Schools
Now on eBay: A Capo Valley High School Parking Spot
A fundraiser for the Capistrano Valley High School Foundation, the auction has already attracted five bidders and 19 bids. A little more than a day remains before the auction closes.
Attention, juniors and seniors: You have one day and seven hours left to bid on something more precious than gold: A guaranteed parking spot at your high school.
This coveted spot is in the senior lot, close to school and available to the highest bidder on eBay. The Capistrano Valley High School Foundation is offering the spot. The foundation is a nonprofit that donates money to school projects.
"Bid often, and bid high," said Ron Ruef, a parent and member of the CVHS Foundation. So far, five bidders have placed 19 bids. At the time of publication, the top bid was $202.50.
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Last year, the first year the foundation ran the auction, it raised $550, Ruef said. The foundation receives four parking spots it can use but offers the other three through a raffle at registration. This year’s raffles brought in $3,200.
"We raffle off some to make it fair for all the kids," Ruef said. The raffle tickets only cost $5. One of this year's winners bought only two tickets, he said.
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"One of the [winners] was on vacation, and she called right away" when she got the e-mail letting her know she was a lucky raffle winner. "They are so excited to get these spots."
Only seniors and juniors are eligible for a regular student parking pass, and the passes are only good for one semester, Ruef said. But the permit does not guarantee them a specific spot. Parking spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
There are about 550 student parking spaces at CVHS, Assistant Principal Todd Amon said. The school issues 600 passes to juniors and seniors, figuring some spaces will be left open because of absences and other reasons.
This year CVHS has issued 350 senior passes and 183 junior passes.
"Typically, when kids get a parking permit, they get permission to hunt for a parking space," Ruef said.
The raffle winners and the highest bidder on eBay can park in their own spots all year, Ruef said—as long as they maintain the regular grade requirements.
The eBay auction’s phrasing includes an hommage to MasterCard commercials:
"Value of parking permit with ASB card: $90. Value of parking permit without ASB card: $110. Value of a reserved parking spot at CVHS: Priceless."
