Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Required Action: Deadline for Working Days Calendars is June 12
A May 11th Connection article highlighted how to enter your working days calendars electronically but did not include a due date for the calendars. The working days calendars are due before you leave for the summer or June 12, whichever comes first. Any questions about CalendarOnline should be sent to Rod Howell at rhowell@aea11.k12.ia.us.
Required Action: Request for Staff Members to Continue to Input Data into SSLog
Thank you to everyone who is diligently keeping up with their entries into SSLog. Preparations are being made to pull data from SSLog for district service reports in the next month or two. As the data were reviewed, it was noted that there are some staff members who have logged little or no data in SSLog. This is not surprising for some work groups, who do most of their work with individual students. Others who have logged little or no time stand out compared to others in the same work group, raising the question whether everyone is logging appropriately.
If you have put off logging, please catch up before you finish this contract year. If you are uncertain about what should or shouldn’t be logged, please discuss this with your supervisor or program assistant. We want to represent the work we do with schools as accurately as possible in our reports to our schools. In addition, next year Heartland will undergo an accreditation review. The information from SSLog will be used as a part of the reporting put together for the visit. It will be unfortunate if the unlogged data causes us to misrepresent our services.
The e-mail reminder system will be suspended during the summer break. Staff members who continue to work and have loggable activities during the summer are encouraged to keep logging throughout the summer months. The reminders will begin again in August. If you have questions, please contact Connor Hood.
If you have put off logging, please catch up before you finish this contract year. If you are uncertain about what should or shouldn’t be logged, please discuss this with your supervisor or program assistant. We want to represent the work we do with schools as accurately as possible in our reports to our schools. In addition, next year Heartland will undergo an accreditation review. The information from SSLog will be used as a part of the reporting put together for the visit. It will be unfortunate if the unlogged data causes us to misrepresent our services.
The e-mail reminder system will be suspended during the summer break. Staff members who continue to work and have loggable activities during the summer are encouraged to keep logging throughout the summer months. The reminders will begin again in August. If you have questions, please contact Connor Hood.
Update on Usage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Monies
Definitions:
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA): Federal bill that provides stimulus money to local education agencies and the area education agencies.
Heartland ARRA Committee: A committee that reflects all agency workgroups to give and review suggestions for the ARRA monies.
District Services Council (DSC): The council provides direction and guidance for implementation of policy within programs and services in teaching and learning. They make decisions within the scope of their responsibility and makes recommendations to Executive Council.
Operations Support Council (OSC): The council provides direction and guidance for implementation of policy in all agency operations such as human resources, budget and finance, technology, and facilities. They make decisions within the scope of their responsibility and make recommendations to Executive Council.
In the last few weeks, the ARRA committee has met three times to review possibilities for use of stimulus monies that have been brought forward by the DSC, OSC, Staff Advisory Council and Partnership Director Council as well as individual ideas sent in to the Executive Council.
Recently, Laura Gillon and several partnership directors listened to feedback from several discipline workgroups. It is apparent that caseloads/workloads are of great concern for staff. We have added those concerns into the discussion for use of the stimulus monies.
In addition, Heartland has been asked by the Department of Education, who received no money from the ARRA, to provide monies to a pool to address some statewide issues. One of these is the statewide coordinator of the Iowa Core Curriculum that is reflected in the budget documents reported in this issue of The Connection. Also, the Joint Directors of all the Area Education Agencies are looking to pool monies to address other statewide issues. These decisions are being made outside of Heartland and not by the ARRA Committee. The Agency has also been approached by some districts about working with them in certain areas.
Dr. Kilcrease has indicated that we need to take our time so that we make the right decisions. We want to use the monies so that we can affect student achievement and be in a better place or build capacity after the monies are gone. This is best done by reviewing staff members’ thoughts thoroughly and being transparent in how decisions are made.
As new information and decisions around these monies occur, we will share it with staff, so continue to check your e-mail for these updates.
Please continue to share your thoughts and concerns with your partnership director or supervisor or you can send them to Maxine Kilcrease at mkilcrease@aea11.k12.ia.us, Laura Gillon at lgillon@aea11.k12.ia.us or Steve Prall at sprall@aea11.k12.ia.us.
