By Tina Fisher Cunningham
Fisher Forde Media
Countdown to school
The Forde Files No. 173
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Tina Fisher Cunningham
The old school bell that called the Tehachapi students to school, located at district headquarters.
As Tehachapi youngsters are enjoying the remaining days of summer, the Tehachapi Unified School District is preparing for the first day of school on Aug. 15.
"There are 10 new teachers but there will be more," Interim Superintendent Paul Kaminski said on July 31. "New teacher orientation is Aug. 10."
Kaminiski said the district will welcome back classified and certificated employees in a ceremony at the Tehachapi High School gym on August 13. Long-term employees will be honored for their service, and new employees will be introduced.
Several new principals are taking the reins at schools in the district. Rebecca Castellanos, who has been the district Learning Director for two years, will be principal at Tompkins Elementary. Sharon Heitman, the district's Program Specialist, will take over principal's duties at Jacobsen Middle School.
Tina Fisher Cunningham
Summer fun at Dye Natatorium – Left, after a day of play at the pool, from left, Crystal Ortega, 9, Victor Ortega, 10, Johnathan Gomez, 8 (their cousin) and Drake Ortega, 5. Mom and dad are Sandra and Azael Ortega. of Tehachapi. Photos by Tina Cunningham.
Three principals will remain at their schools – Traci Minjares at Cummings Valley Elementary, Kendra Bailey at Golden Hills Elementary and Scott Heitman at Tehachapi High School.
Continuation High School students – 28 in all – will move out of Monroe High School to Tehachapi High School. The district is negotiating with Cerro Coso Community College regarding use of the Monroe building, which was the original Tehachapi High School.
Kaminiski said the school population will be known only when the students arrive. At the end of last year, the district had 4,300 students, K-12.
