State Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Dedicates Trees
of CDE to California Students, Joins in Planting
of New Tree Next to Sacramento Headquarters
SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today dedicated the 30 trees that encircle the California Department of Education to the state's students and their continued growth.
"Trees provide us with many benefits: shade and beauty, food, places to play and hide," O'Connell said. "They also serve as a reminder that over time tiny saplings can grow into something larger and bountiful with nourishment and care. I therefore dedicate these noble and lofty trees that surround our building in celebration of California's students, our most precious treasure."O'Connell also helped plant a new tree, a Chinese Pistache supplied by the City of Sacramento, in front of CDE to replace an American Elm that was removed in June after it was discovered it was infected with the Dutch Elm Disease fungus.
Helping to plant the new tree was Ray Tretheway, executive director of the Sacramento Tree Foundation; Darrell Stewart, education manager for Intel Corp. in California; and first grade students from David Lubin Elementary School in Sacramento.
For more information on the Chinese Pistache, please visit the Sacramento Tree Foundation Web page: Chinese Pistache - Sacramento Tree Foundation (Outside Source).