DATE: December 6, 2016
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Laurel C. Prysiazny, County Librarian
Penny Raven, Chair, Historical Landmarks and Records Advisory Commission
SUBJECT: Centennial School - Navelencia
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve designation and placement of Navelencia School on the County’s Register of Centennial Schools; and
2. Authorize the Chairman to execute the certificate for a Centennial School.
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with these actions, which will allow Navelencia School to be placed on the County’s Register of Centennial Schools. The Historical Landmarks and Records Advisory Commission recommends schools that qualify for placement on the Fresno County’s Register of Centennial Schools. Approval by the Board of Supervisors encourages preservation of the County’s history.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board could choose to not approve these actions, which would result in the school not being placed on the County’s Register of Centennial Schools at this time.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions.
DISCUSSION:
The Historical Landmarks and Records Advisory Commission, with support from Juan Garza, Superintendent of Kings Canyon Unified School District, recommends your Board approve the application to add Navelencia School to the Centennial Schools Register.
Navelencia School has been in continuous service to students since it was organized on January 11, 1916. It was created with territory taken from Mount Campbell, Citrus Cove, Clark's Valley, and Wahtoke School Districts. The word "Navelencia" was coined from the two major varieties of oranges, Navel and Valencia, which flourished in the area at the time.
During the 100 years Navelencia School has operated, the district areas as well as the grade levels served have changed several times. By 1918, Navelencia School absorbed Clark’s Valley students under the consolidation of the two districts to form Navelencia Union School District. The Citrus Cove School District joined with the Navelencia Union District in 1922, and their school building was physically moved to the Navelencia School grounds. After the consolidation of the two districts, the earliest Fresno County School Directory found, 1926-27, listed the school name as Navelencia.
The original school building on the Navelencia School site burned down in 1948. In 1949 while the replacement school building was under construction, the lower grade students remained on campus using a building that was saved from the fire while students in the upper grades went to Great Western, Orange Cove, and Alta Schools.
In 1966, Navelencia Union District -- consisting of one school campus, Navelencia School -- consolidated with several other districts to form Kings Canyon Unified School District. Currently Navelencia School serves grades 5 through 8 with an average daily attendance of 324 students.
The Historical Landmarks and Records Advisory Commission reviewed the application during its September 8, 2016 meeting and unanimously voted to recommend that Navelencia School be listed on the Fresno County’s Register of Centennial Schools.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
Historical Landmarks and Records Advisory Commission
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Centennial Schools Certificate
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck