What to know: New principals, calendar, safety for Murfreesboro, Rutherford County Schools

Kailee Shores, Murfreesboro Daily News Journal
·3 min read

Now that the July 4 holiday has passed, back-to-school season is rapidly approaching for the 2023-24 year. As parents and students quickly prepare for the new academic year, here's what to know.

Students in both Rutherford County Schools and Murfreesboro City Schools return for registration on Aug. 7, with the first full day for both systems being Aug. 8.

Bob Elder with Robert Biscan Construction, pressure washes the sidewalk at Rockvale Middle school as his co-worker Robert Shrum holds the hose in the background as they cleanup after completing an addition to the middle school on Tuesday, July, 11, 2023.
Bob Elder with Robert Biscan Construction, pressure washes the sidewalk at Rockvale Middle school as his co-worker Robert Shrum holds the hose in the background as they cleanup after completing an addition to the middle school on Tuesday, July, 11, 2023.

When is tax-free weekend in Tennessee?

Tennessee’s sales tax holiday on clothing, school supplies and computers is traditionally the last weekend in July. This year, it will begin at 12:01 a.m. on July 28 and end at 11:59 p.m. on July 30, , according to the Tennessee Department of Revenue.

During the three-day tax-free holiday, many school essentials will be exempt from the 7% state sales tax, including online purchases.

What's exempt?

  • Clothing $100 or less

  • School and art supplies $100 or less

  • Personal use computers, tablets and laptops $1,500 or less

What's not exempt?

  • Clothing that cost more than $100. Items sold together, such as shoes, cannot be split up to stay under the maximum.

  • Jewelry, handbags, sports and recreational equipment

  • School and art supplies that cost more than $100. Items sold together cannot be split to stay under the maximum.

  • Storage media like flash drives and compact discs.

  • Printers

  • Printer supplies

  • Household appliance

What's new in Murfreesboro City Schools?

The school year begins with several administrative changes within the districts.

  • Dr. Caitlin Bullard will become principal of Discovery School.

  • Adam Bryson will become executive principal of both campuses at Mitchell-Neilson School. Bryson served as principal at John Pittard Elementary from 2017-2023.

  • Robin Newell will become principal of the Murfreesboro City Schools District Pre-K program after working in administration for the system for over 15 years.

  • Dr. Christy Robinson will take Bryson’s place as principal of John Pittard Elementary.

  • Andrea Oakley will continue as principal of Scales Elementary after serving as interim principal at Scales at the beginning of 2023.

Barfield Elementary second grade teachers left to right Jamie Rosas, Julie Clark, Erickelle Tingue-Martin, Shetika Oglesby Phelps and Tracy Meyer all talk about what they have learned so far during a session at a summer teacher summit for Rutherford County Elementary school teachers at Rockvale High School, on Tuesday, July 11, 2023.
Barfield Elementary second grade teachers left to right Jamie Rosas, Julie Clark, Erickelle Tingue-Martin, Shetika Oglesby Phelps and Tracy Meyer all talk about what they have learned so far during a session at a summer teacher summit for Rutherford County Elementary school teachers at Rockvale High School, on Tuesday, July 11, 2023.

What's new in Rutherford County Schools?

  • Jessica Jackson will become the principal of Blackman Middle.

  • Lorie Gober will take the principal position at Blackman Elementary.

  • Richard Reed will become the principal at LaVergne Middle School.

  • Rather than an Attendance Director, Rutherford County will now have a Director of Student Information and Accountability, a position held by Tory Atwood.

School safety

Safety measures going into this school year will be heightened in both districts, but due to the sensitive nature of school safety, specific steps being taken are kept under wraps.

Every school in Murfreesboro City will have an SRO, School Resource Officer, from the Murfreesboro City Police on site.

The SROs at Rutherford County Schools are employees of the Rutherford County Sherriff’s Department. There will be at least one at every school in the district.

“Starting this year, at sporting events for high schools, there is a new clear bag policy. That’s one of the things that parents will notice,” said James Evans, the community relations director at Rutherford County Schools.

Important days to know

Some key dates in the first few months of school for both Rutherford County Schools and Murfreesboro City Schools:

  • Aug. 7- Half day for students

  • Aug. 8- First full day for students

  • Sept. 4- Labor Day holiday

  • Sept. 15- Administrative day, no students

  • Oct. 2-6- Fall break

  • Parent/Teacher conferences

    • Oct. 16- Murfreesboro, no students

    • Oct. 24- Rutherford County, half day for students

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: What to know: City, county schools new principals, calendar, safety