A proposal to use the Jim Thorpe High School stadium parking lot for the town’s Fall Foliage Festival is once again a no go, with school board members citing liability and property maintenance concerns.

The idea was raised earlier this year in meetings involving borough officials, the Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency and school staff. The festival, which draws thousands of visitors to downtown each October, has long struggled with limited parking.

Tonia Thompson, a district teacher who also oversees Future Business Leaders of America, National Honor Society and Students Against Destructive Decisions, said the parking proposal was intended to benefit multiple student groups.

“The hope was to find a way to use some of our property to raise funds and service the Fall Foliage weekends,” she said during a committee meeting last week.

The plan focused on the stadium parking lot. Students from several organizations would help direct traffic, and adults would be on hand to supervise.

“Like I do with my FBLA fundraisers, we would have a point system,” Thompson said. “If you’re there, you get credit for being there.”

Board members, however, said the issue had already been decided.

“As a board, we did not support this,” director Pearl Downs-Sheckler. “We voted no last year for many reasons — insurance, upkeep of the property and the constant usage that goes on here.”

Another member said the board had discussed the matter in the spring.

“The board was definitely worried about liability, transportation and vandalism,” board President Mary Figura said. “How are we getting people from one place to another? And if we’re responsible for damage, that falls back on the district.”

Administrators said the district’s insurance provider had been consulted.

“There is a liability risk,” Business Manager Brian Off said. “Most falls probably wouldn’t be a big deal, but if someone got seriously hurt, that could become a long-term issue for insurance.”

Taxpayers, Sheckler added, were another consideration.

“We just raised taxes to handle property maintenance,” she said. “I don’t think it’s fair to add more wear and tear.”

While the board rejected the proposal, members suggested looking into borough-owned land near St. Joseph’s Cemetery. The site, formerly a municipal dump, has since been filled in and used as open space.

“It’s a huge area that isn’t being used for anything,” director Dennis McGinley said. “You could get about 150 cars in there very easily.”

Thompson said the repeated discussions stemmed from ongoing efforts to solve the festival’s parking problems.

“We sat down with the mayor, the police chief, and the tourism agency earlier this year,” she said. “It was about trying to find a solution.”