Positioned between screaming children and anxious parents, Susanne McIvor, principal of the new Stanley Elementary School on South Street, escorted students out with a smile on her face and no sign of the frenzy so apparent around her. It was dismissal time, one of the most stressful times of the day at the new elementary school. In addition to worrying about 430 children getting home safely, the principal had been coping with a severe lack of parking, which had made dismissal time more challenging than originally expected. This has been the one blemish in an otherwise highly successful school opening.Parents had been arriving as much as an hour before dismissal time to make sure they could get one of the few parking spots available. While huddling together trying to keep warm as they waited for their children, many parents expressed their disappointment with the planning of the school. "Obviously parking is an issue. I find that it takes a lot longer getting into the new habits. I have to pick them up earlier these days," parent Kim Whiting said.

Due to the cold weather, school officials said they estimate that as many as 200 children who would normally walk to school in warmer weather now have to be driven. This has made the parking problem worse. "I think some of the traffic and congestion that the parents are seeing that they're frustrated about will eventually get better once we have some better weather," said crossing guard Kathy Senior, as she helped a student cross South Street to meet his mother.

According to a Waltham Daily News Tribune article, the school has hired many traffic guards and police officers in an attempt to alleviate parking problems. School officials have also asked parents to be cooperative and understanding. They have adjusted the dismissal procedure as they find better methods. McIvor said that the situation is very difficult to control since South Street has always been extremely busy and the school's presence has intensified the level of traffic. She also observed that the morning drop-off procedure has been more successful than the afternoon pick-up procedure because parents have to wait in the afternoon and that clogs up the traffic.

Senior said that eventually there will be a set of working lights by the school that will help to control the traffic and better enforce the 20 mile per hour speed limit around the school. But, when asked if she sees the parking and traffic situation as a safety hazard for the children, she replied, "No, I don't, because I'm confident in what I do."

Despite the parking woes, many parents said they believe the new school building is wonderful. "The building is gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous, and the children love it. It is a great opportunity for them and they really appreciate it," Whiting said.

The state-of-the-art building is the result of extensive planning, utilizing nationally known architects specializing in "green initiative," an environmentally friendly method of building. In addition, the school features up to date technology and well-equipped facilities. Since its opening, students and teachers alike have been enjoying these carefully planned and modern facilities. "It's a beautiful school and I'm really happy to be a part of it," reading specialist Miriam White said.

First grade student Emma Cusack,agreed. When asked what her favorite part of the school was, she enthusiastically spoke about her classroom and the gym. Her mother, Cindy Cusack, nodded, reminding her daughter that she, herself, never had the opportunity to attend such a beautiful school. "They have more than I had in high school. It's a great opportunity, like creatively, with the arts. It really is a great facility," she said.

Despite the parking problems, both parents and school staff said they believe the opening of the new school has been very successful. As Principal McIvor said, "Like anything else in life, there are little lumps to work out, but as long as we just go with the flow, with time, all the wrinkles will get ironed out.