As we told you last month, the Agency selected Ruepke Construction of Derby, Iowa, as the general contractor for the Johnston REC remodeling project. The company was the lowest responsible bidder for the project, submitting a bid of $780,000.
At its October 12 meeting, the Heartland Board of Directors approved a lease purchase agreement (as required by Iowa Code) for the project, which secures funding for the project.
We are happy to report that the next step in the project is the actual construction phase! After many, many months of planning, the project is ready to begin!
To assist us in communicating with our staff during the remodeling project, a blog has been established that will list all pertinent information during remodeling. Please bookmark http://construction.aea11.k12.ia.us/ so you can visit the blog any time to get the latest news during construction. This initial update will be in The Connection and in the construction blog, but all additional updates will only be in the blog.
We will provide major updates on a weekly basis. The following is set to take place during the week of October 25-29. Please remember that all items are subject to change.
• Repairs to the parking lot will be done and all parking spaces will be available.
• The contents of Conference Rooms 9, 11, 12, 13 and 18 and the Computer Lab will be emptied. (The Learning Center will still be available throughout the remodeling project.) Rooms 9 and 18 will come back online as a conference rooms, but Rooms 11, 12 and 13 will be incorporated into the new large classroom.
• The majority of the books in the Children’s & Young Adult Library and the staff who work in that area will be relocated to the Computer Lab and Room 18 for most of the remodeling period.
• Room 8 will be converted into a computer lab with laptops.
• Braillist Teri Hazen will be relocated to the Scanning Center (across from Judy Cleveland’s desk) for the duration of the remodeling project.
Staff members who may be affected by the construction project have the option of using the Remote Workplace Program and working off-site when their work area is affected. Staff members have the option of working from home, the Adel Office, the Neveln Center (a co-location site in Ankeny, Clay Elementary School (a co-location site in Altoona) or Zion Lutheran Church in Des Moines, as determined by coordinating with their supervisor. Also watch the construction blog for a weekly listing of remote workers and their locations.
And as a reminder, always check the Internal Calendar in Kerio before coming to meetings in Johnston to verify the location of your meeting. The Agency will be using Zion Lutheran and St. Mary’s Churches in Des Moines and the Johnston Lion’s Club as well as other off-site meeting locations during the remodeling. If you are the organizer of a meeting, please help by notifying participants of site changes.
Once again, things are always subject to change during a construction project, so please be sure to check the construction blog for any major changes. We are looking forward to a successful project that ultimately improves our services for our families, students and educators!
Monday, October 18, 2010
2010 United Way Campaign to Kick Off With Team Shirt Day
The Agency’s United Way Planning Committee has many fun things planned for our annual United Way campaign. We participate in this drive because the United Way serves families and students in our communities in ways that are complimentary to our vision and mission. Participating in the campaign is one way for our employees to “extend their reach” by choosing to donate to worthy causes supported by the United Way.
This year we will provide staff members the choice of directing their donations to any of the United Ways in the Heartland area. Go to The Connection blog to view each United Way’s programs.
• United Way of Central Iowa (Dallas, Guthrie, Madison, Polk, Warren counties)
• United Way of Carroll (Audubon and Carroll counties)
• United Way of Boone County
• United Way of Jasper County
• Marion County United Way (no materials available at this time)
• United Way of Story County
We’ll kick off this year’s activities with a Team Shirt Day at our upcoming office and regional meetings. Last year we raised over $800 through this activity, and we hope to raise even more this year. For a $5 contribution, you may wear your favorite college, school or team shirt with jeans to your office or regional meeting. To participate in this activity, please write a check for $5 to the United Way and put in the memo section of the check which United Way you want the money to go to.
More information about this year’s campaign will be communicated with staff at the fall meetings (Operations staff on October 26, Central Teaching & Learning staff on November 3 and Regional staff on November 4).
One announcement we can leak before the meetings is that we will once again do the online auction. Each staff member will be able to donate one item or go together with co-workers to submit a group item. (Please note: Private delivery arrangements must be made for items too large or heavy for Heartland van delivery.) Get your thinking caps on to think of items, baked goods, baskets or services to donate. Stay tuned for more information! Please contact Chris Pierson or Claire Spellman if you have any questions.
This year we will provide staff members the choice of directing their donations to any of the United Ways in the Heartland area. Go to The Connection blog to view each United Way’s programs.
