Rutherford County Schools will open traditionally in August and all parents will also have a choice to select a distance-learning option, according to the reopening plan adopted by the Rutherford County Board of Education during its July 9 meeting.

Under the approved plan, students will return to school either in-person or through distance-learning beginning the week of August 10. Those parents who select the distance-learning option will need to commit to doing so for the first semester because of the logistics of scheduling classes and teachers.

The Board is also considering conducting phase-in days during the first week of school to allow students to adapt to the new health guidelines and to allow school personnel to make adjustments. The Board will discuss the option for phase-in days at a special-called meeting on July 21.

Now that the framework for reopening has been approved, the school district’s staff will work over the next week to finalize and fine tune all safety protocols. This information will be shared with parents soon for planning purposes.

One common question has been whether masks will be required:

Masks have been recommended by the committee studying reopening options, and the School Board will make a final determination at its July 21 meeting. If masks are required at schools and on buses, there would be exceptions available for those who have medical needs that would prevent them from wearing a mask. Additional details will be available once a final decision is made at the July 21 meeting.

Parents, employees and the community will be kept informed as the reopening details are finalized over the next week.

Previous Release Regarding School Reopening Plan:

Parents may also choose distance-learning option; mask requirement to be discussed further

The Rutherford County Board of Education has unanimously adopted a plan to reopen schools in August.

At its July 9 regular meeting, the School Board adopted a plan to open schools traditionally but also will allow parents the option to choose a distance-learning option. Parents would need to commit to a semester of the option they choose to assist with the logistics of scheduling students and teachers to classes.

Under the proposal, students would return to school beginning the week of August 10. However, the board plans to consider conducting phase-in days during the first week of school to allow students to adjust to the new health guidelines and to allow school personnel to make adjustments. The Board will discuss the option for phase-in days at a special-called meeting on July 21.

The Board will also discuss the requirements for masks for students and employees at the July 21 meeting.

Over the next couple of weeks, Director of Schools Bill Spurlock and his staff will fine-tune the details and logistics of the plan and parents will be kept informed for planning purposes.