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<br />Councilmember LeTourneauintroduced the following resolution and moved for its adoption: <br /> <br />RESOLUTION #14-04-071 <br /> <br /> <br />RESOLUTION IN RECOGNITION OF EDUCATIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF DENNIS <br />CARLSON, RETIRING SUPERINTENDENT OF ANOKA-HENNEPIN SCHOOL <br />DISTRICT #11 <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, <br /> Dennis Carlson began his career with the Anoka-Hennepin School District <br />as Community Education Director in 1986. He held the position until being named Assistant <br />Superintendent and Director of District Services in 2003. He retired from the school district in <br />2008; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, <br /> Dennis Carlson was named Superintendent of Anoka-Hennepin School <br />District July 1, 2009; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, <br /> during his tenure as superintendent, Dennis Carlson: <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Provided leadership for development of a four-year plan of "strategic investments" <br />designed to expand student opportunities and close the achievement gap; <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Provided leadership for dramatic reduction of the achievement gap that brought recognition <br />from MinnCAN (Minnesota Campaign for Achievement Now); <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Provided leadership for development of a comprehensive program to meet mental health <br />needs of students through on-site therapists; <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Provided leadership for development of program for addressing bullying and harassment <br />that has become a model for other districts; <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Provided leadership for development of Telepresence Immersion audio/video conference <br />tool in all district high schools and the district office, allowing a single teacher to <br />simultaneously teach students in all schools and making low enrollment advanced courses, <br />such as AP German V cost-effective; <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Provided leadership for development of the Anoka-Hennepin School, Faith, and <br />Community Partnership that has grown to involve more than 50 faith communities in <br />helping to meet the basic needs of students and their families for food, clothing and more; <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Guided the renewal of the largest operating levy in Minnesota history, $48 million in 2011, <br />and simultaneously passed a 10-year technology levy; <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Involved the community extensively in solving the issue of declining enrollment while <br />redrawing attendance boundaries and closing schools. An independent poll conducted the <br />following year showed 83% of community respondents supported the decision to realign <br />and close schools. The decision saved operating dollars to invest in educational programs <br />and helped balance the budget. <br /> <br />