1.1A Senate resolution
1.2commending Ric Dressen for his many years of dedicated service to the
1.3education profession.
1.4WHEREAS, Ric Dressen has been superintendent of Edina Public Schools since July 2006,
1.5and previously served as superintendent of Alexandria Public Schools and Waconia Public Schools;
1.6and
1.7WHEREAS, in addition to his 25 years of superintendent's service, Ric also served as a
1.8principal for 11 years at St. Joseph Laboratory School, Brooklyn Center, and Waconia; and
1.9WHEREAS, in 2003-2004, he chaired the Minnesota Education Finance Reform Task Force,
1.10and in 2004-2005, he was president of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators; and
1.11WHEREAS, he is currently on the Board of Governors for the University of St. Thomas
1.12School of Engineering, the Fairview Southdale Hospital Board of Directors, the Edina Chamber
1.13of Commerce Board of Directors, an Edina Morningside Rotary member, a chairperson for the
1.14nonprofit Superintendency Institute, an adjunct professor at St. Mary's University of Minnesota,
1.15and a member of the MDE Commissioner's working group on school funding; and
1.16WHEREAS, he received the Regional Administrator of Excellence Award from the Minnesota
1.17Association of School Administrators in 2003, the Polaris Leadership Award from the Minnesota
1.18Association of School Administrators in 2013, and the Key to the City of Edina in 2017; and
1.19WHEREAS, under Ric's leadership in Edina, his successes have included advanced national
1.20awards and honors for his district, advanced strategic initiatives to provide more options and
1.21opportunities for all learners, and expanded partnerships with 21st Century Benchmark Consortium,
1.22Best Buy, Hopkins School District, and the City of Edina; and
1.23WHEREAS, also during Ric's time in Edina, funding levies and referendums were passed
1.24in 2007, 2011, and 2015, and major construction projects to improve and expand school facilities
1.25were approved for 2004-2006 and 2015-2018; and
1.26WHEREAS, Ric has recently decided to retire, and a ceremony will be held for him on May
1.273, 2017; and
1.28NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that it
1.29commends Ric Dressen for his many years of dedication and commitment.
1.30BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare a
1.31copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by the Secretary's signature and that of the Chair of the
1.32Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and transmit it to Ric Dressen.

Cal R. LudemanSecretary of the Senate

Paul E. GazelkaChair, Senate Committee onRules and Administration

Melisa FranzenState Senator, District 49