Students who violate parking lot rules at Ames High School may soon be paying fines instead of doing time, according to a discussion by the Ames School Board Monday night.

Currently, those students who violate a parking regulation are assigned to restricted study hall. Two high school students and members of the school’s policy committee proposed changing the punishment to monetary fines that would be given to charity.

Many school board members expressed disproval because they feel it would not be a deterrent to the offense.

“The purpose of the fines should be to discourage students from parking illegally, not to make them feel good about their offense because the money is going toward charity,” said Herb Strasser, board member.

The board members agreed to vote on the proposal at the next meeting.

Many board members expressed displeasure with the way School Superintendent Ron Rice proposed a 4.7 percent salary increase for district administrative employees.

Many board members said they “were not in the know” regarding the salary increase.

Board member LaDona Rowings said she needed more time to study the pay-raise proposal because she is new to the board. Many of the other members agreed with Rowings, and action will now be taken at the next meeting.

The board approved plans to divide the removal of fuel tanks at two schools and installation of back-up fuel systems at those sites into two different projects.

Some of the members of the board expressed concern about the removal of the tank at the high school because it is located near a memorial garden.

The board voted not do anything about the high school tank removal until family members of the people remembered in the memorial garden were contacted.