Regional Education Centers (RECs) Update

With the approval of the Heartland AEA Board of Directors, the Agency is actively planning for the development of five Regional Education Centers (RECs). RECs support the Agency’s transformation to provide services in the regions, close to those served by Heartland, as well as to increase the proportion of agency space dedicated to teaching and learning. Each regional center will reflect the unique needs and characteristics of the area served.

Phase I
The Phase I Regional Education Center (REC) Planning Committee, which represented multiple stakeholders, developed a recommendation for the design and programming of all regional education centers. This effort was lead by Sheila King and Sharon Kurns. The work of the group considered current and future needs, the impact of agency initiatives, feedback from district staff, technology, options for partnerships, flexible spaces and file storage.

On March 1, 2009, the REC committee completed its report that included the following recommendations approved by Executive Council:

General Locations
• Johnston
• Adel
• Newton
• Ames
• West side of the Agency
• Possible location in Indianola

Professional Development Space
• 2 classrooms with 25-person capacity for each
• Small area for private conversations and/or collaboration
• Embedded technology in meeting spaces

Office and Storage Space
• Private office for leadership (partnership director)
• Workspace for support staff
• Workspace for program assistants, early childhood consultants, professional learning and leadership consultants, specialty teams, agency-wide consultants
• Hotel space for staff who spend more than 50% of their time in a school buildings
• Storage room(s)

Professional Resources/Materials
• Visual displays and rotating collections (study team materials)
• Computer (public access)
• Virtual resources (journals, research reports, videos, etc.)
• Virtual store
• High volume production items (Ellison letters)
• Small lamination equipment for staff

Other Considerations
• Daily van delivery
• Sound booth
• Kitchen area
• Central storage of inactive special education files
• Options for partnerships (e.g., libraries, district co-location opportunities)
• Standard technology/equipment in offices and/or classrooms (e.g., LCD projectors, polycom unit, document camera, etc.)

Staffing of REC
• Responsible for supporting the functions of the center including support of technology and maintaining security of the facility
• Open from 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily with availability of after school hours
• Usages should be monitored and adjusted as appropriate

Phase II
On March 30, 2009, Laura Gillon and Steve Prall were commissioned to jointly lead the REC committee into Phase II of the project that includes planning, design and implementation of the Johnston, Adel, and Newton RECs.

Timelines for completion of these sites:
• Newton - January 8, 2010
• Adel - January 8, 2010
• Johnston- June 30, 2010

Givens:
• Sub-committees, including stakeholder representation, will be established to accomplish this work.
• The planning and design should take into account current and future needs, impact of agency initiatives (e.g., Work at Home), budget and approved recommendations from Phase I planning.