Meetings for regional office staff will be held on November 20 from 8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and for the Johnston Teaching & Learning staff on November 23 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. There will be no Operations staff meeting in November.
Meeting Locations
Regions 1 & 2, Annunciation Parish Hall, Coon Rapids
Regions 3 & 4, Grace Lutheran Church, Adel
Regions 5 & 7, Ames AEA Office
Region 6, Best Western, Ames
Region 8, Woodside AEA Office
Regions 9 & 10, Johnston AEA Office, Rooms 3 & 4, ICN Room
Region 11, Indianola AEA Office
Regions 12 & 14, Third Reformed Church, Pella
Region 13, Lutheran Church of the Cross, Altoona
Johnston Teaching & Learning Staff, Johnston AEA Office, Learning Center
Monday, November 9, 2009
Winter is Approaching…Be Ready for Inclement Weather
As winter approaches, we’re all reminded that inclement weather is around the corner. If winter weather forces the closing of any Heartland offices, please stay tuned to the following TV and radio stations for closing information. While we strive to have the information communicated via the media be as accurate as possible, there have been instances in the past when the information was inaccurate. If you have any questions about closings, always check the Heartland Web site for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
TV
KCCI Channel 8
WOI Channel 5
WHO Channel 13 (posted on www.whotv.com)
Radio
1040 WHO
95 KGGO
97.3 The Hawk
92.5 KJJY
TV
KCCI Channel 8
WOI Channel 5
WHO Channel 13 (posted on www.whotv.com)
Radio
1040 WHO
95 KGGO
97.3 The Hawk
92.5 KJJY
Be Familiar With the Inclement Weather Policy
In keeping with thoughts about winter weather, staff members need to familiarize themselves with the Agency’s Inclement Weather policy. The policy is available on the Intranet under the Human Resources tab, in the Staff Handbook (also available on the Intranet) or you can click here to download it. This policy contains decision-making guides for staff members to use during inclement weather. The guide describes your options when snow or other inclement weather impedes your ability to get to and from work or when your work site is closed. The policy provides guidance for all Heartland staff members.
2010 Dependent Care Flex Benefit Enrollment Forms Due Nov. 24
Under Section 125, employees may deduct out-of-pocket dependent care expenses from their paychecks on a pre-tax basis. The dependent care benefit allows you to pre-tax child, spouse or elder care expenses that you incur in order to allow you (and your spouse, if married) to work. If married, both spouses must be working in order to claim dependent care expenses. A dependent is defined as:
• A dependent of the employee who is under 13 years of age
• A dependent or spouse who is physically or mentally disabled
Heartland’s dependent care flex benefit year runs from January 1 – December 31. Anyone interested in participating for 2010 should complete the dependent care enrollment form and return it to Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, by Tuesday, November 24. Click here to download the form.
Things to keep in mind about dependent care:
• The maximum amount you may flex per calendar year is $5,000.
• Claims will be processed by Kabel Business Services within 48 hours of receipt.
• You may be reimbursed for dependent care expenses only after the expense has been incurred and the amount you are requesting has been deducted from your paycheck.
• A change of election is allowed when changes occur in cost or coverage. To do this, a Change of Election form (available on the Intranet) must be completed within 30 days of the allowed change.
• Expenses that may be run through a dependent care flex plan include day care, before or after school care, day camp (but not summer school), pre-school or nursery expenses.
• Sitters can be grandparents or other relatives (not dependents), friends or neighbors. They will be required to report all monies received under their social security or federal ID number.
• When completing your enrollment form, the total amount must be equally divisible by 24 pay periods.
• There is only one fee charged to participate in the flex benefit plan. If you participate in medical flex spending, there will be no additional fee to participate in dependent care. Fees are $2.50 per pay period.
If you have any questions, contact Kabel Business Services at (515) 224-9400 or (800) 300-9691 or Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at ext. 14385 or kmartin@aea11.k12.ia.us.
• A dependent of the employee who is under 13 years of age
• A dependent or spouse who is physically or mentally disabled
Heartland’s dependent care flex benefit year runs from January 1 – December 31. Anyone interested in participating for 2010 should complete the dependent care enrollment form and return it to Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, by Tuesday, November 24. Click here to download the form.
Things to keep in mind about dependent care:
• The maximum amount you may flex per calendar year is $5,000.
• Claims will be processed by Kabel Business Services within 48 hours of receipt.
• You may be reimbursed for dependent care expenses only after the expense has been incurred and the amount you are requesting has been deducted from your paycheck.
• A change of election is allowed when changes occur in cost or coverage. To do this, a Change of Election form (available on the Intranet) must be completed within 30 days of the allowed change.
• Expenses that may be run through a dependent care flex plan include day care, before or after school care, day camp (but not summer school), pre-school or nursery expenses.
• Sitters can be grandparents or other relatives (not dependents), friends or neighbors. They will be required to report all monies received under their social security or federal ID number.
• When completing your enrollment form, the total amount must be equally divisible by 24 pay periods.
• There is only one fee charged to participate in the flex benefit plan. If you participate in medical flex spending, there will be no additional fee to participate in dependent care. Fees are $2.50 per pay period.
