Holmdel Board of Education officials said they will review options after a summer change restricting junior student parking at Holmdel High School prompted public concern over safety and equity. Superintendent Dr. Cascone addressed the issue during the board meeting, provided parking counts and said administrators will continue investigating possible solutions.

Why it matters: The parking change affects families and daily school operations, and community members said it could push students to park off campus in locations they called less safe. Board members said the issue also touches district policy and operational capacity as the year begins.

Dr. Cascone told the board there are “235 available student parking spots in the high school lot” and “234 seniors” eligible for parking privileges, leaving almost no spare spaces. He said there are “88 spots in the high school parking lot for staff” but “153 staff members at the high school,” and that some staff park offsite or in alternate lots. Cascone estimated constructing a new parking lot would cost “anywhere between 70 and a $100,000” and noted the district’s capital reserve is limited.

Parents and residents urged alternatives. Joe Tedisco, of 29 Eli Road, suggested strict discipline for students who park in staff spots, saying, “students that do that or do that more than once are suspended from school.” Jennifer Polino, of 262 South Holland Road, asked that any new rule be phased in for incoming students and that current juniors be “grandfathered in,” saying, “I believe this policy would be more appropriately implemented starting with the incoming freshman class while allowing the current students to be grandfathered in.” Mike Pohl warned that forcing more students off campus could worsen safety, saying, “It's gonna be a mess, and it's gonna be way less safe than having these kids on campus.”

Board members and the superintendent identified steps for more study rather than an immediate policy change. Dr. Cascone said administrators will verify counts — how many seniors actually register to park and how many juniors are likely to obtain licenses during the year — and inspect side lots and the SATS-area parking for feasible, safe options. Vice President Lopresti asked whether a filing deadline for senior permit applications could help prioritize space; the board discussed possible permit limits or rotation systems as short-term measures.

The board clarified that the decision came from administration rather than a board vote; the board’s existing parking policy is “silent on grade,” according to Cascone, and the district is revising its policy manual. The board did not adopt any formal change at the meeting; Cascone and the administration “are gonna look into this further and see what we can come up with.”

The discussion included practical details the administration said it will cross-check, including the counts of spaces and permits, and potential safety implications of using the SATS-side lots during peak arrival and dismissal times. The superintendent cautioned that immediate large-scale fixes — such as paving a new lot — would draw on capital reserves already committed to other facility risks such as mold remediation, roof failures or chiller replacements.

The board encouraged continued community feedback and said staff will report back after further analysis. No formal policy vote or disciplinary rule change was adopted at the meeting.