We’d like to again provide you with an update on the status of our agency facility in Johnston.
As you may recall, in January 2009 the Heartland Board of Directors passed a resolution allowing for improvements to be made to the Johnston 6500 Office (Johnston Regional Education Center). Those safety and health improvements included new carpeting, updated restrooms and a new heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system. Improvements were also to be made to the building to make services more accessible to clients and to align the building with the definitions of the new Regional Education Center model, including more space for professional development classes. Click here to see the proposed layout of the building.
This winter the Johnston REC Planning Committee submitted its layout recommendations to the REC Committee and Executive Council for approval. The recommendations were accepted and remodeling plans and specifications were presented for approval to the Board at its June 2010 meeting. At that meeting the Board requested that a study be done to determine the feasibility of installing a geothermal heating and cooling system at the Johnston REC instead of a new conventional system. A study was completed and presented at the July board meeting. The study results indicate that the geothermal system has significant cost savings over a 25-year life cycle than conventional heating and cooling systems. Unfortunately, the budget parameters of the 6500 capital project preclude the installation of a geothermal system during Phase I.
Taking into consideration the study findings, the Board approved a modification to the original Phase I plans and specifications to keep the building’s current boiler system, improve ductwork and a return air system to upgrade the existing HVAC system. These improvements will increase efficiency and comfort levels for staff until a geothermal system is installed during Phase II of remodeling.
The Board passed a resolution to move forward with Phase I of the remodeling project to improve safety and healthy concerns and enhance service delivery. The resolution calls for a tentative start date of Phase II remodeling to be in the summer of 2014 when safety and health concerns will be completed, the building layout will be further improved and a geothermal system will be a primary project.
The tentative start date for Phase I construction has been pushed back due to the time needed to complete the geothermal study. Construction is now slated to begin in October 2010 and be completed in February 2011. The budget for Phase I remodeling is still set at $1.5 million and will be funded through a lease purchase agreement.
Thank you for your patience as we’ve moved through the process to improve the Johnston REC. If you have any questions, please contact Steve Prall at ext. 14423 or spall@aea11.k12.ia.us.
Monday, July 19, 2010
July 2010 Board of Directors Meeting Recap
The Heartland Board of Directors held its regular monthly meeting on July 13, 2010.
Public Forum
No one was present to speak at the public forum.
Discussion Items
Johnston Regional Education Center Plans and Specifications
Ms. Sheila King and Mr. Steve Prall provided an update on the Johnston Regional Education Center (REC) plans and specifications. At the June Board meeting, the Board requested that a geothermal study be completed. FRK Architects completed the study and found that a geothermal system for the building would cost $1,197,600 with a payback period of 10 years. The estimated cost includes $67,900 worth of rebates. The cost of a new VAV system was estimated at $1,058,500 with $42,100 worth of rebates.
Mr. Prall recommended modifying the mechanical plan that was proposed at the June board meeting. The revised plan would keep the current boiler system, improve the ductwork and return air systems, upgrade the control system to gain efficiency and make modifications to capitalize on return investment when the Agency is ready for Phase II of the building’s remodel. It will also honor the work done by stakeholders in the last 18 months including the print shop relocation and installation of the chillers and sound booth.
Phase II construction would begin in the summer of 2014, allowing time for analysis of the Johnston REC usage and functions to make further renovations aligned to service delivery needs and infrastructure service life issues. It would also allow the incorporation of a geothermal system.
Newton Regional Education Center Update
Mr. Prall provided an update on the Newton Regional Education Center. Negotiations with the Newton Community School District have gone well, and he has had a chance to tour Emerson Hough Elementary School and talk with architects about layout and design. He also met with Newton school board members last week who were supportive of the Agency’s desire to lease a portion of the building. A lease agreement is currently being finalized and should be ready for approval at the August board meeting.
Board Policy 419 Disclosure of Wrongful Conduct/Whistleblower
Ms. Nola Bond provided a revised first version of Board Policy 419 Disclosure of Wrongful Conduct. The policy was updated based on recommendations from the June meeting to include language changes about who should be notified when there is a complaint. It also provides specific follow-up after an investigation has been conducted. Board members will have a second reading of the policy at the August meeting.
Chief Administrator Comments
Dr. Paula Vincent thanked the Board and staff members for the work in her transition to the Agency. She has been amazed by the preparation done to make her transition successful. She expressed her delight to be at Heartland and continues to learn more about the Agency.
Public Forum
No one was present to speak at the public forum.
Discussion Items
Johnston Regional Education Center Plans and Specifications
Ms. Sheila King and Mr. Steve Prall provided an update on the Johnston Regional Education Center (REC) plans and specifications. At the June Board meeting, the Board requested that a geothermal study be completed. FRK Architects completed the study and found that a geothermal system for the building would cost $1,197,600 with a payback period of 10 years. The estimated cost includes $67,900 worth of rebates. The cost of a new VAV system was estimated at $1,058,500 with $42,100 worth of rebates.
