The McKinney Independent School District is considering getting rid of painted parking spots for seniors. Now, students and alumni are fighting to keep the tradition.
Some call it a rite of passage.
For at least the past 10 years, decorating a parking spot is something students at McKinney High School and McKinney North High School have looked forward to.
For them, they are works of art. But not everyone agrees.
This month, the superintendent and the high schools' principals decided they may do away with the tradition of painted senior parking spots.
"I don't think anyone realizes how much time seniors spend into planning out their spots," MHS senior Brenna Whitten said.
Growing up, Whitten said she helped siblings paint their spaces, and she plans to help her brother with his next year.
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They say they're disappointed that's when the so-called rite of passage could end.
"I'm sad for all my younger friends that won't be able to paint their spots. I know a lot of them also had siblings go through McKinney High and they were looking forward to paint their own," MHS junior Aaron Whitten said.
Seniors pay extra to decorate the prime spots in front of school.
"It's just a kind of way to make your mark," MHS senior Yoki Ongwela.
While the spaces may start off nice and neat, by year's end many wear off and leave paint chips all over the parking lot.
Aesthetics are part of the reason the district says it's considering ending the ritual.
"We have to make sure that it is as pleasurable to the community as it is to us," Brenna Whitten said.
Students said they understand but say they'll do what they can to try to keep the tradition alive.
More than 1,700 people have signed a Change.org petition to keep the painted spots.
In an email, a district spokesperson says, "The MISD superintendent and high school principals will allow the tradition of seniors painting parking spaces to continue for the 2016-2017 school year. Moving forward, they will review the possible options and determine if the tradition will continue beyond 2016-2017 or if it will be replaced with a new tradition. At this point no decision has been determined."
