Bemidji High School provides a well-maintained, secure, paved parking lot on school property for students who drive to school. Students who wish to park in the student lot must purchase a parking permit online. Once purchased online, the permit can be picked up in the main office. Questions? Please visit with your assistant principal. Our lot is monitored by a parking attendant and by security cameras. Money from parking permits goes toward ongoing maintenance, security, snow removal, regular resurfacing and repainting, and other upkeep.
Students are encouraged to purchase full-term, semester, or school-year permits at the start of the school year. Buying daily permits would add up to over $170.00 for the school year. Replacing a lost permit costs $5.00 for a term or semester permit and $10.00 for a full-year permit.
PARKING PERMITS
BHS hanging parking permits must be displayed on the rearview mirror or on the windshield just in front of the rearview mirror. Full-year permits allow a student to transfer the permit easily from one vehicle to another if a student drives a different vehicle to school from one day to the next. The cost of a permit is non-refundable.
PARKING PERMIT VIOLATIONS
Vehicles can receive parking tickets from Hall and Grounds Monitors. For multiple driving incidents, the consequences can include, but are not limited to, a fine/ticket, a call home to Parent/Guardian, a wheel boot, loss of parking permit, and/or towing of vehicle at owner’s expense. A parking permit must be purchased before a student can park on campus again. Please reference student handbook.
DRIVE RESPONSIBLY AND SAFELY—OR YOU CAN LOSE ON-CAMPUS DRIVING PRIVILEGES
You are responsible for your driving on school property. Safety is extremely important. If you drive in an unsafe, careless, exhibitionary, or reckless manner, or if you drive too fast, you will be referred to the office and to the school resource officer. Parents will be notified, and you may lose on-campus driving privileges and may be ticketed for inappropriate driving. Spinning tires with the engine revving, skidding, or spinning your wheels, driving on the median, sidewalk, grass, or anywhere off the parking lot will result in a referral. Allowing passengers to ride in the back of your pickup, on a running board, half out of a door or window, on top of your vehicle, or in any other way that is unsafe for the driver, passenger, or others in the parking lot, will result in a referral to the office and to the school resource officer. No ATVs or snowmobiles are allowed on campus. Truant behavior, including transporting unexcused students, may result in losing your parking permit with no refund.
ATTENDANCE IS IMPORTANT – BE ON TIME
Bemidji High School students know the importance of attending class each day. Students should arrive at school with enough time to use their lockers and make it to class on time. Driving privileges may be revoked for habitual tardiness or absenteeism.
DRIVING ON CAMPUS IS A PRIVILEGE
Irresponsible behavior and/or habitual attendance issues may result in losing driving privileges.
CLOSED CAMPUS MEANS NO LEAVING WITHOUT PERMISSION
Bemidji High School is a closed campus. This means that students may not leave at any time during the school day, including lunchtime, without the permission of both the parent and the school. For safety reasons, permission is NOT given for students to leave at lunchtime. Also, permission is NOT given for students to drive themselves to off-campus classes if a bus is provided for their transportation. Students may not be in vehicles in the parking lot during lunchtime and may not go to the parking lot during the school day. Truant behavior, including transporting unexcused students, may result in losing your parking permit without a refund.
KNOW WHAT’S IN YOUR CAR: CONTRABAND CAN GET YOU SUSPENDED OR EXPELLED!
You are responsible for your vehicle and everything that is in it. Remember that weapons (guns, knives, etc.) as well as explosives or ammunition, are not allowed on school property, including the parking lot at BHS and at any school function in or out of town. Alcohol, drugs, and tobacco are also not allowed on school property. Possession of such items on school property or at any school function will result in suspension or expulsion from school.
ALTERING OR COUNTERFEITING A PARKING PERMIT–DON’T DO IT!
Counterfeiting or altering a parking permit is considered falsification of information and/or theft of services and will result in suspension from school and/or loss of on-campus driving privileges per the Code of Consequences. Repeat offenses will be referred to law enforcement.
WHAT IF I BOUGHT A PERMIT BUT FORGOT TO DISPLAY IT ONE DAY?
You’ll probably get a warning and a reminder, but if you realize it when you get to school, talk to the parking lot monitor or your assistant principal. The permit isn’t any good unless you display it, so be sure to place it as directed before you return the next day.
KEEP YOUR VEHICLE LOCKED! REPORT ACCIDENTS, VANDALISM, OR THEFT IMMEDIATELY!
For your own safety and for the safety of your possessions, be sure to lock your vehicle during the school day. It is illegal to leave your keys in your vehicle. Any vandalism of, damage to, or theft from a vehicle should be reported to the office as soon as it is discovered. Security cameras help to monitor activity in the parking lot 24 hours a day. Reporting an incident promptly is necessary in order for us to investigate any issues that occur in the parking lot. Accidents that occur in the school parking lot should be reported to the office and to law enforcement. Note: Students and parents are responsible for knowing the information included in this document and must sign a contract before being issued a parking permit for Bemidji High School.
WHERE TO PARK, NOT TO PARK
Students are not allowed to park in the Visitor’s Parking Lot or in the Staff Parking Lot. Students without a valid handicap permit may not park in a handicapped spot. The Hall and Grounds staff and law enforcement will enforce this. Fines for parking in handicapped spots are expensive. ** Please note that when “on campus or school property” is mentioned, it automatically includes any venue (home or away activities) at which BHS is hosting an event.