Committee Member Rosters
ARRA Committee:
Grace Bargstadt – Partnership Directors
Terry Mendell – Parent Educator Coordinators
Dustin Gean – Facilities
Dave King – Finance
Chris Pierson – Human Resources
Randy Allison – Special Education
Sharon Kurns – Professional Development
Kristi Upah – Agency-wide Discipline Groups
Dave Tilly – Assessment
Cindy Yelick – Teaching and Learning
Arletta Dawson – Internal Technology
Rhonda Balch – Program Assistants
Sheila King – District Services
Mariann Culver – Assessment
Misty Christensen – Special Education Program Assistants
Brenda Gustafson – Communications
Terri Barnes – Executive Assistant
Jenny Ugolini – Board Secretary
Cindi Ballard – Regional Secretaries
Wendy Robinson – Learning Development and Support
DSC members:
Laura Gillon, Chief of Staff
Sharon Kurns, Director of Professional Leadership and Learning
Dave Tilly, Director of Innovation and Accountability
Sheila King, Director of District Services
Randy Allison, Director of Special Education
Cindy Yelick, Director of Teaching and Learning
OSC members:
Steve Prall, Chief of Operations
Arletta Dawson, Director of Technology
Chris Pierson, Director of Human Resources
Dave King, Director of Finance and Business Services
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA): Federal bill that provides stimulus money to local education agencies and the area education agencies.
Heartland ARRA Committee: A committee that reflects all agency workgroups to give and review suggestions for the ARRA monies.
District Services Council (DSC): The council provides direction and guidance for implementation of policy within programs and services in teaching and learning. They make decisions within the scope of their responsibility and makes recommendations to Executive Council.
Operations Support Council (OSC): The council provides direction and guidance for implementation of policy in all agency operations such as human resources, budget and finance, technology, and facilities. They make decisions within the scope of their responsibility and make recommendations to Executive Council.
In the last few weeks, the ARRA committee has met three times to review possibilities for use of stimulus monies that have been brought forward by the DSC, OSC, Staff Advisory Council and Partnership Director Council as well as individual ideas sent in to the Executive Council.
Recently, Laura Gillon and several partnership directors listened to feedback from several discipline workgroups. It is apparent that caseloads/workloads are of great concern for staff. We have added those concerns into the discussion for use of the stimulus monies.
In addition, Heartland has been asked by the Department of Education, who received no money from the ARRA, to provide monies to a pool to address some statewide issues. One of these is the statewide coordinator of the Iowa Core Curriculum that is reflected in the budget documents reported in this issue of The Connection. Also, the Joint Directors of all the Area Education Agencies are looking to pool monies to address other statewide issues. These decisions are being made outside of Heartland and not by the ARRA Committee. The Agency has also been approached by some districts about working with them in certain areas.
Dr. Kilcrease has indicated that we need to take our time so that we make the right decisions. We want to use the monies so that we can affect student achievement and be in a better place or build capacity after the monies are gone. This is best done by reviewing staff members’ thoughts thoroughly and being transparent in how decisions are made.
As new information and decisions around these monies occur, we will share it with staff, so continue to check your e-mail for these updates.
Please continue to share your thoughts and concerns with your partnership director or supervisor or you can send them to Maxine Kilcrease at mkilcrease@aea11.k12.ia.us, Laura Gillon at lgillon@aea11.k12.ia.us or Steve Prall at sprall@aea11.k12.ia.us.
Committee Member Rosters
ARRA Committee:
Grace Bargstadt – Partnership Directors
Terry Mendell – Parent Educator Coordinators
Dustin Gean – Facilities
Dave King – Finance
Chris Pierson – Human Resources
Randy Allison – Special Education
Sharon Kurns – Professional Development
Kristi Upah – Agency-wide Discipline Groups
Dave Tilly – Assessment
Cindy Yelick – Teaching and Learning
Arletta Dawson – Internal Technology
Rhonda Balch – Program Assistants
Sheila King – District Services
Mariann Culver – Assessment
Misty Christensen – Special Education Program Assistants
Brenda Gustafson – Communications
Terri Barnes – Executive Assistant
Jenny Ugolini – Board Secretary
Cindi Ballard – Regional Secretaries
Wendy Robinson – Learning Development and Support
DSC members:
Laura Gillon, Chief of Staff
Sharon Kurns, Director of Professional Leadership and Learning
Dave Tilly, Director of Innovation and Accountability
Sheila King, Director of District Services
Randy Allison, Director of Special Education
Cindy Yelick, Director of Teaching and Learning
OSC members:
Steve Prall, Chief of Operations
Arletta Dawson, Director of Technology
Chris Pierson, Director of Human Resources
Dave King, Director of Finance and Business Services
Update on 2008-09 and 2009-2010 Budgets
As of Friday, Heartland still has not received its funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). We also have some other small details being discovered and interpreted from the last legislature so there may be additional tweaks to this document. You can find funding information that we do know about for 2008-09 budget year and 2009-10 budget year by clicking here.
