MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) - Big digital changes are taking place across Rutherford County classrooms, and school officials are highlighting two completely separate upgrades.

SYNERGY

Chief Communications Officer James Evans announced the district is implementing Synergy as its new student information platform. Synergy operates strictly as a student management database to replace old registration software. Parents will use Synergy to view academic records, check class schedules, and monitor student grades.

Families with returning students will receive an instructional email on July 22nd or 23rd to activate their parent portal on Synergy. The database is designed to stream family verification quickly, allowing parents to input household data once before verifying individual children. Online registration for new families will open on July 22nd at rcschools.net/enroll.

UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS PLATFORM

Aside from the student portal, Rutherford County Schools is launching a separate, unified communication platform. This digital tool aims to simplify everyday announcements for families.

Beginning in August, all official messages from principals, teachers, coaches, and band directors will go directly through this new system. Families will receive updates via text messages, automated phone calls, emails, or through the district's new mobile application.

The new communication platform completely replaces independent third-party messaging services. The district is phasing out apps like Remind, Band, GroupMe, and Class Dojo. Parents previously shared that managing multiple external messaging systems was confusing and disorganized. Employees trained throughout the summer to ensure all official communication shifts to the new single pipeline next month.

Staff in your zoned school will be available to assist with portal setup or registration questions beginning July 22nd. Classes officially start on Friday, August 7th with a two-hour orientation day, before the first full day of school on Monday, August 10th.