BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Garces Memorial High School returns to classes Tuesday and while the local private school planned to open for in-person classes, the governor's shutdown orders called for schools within counties on the state's monitoring list to start the semester through distance learning.

"Our hope was to be on campus with our students in-person doing education," said Garces principal Myka Peck. "At the same time we were preparing for distance learning."

Students will return to class as many others will, through online and zoom classes.

"Our students will log in from home and our teachers will be like there in-person teaching their students the same subjects at the same time as they would in person."

The high school says they are ready to open the day after Kern County is off the monitoring list which would require 14 consecutive days of meeting county-wide metrics.

"We will absolutely be on campus the very next day we can be in person."

After a tour of the school, classes will look much different when that time comes.

"Desks are six feet apart, students will be wearing a mask, one-way hallways, temperature checks at every class period, we have a rigorous plan in place which is why we hope to open in person."

They've also added a fogger machine with fog every classroom and building. Every classroom has disinfectant spray, hand sanitizer and gloves.

The high school says they will continue to provide distance learning for students who aren't ready to return to in-person classes, whenever that time may come.