We also have an estimate of our ARRA funds for 2009-2011. Click here for the funding chart. This chart also could change as we learn more about the funds. Please note that these funds are for two years. A couple other facts that need to be recognized is that the Department of Education is receiving no stimulus funds and the AEAs are not receiving stabilization funds.
There will be a couple of other grants that we may pursue including Race to the Top and Innovation Funds. They are not included in these documents.
Below are a few questions and answers that may result from reading these documents. If you have other questions, please send them to that Heartland Communications Department at comms@aea11.k12.ia.us.
What do the different fund designations mean?
Part B funds refer to special education monies.
Part 619 funds refer to Preschool (3-5 year olds).
Part C funds refer to Birth to 3.
Why are we funding an Iowa Core Curriculum Statewide Coordinator?
As we noted above, the Department of Education is receiving no stimulus funds. The Department worked with the AEA system to make this position available. The AEAs had major input in the job description as well as the interviewing process. The system will have oversight as well. This line item denotes Heartland’s portion of that position for two years.
What are contingency funds?
They are funds being reserved to help cover anything that crops up. There are still plenty of projects that are being discussed with the state, the AEA system and the LEAs that may require additional ARRA funds that we are not aware of or there may be projects that prove more costly than anticipated.
Why do the Des Moines Public Schools receive part of our funds?
We have a separate contract with Des Moines. The amount of money that goes to Des Moines is based on a specific formula.
What is maintenance of effort (MOE)?
It is a requirement contained in our legislation, regulations or administrative policies that Heartland must maintain a specified level of financial effort in the area for which federal funds will be provided in order to receive federal grant funds. It also can be used for general education needs. We are allowed up to 50% of the monies we receive to go against our level of financial effort.
What is the Part B deficit from?
It comes from hiring staff to provide services to our special needs students. This includes staff salaries and benefits. The projection is $825,000 for this year. We will use $400,000 of the ARRA funds to reduce that hole. This will help us soften the landing for the anticipated funding cliff in the future when these funds go away.
We also have an estimate of our ARRA funds for 2009-2011. Click here for the funding chart. This chart also could change as we learn more about the funds. Please note that these funds are for two years. A couple other facts that need to be recognized is that the Department of Education is receiving no stimulus funds and the AEAs are not receiving stabilization funds.
There will be a couple of other grants that we may pursue including Race to the Top and Innovation Funds. They are not included in these documents.
Below are a few questions and answers that may result from reading these documents. If you have other questions, please send them to that Heartland Communications Department at comms@aea11.k12.ia.us.
What do the different fund designations mean?
Part B funds refer to special education monies.
Part 619 funds refer to Preschool (3-5 year olds).
Part C funds refer to Birth to 3.
Why are we funding an Iowa Core Curriculum Statewide Coordinator?
As we noted above, the Department of Education is receiving no stimulus funds. The Department worked with the AEA system to make this position available. The AEAs had major input in the job description as well as the interviewing process. The system will have oversight as well. This line item denotes Heartland’s portion of that position for two years.
What are contingency funds?
They are funds being reserved to help cover anything that crops up. There are still plenty of projects that are being discussed with the state, the AEA system and the LEAs that may require additional ARRA funds that we are not aware of or there may be projects that prove more costly than anticipated.
Why do the Des Moines Public Schools receive part of our funds?
We have a separate contract with Des Moines. The amount of money that goes to Des Moines is based on a specific formula.
What is maintenance of effort (MOE)?
It is a requirement contained in our legislation, regulations or administrative policies that Heartland must maintain a specified level of financial effort in the area for which federal funds will be provided in order to receive federal grant funds. It also can be used for general education needs. We are allowed up to 50% of the monies we receive to go against our level of financial effort.
What is the Part B deficit from?
It comes from hiring staff to provide services to our special needs students. This includes staff salaries and benefits. The projection is $825,000 for this year. We will use $400,000 of the ARRA funds to reduce that hole. This will help us soften the landing for the anticipated funding cliff in the future when these funds go away.
Meeting Room Changes in the 6500 Building
Changes are again coming to the 6500 Johnston office building! The old print shop has been renovated into a meeting room and other smaller meetings rooms have been combined to create larger meeting facilities.
