By Clyde Noel

The problems with traffic and parking at Mountain View High School aren’t as bad this time of year as they are later in the school year, when sophomore students start getting their driving licenses.

The high school hosted a neighborhood meeting last Wednesday in the library to discuss student-related issues and how to prevent problems in the future.

“We want to get along and be positive folks,” said Superintendent of Schools Rich Fischer. “We should do more on a regular basis by keeping the neighbors informed.”

Notices of the meeting were delivered to 400 residents in the vicinity of the high school, and only six came to the meeting with complaints.

Barbara Minnery, captain of the neighborhood watch, said the problems concern trash, as well as students parking and blocking driveways. She asked for more patrols from the Mountain View Police Department.

Kathy Redmond, another neighbor, complained of unsafe U-turns and asked why students couldn’t park along school property.

“Living across from a high school isn’t too bad. We can expect some problems,” Redmond said. “I enjoy the atmosphere of young people in school. It brings out a young vitality.”

Additional complaints concerned noise from the Pop Warner football groups, which start at 7 a.m., with amplified music and continue through the day.

Food deliveries start at 4:30 a.m., and the noise rouses the neighbors. Also, students exiting the parking lot at lunch and at the end of the school day make the area unsafe.

Teacher Matt Neely, who moderated the meeting, broke down the complaints into the main issues: parking, speeding, weekend group activities, garbage and the morning delivery of supplies.

Fischer said the school would provide additional notices of events that occur within earshot of the school. He suggested developing a flier on what to do in case of problems and whom to call.

Principal Pat Hyland brought attention to the recent test scores of Mountain View High School. She said they held up very favorably with the rest of the state.

“There are few complaints from the 1,525 students here because one of the things we do is get the kids involved and have them take responsibility,” Hyland said. “We treat them like adults, and they act like adults.”

Fischer said the teachers make sure the children don’t fall through the cracks. “A lot of focus is on the kids who don’t get a lot of attention, and that makes a big difference. We have a wonderful staff that cares about kids, and that shows in the test scores.”