The new addition to Gables’ 26-acre campus has finally opened, construction has ended and students anxiously await the parking spaces that were taken up during construction.

Certain spaces will continue to be occupied, but not permanently. These spaces are designated to those working on the demolition of the old portables. The Riviera student parking expanded by 45 new parking spaces.

“It’s great!” Nicole Espalliat, sophomore, said. “I was contemplating about not driving next year due to the lack of parking.”

The problem of tardy students arriving to a full lot was a major concern to upperclassmen.

“Now you can arrive late and still find somewhere to park,” Harper Marroquin junior said.

Teachers have also expressed concern over the lack of appropriate parking for the faculty and staff.

“The whole Le Jeune side should be for teachers and the Riviera side should be for the students,” Melanie Mitchell Biology teacher said. “We are too overcrowded to have students barging in and out of the teacher’s parking area.”

The parking will be divided into teachers’ and the students’ parking areas. Students will still need permits in order to park at the building. However, there will be no more decals sold this semester. The decal’s design will be changed for upcoming school year. About 300 decals will be sold at the beginning of the school semester.

Once the new parking is opened up next year, the decals will be sold for ten dollars. There are still feelings of anxiety about the shortage of parking spaces.

“When they (decals) are sold out they are sold out,” Carney said.

Along with the parking situation, parking security is also an issue that the administration plans to deal with.

“Leaving school was easier during school than after school,” Lucy Garcia, 2004 Gables graduate, said. “We used to leave everyday with out a problem from security.”

According to Miami-Dade public schools insurance policy, the school is legally liable for every non-absent student from the hours of 7:25 am until the student reaches his/her parent/guardian. In the event of an incident to a student who leaves prematurely, the school is held responsible.

The parking lot construction is expected to be completed by the end of this year and parking should be open to students by the fall.

On Monday April 11, the building dedication ceremony took place on campus.

Local community leaders and school board representatives were in attendance to witness the dedication to former Gables principal Ralph V. Moore who was principal from 1977-1993.

The new lunch pavilion was dedicated to former teacher and current academic advisor Dan Finora.