BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Kern County Superintendent of Schools announced school closures have been extended to May 1.

KCSOS said this decision was made after consultation with Kern County Public Health and after the governor's press conference Wednesday.

The school closure extension applies to all 47 Kern County school districts.

Over the past week, school districts have rapidly adapted to the emergency to provide remote learning, “grab-and-go" meal distribution, supervision during the school day and telecommuting. Kern County Schools will continue these essential functions during school closures.

“KCSOS’s leadership team and Kern’s 47 district superintendents are meeting daily through Zoom video conferencing and are problem solving in real time,” said Kern County Superintendent of Schools Mary Barlow. “We are learning from one another, adjusting plans daily and will be ready for any eventuality, including school closures beyond the May 1, 2020, recommendation. We hope it does not come to that, but we will be prepared, if the Governor and/or public health officials advise that school closures should be extended as we move forward.”

During the time of the school closure, KCSOS is asking that students and families follow the Governor’s orders to stay home and minimize social contact to the extent possible.

The Governor clarified that critical functions of education, as outlined under a previous Executive Order, including: