BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Kern High School District board approved students-athletes returning to on-campus activities and practices starting October 26 Monday night.

They will be able to return for conditioning outdoors and only will be able to work in cohorts of 16, including athletes and coaches.

Prior to the meeting local parents, student-athletes and coaches rallied together to demonstrate for a quicker return to sports than the previous plan set in place by the CIF.

Back in June, the CIF detailed a return to sports action dependent on state and local health department guidelines. Kern County is still in purple and after speaking with Stan Greene, director of school support services, the KHSD's full return to athletic activity will remain dependent on the guidelines from local and state health departments.

Either way parents, coaches, and athletes are eager to get back to action having watched the majority of the country return to high school athletics.

For now, the plan is to return fall sports practices December 14 and then begin the season on December 28 with football holding it's first official game on January 7.