Monday and Tuesday afternoons this week, Great Bend Police Sgt. Rod Weber arrived at Great Bend Middle School well before the 3:10 p.m. dismissal bell rang.  He was there to remind parents that some common practices from years past are no longer allowed.  They include double parking and stopping in the road to drop-off or pick up. Those transporting kids to and from school must legally park before anyone may exit the car, Weber told driver after driver.  
And parking across the street from the entrance is no longer allowed until after 4 p.m. It’s part of a renewed enforcement initiative that will help keep students out of near-miss situations and alleviate some of the congestion that has been common for years along Harrison Street.  Great Bend Middle School Principal David Reiser said for now, options are limited for parents.  
With the temporary elimination of several parking spaces on the south side of the school during construction of the gymnasium, the problem has been exacerbated, said Superintendent Vernon in an email to the Tribune.  However, more parking should be freed up in October once construction is complete.  
Plans call for the parking lot to be extended 10-15 feet to the east, he said, which would provide nearly the same amount of parking as before the project began.  
Still, with the new gym comes more competitions and more spectators.  Again, the question of where to park will arise.  
“I do think that we will need more parking to accommodate the guests we invite to the athletic and activity events,” Vernon said.  Another factor that will need to be considered is where buses will drop off and pick up students at the gym.  In the past, the parking lot was large enough, but that may not be the case when the gym is complete.  
“These are problems the administration has been discussing,” Vernon said.  “We will continue to look for solutions to this problem.”
For now, Sgt. Weber said parking is available all around the school where posted.  
“They can park on both sides of the street near the practice field and the football field,” he said.  Also, there are spaces along 21st Street to the north, as well as on side streets around the school.  “Parents need to pick a spot and tell their children to meet them there.”