SIDNEY – Just in time for National Arbor Day on April 29, the Sidney Tree Board introduced an educational opportunity at Thursday’s meeting for tree board members and community leaders to attend.

Tree Commission Academy (TCA) will teach the skills and knowledge necessary for responsible planning and management of Sidney’s trees through a series of four classes that may be taken consecutively at the same branch location or according an individual’s time restrains.

Prerequisite of candidates for admission into TCA must be either:

• A current member of a tree commission, tree board or other advisory board in Ohio

• A resident of a community being considered for appointment to a tree board or other advisory board

• A mayor, counsel member, trustee, or other elected official of a community in Ohio

• A manager, administrator, service director, trustee or public staff person, or other administrative employee of the community

• An individual receiving special dispensation from their regional urban forester

Upon completion of the sophomore class, students will receive an associates certificate, and after the senior class, a bachelors certificate is awarded.

Tree Board also presented a map of the city’s cyclical pruning areas, an Arbor Day bulletin and a reminder of the Arbor Day celebration next Friday morning at 9 a.m. at Sidney Middle School.

For information on Arbor Day visit arborday.org. For more information on TCA classes or about Ohio’s Urban Forestry Program, visit forestry.ohiodnr.gov/urban. The next Tree Board meeting is scheduled for June 16 at 4 p.m.