Mr. Prall recommended modifying the mechanical plan that was proposed at the June board meeting. The revised plan would keep the current boiler system, improve the ductwork and return air systems, upgrade the control system to gain efficiency and make modifications to capitalize on return investment when the Agency is ready for Phase II of the building’s remodel. It will also honor the work done by stakeholders in the last 18 months including the print shop relocation and installation of the chillers and sound booth.
Phase II construction would begin in the summer of 2014, allowing time for analysis of the Johnston REC usage and functions to make further renovations aligned to service delivery needs and infrastructure service life issues. It would also allow the incorporation of a geothermal system.
Newton Regional Education Center Update
Mr. Prall provided an update on the Newton Regional Education Center. Negotiations with the Newton Community School District have gone well, and he has had a chance to tour Emerson Hough Elementary School and talk with architects about layout and design. He also met with Newton school board members last week who were supportive of the Agency’s desire to lease a portion of the building. A lease agreement is currently being finalized and should be ready for approval at the August board meeting.
Board Policy 419 Disclosure of Wrongful Conduct/Whistleblower
Ms. Nola Bond provided a revised first version of Board Policy 419 Disclosure of Wrongful Conduct. The policy was updated based on recommendations from the June meeting to include language changes about who should be notified when there is a complaint. It also provides specific follow-up after an investigation has been conducted. Board members will have a second reading of the policy at the August meeting.
Chief Administrator Comments
Dr. Paula Vincent thanked the Board and staff members for the work in her transition to the Agency. She has been amazed by the preparation done to make her transition successful. She expressed her delight to be at Heartland and continues to learn more about the Agency.
Changes to Region 7 Partnership Director Coverage
Region 7 partnership director Steve Johns has chosen to take a position with the Des Moines Public Schools as the assistant principal/athletic director at North High School. This position will allow Steve to once again work directly with students, teachers and families. After carefully evaluating this vacancy, we have made the decision not to fill the position, and we have a plan to cover the Region 7 partnership director’s work for the 2010-2011 school year. Many factors were considered in this decision including enrollment trends, time of year to find a replacement, budget outlook and delivery of agency services.
For the 2010-2011 year, Region 7 will remain intact as a region being served from the Ames office. District support and staff supervision responsibilities will be assigned to three current partnership directors. Region 5 partnership director Charlie Johnson will be working with Nevada, Region 6 partnership director Nina Rasmusson will add Colo-Nesco and Roland-Story to her group of schools and Region 8 partnership director Nikki Roorda will be working with Collins-Maxwell. We are still in the process of confirming which partnership directors will supervise specific Region 7 staff members.
Once again, thank you for your patience as we worked through this decision-making process and now as we implement it. Please contact Sheila King at sking@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14386 if you have any questions.
For the 2010-2011 year, Region 7 will remain intact as a region being served from the Ames office. District support and staff supervision responsibilities will be assigned to three current partnership directors. Region 5 partnership director Charlie Johnson will be working with Nevada, Region 6 partnership director Nina Rasmusson will add Colo-Nesco and Roland-Story to her group of schools and Region 8 partnership director Nikki Roorda will be working with Collins-Maxwell. We are still in the process of confirming which partnership directors will supervise specific Region 7 staff members.
Once again, thank you for your patience as we worked through this decision-making process and now as we implement it. Please contact Sheila King at sking@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14386 if you have any questions.
Agency Staff Changes in Early Childhood
Beginning in July, Natalie Welter has assumed the agency-wide Early Childhood Consultant responsibilities formerly held by Cathy Eddy. In addition, Brianna Sayre-Geiser is joining the team as an agency-wide Professional Learning and Leadership Consultant for Early Childhood. Natalie and Brianna will be working closely together to provide leadership and professional development to early childhood staff, practitioners, administrators and the PLLC team for topics related to young children and quality preschool programming. Please feel free to contact Natalie, Brianna Jerry Gruba or Wendy Robinson with any questions or requests you or our districts have related to preschool programs.
Google Web Search Appliance Coming Soon
The Agency’s Google search appliance will be made operational in the coming weeks. The Google search appliance will be used to index our website and allow for quick, accurate keyword searches across our web site. During this transition, the website CMS (Content Management System) may be inaccessible for brief periods of time during the week. Please be patient as we test and implement this important feature on our website. Please contact Joshua Burke, Web Manager, at ext. 14619 if you have any questions.
CMS Training Videos Now Available for Web Authors
Joshua Burke (Web Manager) has recently completed a series of CMS training videos that are now available for staff. The videos are intended to supplement and reinforce the basic concepts covered in face-to-face training sessions. The videos can be found at http://www.aea11.k12.ia.us/cms/training.html, and are also available on the Intranet>Technology Information Archive>CMS>CMS Training Videos: Level 1. The videos will be helpful to web authors who have completed their face-to-face training and wish to review the CMS training materials as well as current authors who wish to refresh their skills. Please contact Joshua Burke, Web Manager, at ext. 14619 if you have any questions.
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