On Aug. 28, the Pembroke Police Department released a statement through a Facebook post addressing the chaotic traffic situation that occurred on the first day of school and continues to occur. 

The Pembroke Police Department decided to block off the half circle at the front of the school this year. Many parents and students have blamed the traffic before school on the lack of drop-off sites. 

In the Facebook post, the Pembroke Police Department reminded commuters this issue occurred in past years with the circle in the front open. 

“It’s a matter of changing habits, allowing time, and all of us working together,” the post stated.  

Parents, students, Pembroke residents and commuters from other towns responded to the post. 

“Every drop off since the circle closed has taken considerably more time than before it was closed at the high school,” wrote Melissa Mel. Mel said it takes her seven rotations to get through the light then 25 minutes to reach the school’s entrance from the end of PA. 

The light at the end of Academy Road is roughly 650 feet away from the entrance of the school. 

According to Officer Webber, PA’s resource officer, the closure of the half circle has more benefits than detriments. 

Webber said the half circle was always labeled as a firelane and nobody should be parking there anyway. He also added the major reason the circle was closed was for safety. Cars turning in and out of the half circle often created jams and more risk of accidents.

Spanish teacher Ms. Sheehan said that if she left at the same time she did last year, it would take her about an hour to make it to the school from her house.