Shafter seniors returning to campus

Shafter High School and the rest of the Kern High School District schools are preparing to return to campuses in April.

The district board approved a plan that would allow seniors to return to campus to finish their high school careers in the halls of Shafter High School.

The plan gives students and their families a choice to get in-person instruction or remain in the distance learning program.

According to Shafter High Principal Russell Shipley, the plan is a big step in returning to a sense of normalcy for the seniors who will complete their careers this June.

The schools will use a block schedule that has a Blue schedule and a Gold schedule. Each day of the week is broken down into periods and students have classes from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. This includes a period at the end of the day for academic collaboration and student support.

Sophomores, juniors, and freshmen will continue using the distance learning model for the rest of the year.

According to Greg West, director of Kern Integrated Data Systems, academic performance is declining.

"Overall, we saw an increase of 14% Ds and Fs as compared to last year, with the majority of those coming from students in that middle range, the B and C range, dropping down into the D and F range," West said.

"We are so excited to welcome back our Generals," Shipley said. "We have truly missed them, and although we have been there with support and passion during distance learning, a computer monitor just isn't the same."