NORTH ATTLEBORO - The calendar shows there are still more than three weeks remaining in summer, but most people view the end of the season as the time when students return to school.
This year, that means Tuesday, September 1.
Parents of Community School students were reminded of that this week when officials announced the implementation of a new afternoon pickup plan to help improve traffic flow and ensure the safety of students during dismissal.
As part of the new plan, no parking will be permitted on the south side of Barrows Street, from 34 Barrows St. to South Washington Street, between 2:30 and 3 p.m. on school days.
That section of Barrows Street will be used for live parking only during dismissal, allowing parents and guardians picking up students to line up while remaining in their vehicles.
Vehicles will then proceed east on Barrows Street toward the Community School parking lot for student pickup.
Parents and guardians using the parking lot for pickup should pull into the lot and move forward to the designated pickup area.
Traffic associated with dismissal will travel east on Barrows Street to help maintain an orderly flow of vehicles.
School buses will continue to load and depart from the front circle or the Town Hall side of the school.
The new procedure is intended to provide a safer and more organized dismissal process for students, families, school buses and motorists while reducing traffic conflicts around Community School.
Drivers traveling in the area between 2:30 and 3 p.m. are asked to use extra caution, follow posted and school-directed traffic patterns and remain alert for students and families.
