Schools
Total Eclipse 2017 In Tennessee: Rutherford County Schools Opt To Close After All
With less than a week until the eclipse, Rutherford County's school board voted to cancel classes Monday.
MURFREESBORO, TN — The Rutherford County Board of Education voted to close the district's schools Monday, August 21 for the coast-to-coast total solar eclipse.
The county's schools had been one of the few holdouts across Middle Tennessee which planned to stay in session, but safety concerns and talk of widespread absences apparently outweighed the academic value of keeping schools open.
RELATED: Get Your NASA-Approved Solar Eclipse Glasses Before It's Too Late
Find out what's happening in La Vergne-Smyrnafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
(For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Middle Tennessee Patch morning newsletter.)
After the vote, the district posted a statement on Facebook:
Find out what's happening in La Vergne-Smyrnafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Our School Board voted tonight to close schools on Monday for the eclipse event because of concerns about safety. There is a growing concern that students of all ages may not follow safety instructions and our teachers will not be able to ensure everyone is following the protocols to safely view the eclipse. The bus ride home is also a concern because students will have less supervision during a time when the partial eclipse is still viewable.
In addition, we have heard several reports from schools and parents about widespread absences that are expected Monday. Many parents have expressed they want their children to experience the event as a family or with other groups, such as the Boy Scouts.
So for all these reasons, Rutherford County Schools will be closed on Monday, Aug. 21. We are distributing the eclipse glasses that we donated by MTSU and they will be sent home with students. Glasses are being distributed to employees as supplies last.
In addition, there are multiple community events that are available for viewing the eclipse. MTSU is hosting a large event on its campus beginning at 11 a.m., and the university has invited everyone to join in. In addition, there are events at the Stones River National Battlefield and at Lee Victory Park in Smyrna.
Image via Shutterstock
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.