If you have any questions, contact Kabel Business Services at (515) 224-9400 or (800) 300-9691 or Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at ext. 14385 or kmartin@aea11.k12.ia.us.
2009-2010 Heartland Directory Now Available
Click here to download the 2009-2010 Heartland directory. It was indicated last year that the Agency would no longer print bound copies of the directory and that is the case this year. Copies of the directory can be made, but staff members are encouraged to download the directory to their computers and access it electronically. It will also be available on the Intranet under the Critical Communication tab and on our Web site for schools to access. Remember, you can always find the most up-to-date staff information on our PeopleBox database. Thanks for your patience as we completed this year’s directory.
Printing Procedures Update
Paper ordering for Heartland offices is now available through WebCRD at: http://printshop.aea11.k12.ia.us under Shared Files. Paper supplies have been removed from the 4D application for ordering supplies online.
Tiffany Wingert (ext. 14002) and Julie Sypersma (ext. 14676) are the WebCRD administrators and may be contacted if you have questions or need support for anything related to WebCRD.
All printing requests that require work by the graphic artists must now be requested through either WebCRD (under Printing Options, select the “Other” tab check the “Graphic Artist Required” box) or by filling out a Production Request form and sending it to graphics@aea11.k12.ia.us. Please include a contact name, phone number and an account number when summiting a request or it will be returned. The Production Request form is available electronically and can be downloaded by logging onto the Employee Dashboard and selecting the Intranet tab. The Critical Communication section has a link to Communication Assets where agency forms can be found. Click once on “Production Request Form” to download it. Hard copies of the Production Request form will still be accepted as well.
Tiffany Wingert (ext. 14002) and Julie Sypersma (ext. 14676) are the WebCRD administrators and may be contacted if you have questions or need support for anything related to WebCRD.
All printing requests that require work by the graphic artists must now be requested through either WebCRD (under Printing Options, select the “Other” tab check the “Graphic Artist Required” box) or by filling out a Production Request form and sending it to graphics@aea11.k12.ia.us. Please include a contact name, phone number and an account number when summiting a request or it will be returned. The Production Request form is available electronically and can be downloaded by logging onto the Employee Dashboard and selecting the Intranet tab. The Critical Communication section has a link to Communication Assets where agency forms can be found. Click once on “Production Request Form” to download it. Hard copies of the Production Request form will still be accepted as well.
November 2009 Board of Directors Meeting Agenda
Click here to download the agenda for the November 10, 2009 Heartland Board of Directors meeting.
News from the Heartland AEA Iowa Core Curriculum Team
Registration information for Day Two and Day Three Leadership Training is now posted on the Heartland AEA Web site. On the right side of the homepage, click on Heartland’s Iowa Core link. Scroll to the bottom of that page and click on Registration Flyer for Day Two and Day Three. Registration is a must to ensure space and materials for each participant. Each session requires its own registration.
Other news: The PowerPoint presentation from October’s training is available on the Core Curriculum Web page under Year Two Resources by Topic. The team has addressed over 100 questions in a question and answer document that can also be found on the Core Curriculum page.
For questions or further information, contact Linda Biermann Hoobin, Teaching and Learning Consultant for the Iowa Core Curriculum, at ext. 14327 or lhoobin@aea11.k12.ia.us.
Other news: The PowerPoint presentation from October’s training is available on the Core Curriculum Web page under Year Two Resources by Topic. The team has addressed over 100 questions in a question and answer document that can also be found on the Core Curriculum page.
For questions or further information, contact Linda Biermann Hoobin, Teaching and Learning Consultant for the Iowa Core Curriculum, at ext. 14327 or lhoobin@aea11.k12.ia.us.
Learning Team Update
We want to remind you to vote for the best learning team name if you haven’t yet done so! Go to the link below to vote. Winners by region and overall will be announced at the November office meetings. Vote now!
http://tp2.aea11.k12.ia.us/019/learning_team_names.tp4
http://tp2.aea11.k12.ia.us/019/learning_team_names.tp4
Dropout Prevention Lunch & Learn Nov. 11
Reminder that a Dropout Prevention Cultural Competence Lunch & Learn will be held on November 11 from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. in Conference Rooms 3 & 4 in the Johnston Regional Education Center. Register using Activity Number IN009392111003. Hope to see you there!
Results of 2009 United Way Campaign
We are pleased to announce that Heartland staff members contributed $6,225 to this year’s United Way campaign! Your generosity is much appreciated by the agencies that receive United Way funds. Staff receipts and casual day stickers will be sent this week to regional secretaries who will hand them out at the next regional office meetings.
For those of you who submitted a pledge card, your receipt is your pledge card. If you did not save a copy, please contact Claire Spellman at cspellman@aea11.k12.ia.us, and she will send you one. Thank you to everyone who supported the United Way!
For those of you who submitted a pledge card, your receipt is your pledge card. If you did not save a copy, please contact Claire Spellman at cspellman@aea11.k12.ia.us, and she will send you one. Thank you to everyone who supported the United Way!
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