Changes that will be effective on June 1 include:
• Rooms 11 & 12 (former offices of Chris Pierson & Laura Gillon) – will be Room 11
• Room 13 (former office of Dave King) – will be Room 12
• Room 14 (former Business Office) – will be Room 13
• Rooms 16, 17 & 18 (former offices of Arletta Dawson, Cindy Yelick & Sheila King) – will be Room 14
• Room 19 (former office of Sharon Kurns) – will be Room 15
• Learning Center – will remain the Learning Center on the Room Scheduler and will also be known as Room 17
• Former Print Shop – will be Room 18
Click here for a map of the new meeting room configuration.
All meetings will be adjusted automatically—there is no need to change any meetings already scheduled. The Kerio Calendars will also be updated to reflect the changes in the numbering of the meeting rooms. In order to update these new room assignments, the Resource Scheduler database will be unavailable on the afternoon of May 29. Please contact Anita Davids if you have any questions about these new room assignments and configurations.
Changes that will be effective on June 1 include:
• Rooms 11 & 12 (former offices of Chris Pierson & Laura Gillon) – will be Room 11
• Room 13 (former office of Dave King) – will be Room 12
• Room 14 (former Business Office) – will be Room 13
• Rooms 16, 17 & 18 (former offices of Arletta Dawson, Cindy Yelick & Sheila King) – will be Room 14
• Room 19 (former office of Sharon Kurns) – will be Room 15
• Learning Center – will remain the Learning Center on the Room Scheduler and will also be known as Room 17
• Former Print Shop – will be Room 18
Click here for a map of the new meeting room configuration.
All meetings will be adjusted automatically—there is no need to change any meetings already scheduled. The Kerio Calendars will also be updated to reflect the changes in the numbering of the meeting rooms. In order to update these new room assignments, the Resource Scheduler database will be unavailable on the afternoon of May 29. Please contact Anita Davids if you have any questions about these new room assignments and configurations.
Date Changes for 2009-2010 Office Meetings
Due to feedback about office meeting dates for next year, a few of the dates have been changed. The Central Office will now have its meetings on a separate date to allow Central Office staff to present or support the Regional Office and Professional Development meetings. Please update your calendar for next year.
Regional Meeting Dates:
August 10-11
September 17
November 20
January 26
April 29
Johnston Central Office Meeting Dates:
September 21 – 8:30-11:30 a.m.
November 23 – 8:30-11:30 a.m.
January 29 – 8:30-11:30 a.m.
April 30 – 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Regional Meeting Dates:
August 10-11
September 17
November 20
January 26
April 29
Johnston Central Office Meeting Dates:
September 21 – 8:30-11:30 a.m.
November 23 – 8:30-11:30 a.m.
January 29 – 8:30-11:30 a.m.
April 30 – 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Cyber Summit on 21st Century Skills
Be heard and take part in advancing education across our nation at The Cyber Summit on 21st Century Skills, June 1-12, 2009.
Raise your voice and help advance education across our nation. The Cyber Summit on 21st Century Skills is an important, nation-wide online event where educators, administrators, business people, policy makers and parents—anyone who desires to have a voice in the future of education in our country—can learn and be heard as we work together to advance the 21st Century Skills Movement.
* Engage in a nation-wide discussion to formulate recommendations for education practices and policies.
* Lend your voice to help forward the 21st Century Skills Movement.
* PARTICIPATE FOR FREE in a unique nation-wide, online event.
This online event is being held in conjunction with the National Summit on 21st Century Skills in Washington, D.C. on June 12. Your participation will make a difference. All the information and input gathered through each of these events will be used to create and refine documents and reference materials that will then be shared with you—the people who helped shape them—as well as our leadership in Washington, D.C. and the entire nation. You can register at http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/cybersummit.
Raise your voice and help advance education across our nation. The Cyber Summit on 21st Century Skills is an important, nation-wide online event where educators, administrators, business people, policy makers and parents—anyone who desires to have a voice in the future of education in our country—can learn and be heard as we work together to advance the 21st Century Skills Movement.
* Engage in a nation-wide discussion to formulate recommendations for education practices and policies.
* Lend your voice to help forward the 21st Century Skills Movement.
* PARTICIPATE FOR FREE in a unique nation-wide, online event.
This online event is being held in conjunction with the National Summit on 21st Century Skills in Washington, D.C. on June 12. Your participation will make a difference. All the information and input gathered through each of these events will be used to create and refine documents and reference materials that will then be shared with you—the people who helped shape them—as well as our leadership in Washington, D.C. and the entire nation. You can register at http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/cybersummit.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)