Framingham Town Manager: Opening Schools After Major Snow Storms is a High Priority and a Big Challenge

The following is a press release from Framingham Town Manager Bob Halpin:

I feel compelled to comment on statements contained in a Framingham Public Schools press release of an alleged order of priorities when it comes to plowing roadways and sidewalks.

The alleged priorities are emphatically NOT the priorities of the Framingham Division of Public Works (DPW) or the Town of Framingham.

A quick call to the Operations Manager in the DPW confirmed that the list was developed outside of the Division of Public Works and does not accurately reflect our priorities.

From the earliest point in time at which the DPW transitions from aggressively fighting a snow storm to actively recovering from it, the DPW and Framingham Police worked closely with School Department officials on the steps to be taken to reopen schools at the earliest and safest possible time.

Second only to the mission of public safety and protection of life and property, the safe and timely reopening of schools is among the highest priorities of the Town and its DPW.

In the case of our recent 34-inch storm on Tuesday, Jan. 27, this recovery effort began in earnest in the early hours of Wednesday, after DPW workers had worked nearly 24 hours in the ‘fight’ the storm phase.

As that recovery effort began town officials consulted with school department officials and advised that given the magnitude of the storm, it was highly unlikely that we could safely reopen schools on Thursday.

The first step in recovery from a major snowstorm is to widen out roadways and to clear roadway intersections - particularly those with high snow banks and decreased sight distances.

As a purely practical matter, the plowing of sidewalks cannot possibly begin until roadways are widened because to do otherwise would simply put more snow right back in place on the sidewalk.

There was added urgency to widening and clearing of roadways because as of Wednesday there was a specific forecast of significant, measurable snow due to arrive on Friday.

The plowing of sidewalks began in earnest in the early hours of Thursday.

Thankfully, school on Friday had already been cancelled to allow for a professional development day for teaching staff.

When DPW, Police and School transportation officials and myself met on Friday, it was a close call on sidewalks but we collectively agreed that the situation was good enough to allow for school to open on Monday.

As we all now know, schools could not open on Monday due to an additional 14” of snow and the whole recovery period began anew on Tuesday, with schools closed.

On Tuesday morning, I received an early phone call from the Superintendent of Schools emphasizing the urgency of reopening schools on Wednesday.

Shortly thereafter, DPW and Police and myself met, reviewed the situation, and jointly committed to significant additional public works personnel and resources to clear sidewalks and crosswalks in firm commitment to get schools reopened on Wednesday.

DPW management and employees met this challenge by diverting resources from many pressing public works priorities, including numerous water main breaks due to freezing temperatures.

Schools were able to reopen on Wednesday.

In order to assure student safety, the Framingham Police Department placed extra patrol officers on duty.

Together, we met this commitment through the dedicated efforts of public works and other employees who by that time Wednesday has been working extended 18-hour days in the wake of a total of 48 inches of snow in 7 days.

The Framingham Board of Selectmen and myself took time at the Selectmen’s regular meeting Tuesday night to express our pride and gratitude for their efforts, including their extraordinary efforts to assure that Framingham Public Schools could re-opened on Wednesday.