Senate Approves Feinstein Legislation to Transfer Land to the Clovis Unified School District for Environmental Learning Center

Senate Approves Feinstein Legislation to Transfer Land to the Clovis Unified School District for
Environmental Learning Center
November 20, 2002
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Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate last night approved legislation sponsored by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to transfer 27 acres of land to the Clovis Unified School District to allow the district to continue operating an environmental learning center for Central Valley students.

"I am pleased that the Senate approved legislation today to transfer 27 acres of land from the Stanislaus National Forest to the Clovis Unified School District. Since 1989, Clovis Unified School District has leased the Five Mile Regional Learning Center from the Forest Service to offer programs to students living in the Central Valley. And each year, thousands of eager children come to the Center to take classes that emphasize natural resource conservation," Senator Feinstein said.

During this past academic year, for instance, more than 14,000 students benefitted from classes ranging from forest management to aviary studies to team building. In addition to classes, students have the option of attending summer basketball camps offered in the Center's gymnasium and participating in individual activities given on the Center's adjacent 93 acres

"Unfortunately, in the last few years, the Center has fallen into a state of disrepair," Senator Feinstein said. "This legislation will allow Clovis to spend local funds to renovate these federally owned buildings. It is this type of partnership that Congress should support in the efforts to diversify and improve educational opportunities for students and encourage multi-use activities on federal land."

Convey 27 acres of land containing the Five Mile Regional Learning Center from the Stanislaus National Forest to the Clovis Unified School District.

Authorize a new special use permit to allow the district to continue using the adjacent 93 acres of land for their outdoor environmental education programs.

To date, the Clovis Unified School District has invested $14 million in operating costs for the Five Mile Regional Learning Center. The district has already committed to investing $5 million over 5 years for renovations, in addition to the district's $1.2 million of annual contributions spent on routine maintenance and operating costs.

Companion legislation introduced by Rep. George Radanovich (R-Calif.) was unanimously approved by the House on July 22^nd. The legislation will now go to the President for his signature.