Add Oakland to the list of high schools closed due to an increase in COVID-19.

Rutherford County Schools spokesman James Evans says beginning Thursday, all Oakland High students will move to distance learning for a few days.

Unlike Stewarts Creek and Rockvale, Oakland students will return to in-person next Wednesday, the day after election day. There was no time table for the return of Stewarts Creek and Rockvale students to in-person.

Evans says Oakland is experiencing an increased number of students and staff members who are on quarantine, but the main factor for this temporary closure is the school substitute teacher fill rate, which is currently only 44%. So the school is closing for a few days to allow time for recovery. 

He adds the school will also be thoroughly cleaned while closed. 

Again - beginning Thursday, all Oakland students will move to distance learning for a few days. Students will distance-learn Thursday, Friday and Monday, and then in-person learners will return to school next Wednesday, after Tuesday’s Election Day. 

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED

Stewarts Creek and Rockvale High Schools are going to close and move to all distance learning.

Rutherford County Schools spokesman James Evans says the schools are reporting a high number of students on quarantine, as well as several staff members.

"We are planning to temporarily close the schools and will move all students to distance learning beginning Tuesday."

Evans says they don't have a reopening date in mind yet, but they'll monitor the number of students and employees on quarantine and will announce a reopening date for in-person students as soon as they have additional information.

The schools will also be thoroughly cleaned while closed.

Stewarts Creek's football team is also being quarantined and will not play their rival Smyrna this Friday night. Rockvale's football team has been quarantined since last week and were not able to play their last two games this season.