parking at their own risk."

   4. An annual determination of the number of parking spaces on the school premises to be made available for student parking and a designation of the student parking area.

   5. A process permitting high school students to apply and receive approval for parking in the designated areas, including a written priority standard for the issuance of parking permits by grade levels, and/or other factors as determined by the principal.

   6. Parking fees.

   7. Acts, other than the infractions as outlined in PBSD Form 1974, which may cause a student to lose his or her parking privileges.

   8. The school administrative staff's right to cancel or remove the parking permit of any student who is operating his or her motor vehicle on the school campus in any manner which is considered detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of other students, staff or visitors.

   9. Consequences for driving violations, parking without a permit, or other school violation may include suspension or revocation of the parking permit, disciplinary action, booting by the police and/or towing at the student's expense.

   10. A statement that a student vehicle parked on school property may be searched by the principal or designee upon reasonable suspicion to believe that the vehicle contains controlled substances, alcoholic beverages, weapons, stolen property, or other contraband. A student will be subject to the withdrawal or revocation of parking privileges and to discipline if the student refuses to open a locked motor vehicle, or its compartments, under the student's control at the request of the principal/designee. "Reasonable suspicion" means that a school official has grounds to believe that the search will result in evidence of a violation of School Board policy, local school rules and regulations, and/or law. Reasonable suspicion may be based on a school official's personal observation, a report from a student, parent or staff member, a student's suspicious behavior, or other reliable information.

6. Publication of Local Rules and Regulations. A statement of the local school rules and procedures shall be made available to all students, parents and guardians, and school personnel at the beginning of each school year. The statement also shall be published in the student handbook or published on the school's website.