TEHACHAPI, Calif. -- The Tehachapi Unified School District finalized a pandemic preparedness plan back in May, and since then, they have been educating their students and staff on how to handle a pandemic flu like the H1N1 virus. District nurse Bridget Saphiloff said, "In May when this started, we immediately started our educational campaign; talking with our teachers, giving them handouts, and the teachers were encouraged everyday to talk to the students.”

Throughout the schools you can find hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and signs reminding everyone of the Three C’s -- cover, clean and confine.

Jacobsen Middle School Principal Susan Ortega said, “We have posters in every classroom, the restrooms, around the campus. We remind students to cover their coughs, to clean their hands often and if they’re sick they need to be confined at home.”

School officials said the flu season typically hits in February so, with the earlier flu season comes more absentees then usual for the month of October.

Superintendent Richard Swanson said, "Our absentees are probably half again of what they were this time last year, but they’re consistent with what they have been like when we’re combating the flu.”

The school district said with a possibly longer and more agreesive flu season they too have to be more aggressive when it comes to prevention including having a sick room at every campus for students who come to school sick.

Saphiloff said, "When our students come to school sick, we immediately isolate them in what we’re calling a sick room. So, we keep them at least six feet away from other students, take their temperature and then put a mask on them and then we call their parents to come and pick them up.”

Also in an effort to prevent the spread of the flu they have sent out educational newsletters to parents and implemented stricter cleaning practices at each school.

TUSD hopes that by educating parents, teachers and students will help to prevent the spread of the flu and H1N1 virus this year.