News & Announcements

Quite a few schools across Rutherford County remain without electrical power this morning, and some area roads remain hazardous for travel, following yesterday’s passage of Tropical Cyclone Zeta. Given those conditions, Rutherford County Schools will be closed for face-to-face instruction today. We will observe an Optional Teacher Workday for school employees and a remote learning day for all students. School employees who plan to travel to their schools today should exercise caution on area roads and communicate with their immediate supervisors if any adjustments to their reporting times are necessary to ensure their safe travel.

Periods of heavy rain and strong winds associated with Tropical Cyclone Zeta brought down numerous trees and power lines throughout Rutherford County as the storm crossed our region through the early- to mid-morning hours today, leading to impassable roads and widespread power outages. While we have seen some improvement to those conditions throughout the afternoon, some roads require additional attention and numerous schools across the county remain without power this evening.

At this time, Rutherford County Schools will operate on a two-hour delay on Friday, October 30. We will reassess road conditions and electrical service to our school campuses overnight tonight and announce any additional adjustments to tomorrow’s school schedule no later than 7:00 AM tomorrow morning. Please be alert to the possibility that tomorrow's initial delay could become a closure if conditions do not significantly improve during the overnight hours.

The National Weather Service has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for our area. Tropical Cyclone Zeta will affect local weather and travel conditions as the storm approaches western North Carolina overnight tonight and passes through the region tomorrow. Along with some periods of heavy rain that may lead to isolated flooding, tropical storm force winds are expected across all of Rutherford County. We anticipate sustained winds of 30 to 35 miles per hour, with wind gusts of 40 to 45 miles per hour, increasing the risk of downed trees and power lines and creating unsafe travel conditions – especially for high-profile vehicles like school buses.

In anticipation of the storm’s arrival and impact, Rutherford County Schools will be closed for face-to-face instruction on Thursday, October 29. We will observe an Optional Teacher Workday for school employees and a remote learning day for all students. School employees should exercise caution on area roadways and should communicate with their immediate supervisors if any adjustments to their reporting times are necessary to ensure their safe travel.

Elementary Learning Program Change Form Now Available!

2020-2021 School Reopening Plans | New “Plan A” Option for Elementary Schools

Are you a Hybrid A or B student and want to take home meals for remote learning days? Are you a remote or non-RCS student and want to pick up meals each week? Sign up today!

RCS has developed a local School Health Dashboard that identifies, defines, and tracks seventeen key indicators within four categories in order to monitor important school health conditions, evaluate the effectiveness of school health strategies and activities, and inform important local decisions about school operations. The School Health Dashboard also represents a transparent resource for parents, families, and community members aimed at ensuring they have clear, timely, and accurate information about actual health conditions within Rutherford County Schools.

Rutherford County Schools is pleased to announce important back-to-school plans for the 2020-2021 school year. The district website has been updated with a Back to School Guide for Families that explains both learning programs offered, as well as a required Student Intent Form. This form must be completed by parents or guardians by Tuesday, July 28, 2020.

During a special called meeting last night, the Rutherford County Board of Education established that our schools will reopen for remote learning only until Tuesday, September 8. Absent any additional action by the Board during its meeting on Tuesday, September 1, Rutherford County Schools will make two instructional models available to students beginning on Tuesday, September 8.

Rutherford County Schools remains deeply committed both to the health and well-being of students, employees, and the broader community and to its mission to prepare all students for lifelong learning in partnership with families and communities. The proposed 2020-2021 School Reopening Plan (“Plan”) outlines specific arrangements for reopening schools in a safe, healthy, and responsible way. The Rutherford County Board of Education is expected to take action on the adoption of this plan at a special called meeting on July 22, 2020.