Clarification About Benefits Enrollment for Those Leaving Heartland Employment

Questions have arisen about which employees need to participate in the online benefit enrollment if they do not plan on renewing their contracts with Heartland for the 2010-2011 year.

Employees who have a 210- or 225-day contract, and who plan on terminating their employment with the Agency, should not complete the benefits enrollment in April. Your benefits will cease June 30, 2010.

Employees who have a 192-day contract, and who are terminating employment at the end of their current plan year, should complete the benefits enrollment in April. You are on an August contract, and your benefits run through August 31. For this reason, we need your health and dental benefit choices for the summer months. You may NOT participate in vision insurance or the flex spending account, so please waive those benefits.

Those leaving agency employment who have a 96-day contract should complete online enrollment by waiving your participation in the medical flex spending and vision insurance.

All other full-time employees who are terminating employment should contact Kathy Martin in the benefits office at kmartin@aea11.k12.ia.us regarding online enrollment and the end date of your insurance benefits.

April 2010 Board of Directors Meeting Agenda

Click here to download the agenda for the April 2010 Heartland Board of Directors meeting. Note that the Board will first hold its annual joint meeting with the DMACC Board of Directors, which will be held at the DMACC Newton campus. The regular Heartland board meeting will then follow, also at the Newton campus.

April 2010 Iowa Department of Education School Leader Update

Click here to download the April 2010 School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education.

Information About Senior Year Plus Proficiency Requirement for Career and Technical Education Courses

Click here for a memo about senior year plus proficiency requirements for career and technical education courses.

Microsoft Office 2010 Upgrade Offer (for personal use)

Students, school employees and Heartland employees who purchase a qualifying Office 2007 product between March 5 and September 30 can upgrade to Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010 for a nominal fee. The software must be purchased through the Iowa Educators Consortium (IEC) agreement with JourneyEd at http://www.journeyed.com/select. Individuals will be able to use their existing license of Office 2007 to upgrade for the additional price of $9.98 for ESD, $14.98 for physical media.

When Office 2010 is available for upgrade, all qualifying purchasers will be notified via e-mail by JourneyEd. JourneyEd will also notify the schools. At that time, additional detailed instructions will be provided as to how to redeem the upgrade. Why the offer? Microsoft would like to enable graduating students to acquire the rights to their latest version of Office at a special price while they are still eligible.

AEA Legislative Report

Click here for an end of session legislative report by Wayne Haddy, AEA Government Relations Specialist.