News & Announcements

Yesterday's winter storm produced significant snow accumulations across our area. Snowpack on area roadways, along with freezing temperatures overnight tonight, will lead to dangerous travel conditions tomorrow. Rutherford County Schools will observe a remote learning day for all students at all grade levels, and an Optional Teacher Workday for all school system employees, on Tuesday, January 18, 2022. Eligible employees are authorized to telework pursuant to policies 7503 and 7550. Eligible employees who elect to telework tomorrow should promptly communicate with their immediate supervisors about those arrangements.

Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office and Rutherford County School System have been made aware of a social media message circulating through TikTok and other social media outlets about the potential for school violence tomorrow, December 17. Investigations into the social media posts have been conducted around the country, and the posts appear to be a broad nationwide TikTok trend with no specific threat.

Community: NO CREDIBLE THREAT

Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office and Rutherford County School System have been made aware of a social media message circulated through Snapchat threatening students and school personnel at a school described as "Central High School." The message was supposedly posted by “Alex Anderson” (who is not a student at any school in Rutherford County).

This message has been broadly recirculated through the school community and throughout the county.

School officials and law enforcement personnel appreciate all the calls, texts, and tip line calls alerting us to this message and the potential threat it expresses.

We have investigated the source of the message and its recirculation within the local school community. However, at this time, we do not believe the message is connected to a school in Rutherford County or poses any threat to students or employees at a school in Rutherford County.

Investigations into the social media post have been conducted in several communities with a "Central High School" around the country, and the post appears to target Central High School in St. Joseph, MO, not R-S Central High School.

At all times, the safety of the students and schools in Rutherford County are our top priority.

We will continue to monitor social media activity, investigate real and potential threats, and take every step necessary to ensure a safe school environment.

Capt. Leon Godlock, School Resource Officer Supervisor

Capt. Chris Lovelace, Rutherford County Schools Investigator

Contact Information:
CAPT. LEON GODLOCK
Support Service
828-287-6395
[email protected]

Effective Monday, August 30, face coverings are required for students, school
employees, and visitors within the classroom setting.

Face Coverings Within the School Environment

As required by State law and public health guidance, Rutherford County Schools provided a remote learning program during the 2020-2021 school year. At this time, it is unclear whether State law and public health guidance will continue to require a remote learning program during the 2021-2022 school year. However, Rutherford County Schools is preparing for the possibility of a remote learning program by collecting applications for participation. A final decision about the actual availability of a remote learning program is subject to applicable State guidance.

Rutherford County Schools will accept applications from Monday, May 10, through Friday, May 28. A separate application must be submitted for each child seeking admission to the remote learning program.

Applicants will be notified of their tentative admission status, pending applicable State guidance, by Monday, June 14.

To apply online, please visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JYRL7W2.

Rutherford County Schools is currently operating all middle and high schools under Plan B, and students in grades 6-12 may participate in either the Hybrid Learning Program or the full-time Remote Learning Program. On Thursday, March 11, the North Carolina General Assembly and Governor enacted a new state law allowing, but not requiring, local boards of education to transition middle and high schools to Plan A for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year. The Rutherford County Board of Education ("Board") will meet soon to review that new legislation and evaluate local middle and high school operations.

In the event that the Board transitions local middle and high schools from Plan B to Plan A, students currently participating in the Hybrid Learning Program will automatically transition to a full-time Face-To-Face Learning Program, and students participating in the full-time Remote Learning Program will remain in the full-time Remote Learning Program. 

However, we recognize that some parents may want to CHANGE their child's learning program if the Board transitions local middle and high schools from Plan B to Plan A in the coming days and weeks. Please use this questionnaire to request such a change to your child's learning program. The deadline for submitting this questionnaire is 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, March 16, 2021.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Rutherford County and surrounding areas. A winter storm approaching our area overnight tonight is expected to produce significant ice accumulations on area roadways, trees, and power lines through mid- to late-morning tomorrow. Dangerous travel conditions and downed trees and power lines are likely.
In anticipation of those conditions, Rutherford County Schools will observe a remote learning day for all students at all grade levels, and an Optional Teacher Workday for all school system employees, on Thursday, February 18. Eligible employees who face hazardous travel conditions tomorrow are authorized to telework pursuant to policies 7503 and 7550. Eligible employees who elect to telework tomorrow should promptly communicate with their immediate supervisors regarding those arrangements.

Following the winter storm that affected our region this weekend, our school transportation team has identified isolated patches of black ice on roads within our county, along with some roads where lanes have been narrowed by downed trees. Rutherford County Schools will operate on a two-hour delay today in order to provide school bus and other drivers the benefit of sunlight and improved visibility as they travel along area roadways this morning.