Town officials praise DPW and keep schools on two-hour delay after 20-inch snowstorm
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Summary
Town officials said a late-January storm dropped roughly 18–21 inches in North Attleboro, credited Department of Public Works crews for clearing main roads, explained why salt is ineffective in very low temperatures, and urged residents to help clear sidewalks for schoolchildren.
An unidentified town official said the recent midwinter storm left North Attleboro with roughly 20–21 inches of snow and praised Department of Public Works crews for keeping main roads passable while schools opened on a two-hour delay.
The official credited "Mark Hollowell and DPW team" for their work and described coordination with school staff that allowed schools to operate on a two-hour delay rather than canceling classes. "Tremendous effort," the official said, referring to both DPW crews and school facilities staff.
Why it mattered: the town said clearing sidewalks and designated walking routes remains a priority for student safety, and officials warned that municipal snow response carries direct costs to local budgets.
Details and operations: the official reported the storm initially produced "18, 19 inches" with additional accumulation the following evening, estimating about 20–21 inches in town. Nearby districts made different calls: an unidentified speaker noted Attleboro canceled school that Monday while Franklin shifted from a two-hour delay to a cancellation at about "07:38." The town said the superintendent and town officials discussed safety before choosing a delay.
The official said school facilities crews, led by Chris Murphy, the school facilities director, were out as early as 6 a.m. to prepare school properties. "They were out there 6AM right after the storm working on the schools to get those ready," the official said.
Technical note on deicing: the official explained why some treated streets still appear icy, saying, "Salt right now is not very effective. When the temperatures start to go below 17, 18 degrees, salt doesn't work as well." He said the town had pretreated roads with a brine solution — visible as white streaks — intended to reduce snowpack and ice adhesion but that very low temperatures can cause melted areas to refreeze quickly.
Public request and budget impact: officials urged residents to clear sidewalks in front of their homes to keep walking routes safe for children who walk to school. The town also signaled that repeated heavy storms increase pressure on municipal budgets and that further snowfall will require continued DPW operations.
Next steps: town officials said DPW will continue targeted clearing in downtown areas and near key intersections and asked residents to assist with sidewalk clearing to reduce hazards and allow safe travel to schools.