Central ND News

The Mandan Public School District announced that Custer Elementary 5th graders marked Arbor Day with the North Dakota Forest Service and Mandan city officials.

According to the Mandan Public School District, fifth graders at Custer Elementary participated in Arbor Day activities on May 2. North Dakota Forest Service Outreach and Education Manager Beth Hill discussed tree growth, while Grounds Maintenance Superintendent Jason Herman read a proclamation from Mayor Jim Froelich designating the day as Arbor Day in Mandan. The event concluded with the planting of a Greenspire Linden tree.

Mandan has been recognized as a Tree City USA for 49 years. According to the Mandan city government, the city annually plants a tree at a local school to mark Arbor Day, meeting four urban forestry management standards: maintaining a tree board, having a tree ordinance, investing in forestry, and celebrating Arbor Day.

The North Dakota Forest Service is part of North Dakota State University (NDSU) and overseen by a State Forester. It has operated under the state’s higher education system for over a century. The agency manages programs in community forestry, fire management, forest health, and outreach. It also administers the Champion Tree Program and oversees the Trees Awards for significant forestry contributions. Additionally, it collaborates with the North Dakota Forestry Advisory Council on the state’s Forest Action Plan.

Custer Elementary School is located at 205 8th Avenue NE in Mandan, North Dakota. It is a public institution serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade within the Mandan Public School District. With an enrollment of approximately 133 students and a student-teacher ratio of 10:1, Custer emphasizes personalized education. The school operates as a Title I school providing supplemental instruction in reading, writing, and math through both in-class and pullout methods. The school actively promotes parental involvement by offering opportunities for parents to engage in various volunteer roles and participate in the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO), which supports fundraising and school events.

The mission of Mandan Public School District is to provide students with rigorous and personalized learning experiences while helping them develop social and emotional skills for success. The district's School Board consists of nine members who serve as the policy-making body for the district with authority only during formally called meetings. According to the district, the Board sets policies, approves budgets, establishes goals, manages property, and links the district with the public.