• United Way of Central Iowa (Dallas, Guthrie, Madison, Polk, Warren counties)
• United Way of Carroll (Audubon and Carroll counties)
• United Way of Boone County
• United Way of Jasper County
• Marion County United Way (no materials available at this time)
• United Way of Story County
We’ll kick off this year’s activities with a Team Shirt Day at our upcoming office and regional meetings. Last year we raised over $800 through this activity, and we hope to raise even more this year. For a $5 contribution, you may wear your favorite college, school or team shirt with jeans to your office or regional meeting. To participate in this activity, please write a check for $5 to the United Way and put in the memo section of the check which United Way you want the money to go to.
More information about this year’s campaign will be communicated with staff at the fall meetings (Operations staff on October 26, Central Teaching & Learning staff on November 3 and Regional staff on November 4).
One announcement we can leak before the meetings is that we will once again do the online auction. Each staff member will be able to donate one item or go together with co-workers to submit a group item. (Please note: Private delivery arrangements must be made for items too large or heavy for Heartland van delivery.) Get your thinking caps on to think of items, baked goods, baskets or services to donate. Stay tuned for more information! Please contact Chris Pierson or Claire Spellman if you have any questions.
Reminder: Help Support the Heartland Cares Hunger Helpers Food Drive Now Through October 22!
The Fall/Winter 2010 Heartland Cares activity is supporting children and families around our agency's area. We are collecting non-perishable food and paper items to be donated to food banks in Adel, Ames, Carroll, Des Moines, Guthrie Center, Indianola, Newton and Knoxville. You have the chance to support students who are truly in need and to live the Agency’s core values by being generous to others!
Who: Heartland AEA staff members
What: Food Drive
When: October 4-22
Where: Heartland AEA offices
Most needed items:
• Cold cereal
• Canned meats
• Peanut butter
• 100% fruit juice
• Boxed meals
• Paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, diapers, baby wipes)
Who: Heartland AEA staff members
What: Food Drive
When: October 4-22
Where: Heartland AEA offices
Most needed items:
• Cold cereal
• Canned meats
• Peanut butter
• 100% fruit juice
• Boxed meals
• Paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, diapers, baby wipes)
Domain Days Canceled
Due to several factors, we are canceling all Domain Days for this academic year. After reviewing the calendar, it was determined that there are a significant number of professional learning opportunities for staff throughout this academic year and realize that time in your assignment is valuable. Please contact your Discipline Program Assistant or Sarah Brown if you have any questions.
Winter Special Education Professional Development Update
During August you were asked to hold one of three days in December on your calendar for Special Education professional learning. This session will focus on statewide changes to the EER. In order to appropriately prepare for the session, we need all staff members to register for the session they will attend. Please register for the session you plan to attend by October 29. You are encouraged to come with your team members (others who serve same schools), but it is not required. You only need to register for and attend one session.
December 17 – Activity Number IN038199991101
December 21 – Activity Number IN038199991102
December 22 – Activity Number IN038199991103
December 17 – Activity Number IN038199991101
December 21 – Activity Number IN038199991102
December 22 – Activity Number IN038199991103
Online Training/Learning Support Decision Tree
Many agency staff members have expressed interest in hosting a webinar or a virtual meeting or archiving a training/learning session for future use. In response to this interest, a short questionnaire has been created to help us provide you effective and efficient support for your online training/learning needs. Just complete the short questionnaire and click "submit." Once submitted, the form goes to Lynn McCartney, Program Assistant, Instructional Technology. Lynn will contact you if more information is necessary or to let you know who will be providing support for your training needs.
Click on the link below to access the Online Support Decision Tree questionnaire:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dDVTVmNJS0Jxc1EtVllFWWQxdVp6LXc6MQ
Please bookmark this site for future use. It will also be posted on the Intranet under the Technology tab.
Click on the link below to access the Online Support Decision Tree questionnaire:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dDVTVmNJS0Jxc1EtVllFWWQxdVp6LXc6MQ
Please bookmark this site for future use. It will also be posted on the Intranet under the Technology tab.
Further Clarification About Agency Professional Learning
The Agency Professional Learning Committee continues to support the on-going plans of each work group as they develop their plans for professional learning. Below are answers to some of the questions we have received. If you have additional questions, please forward them to Sharon Kurns, Director of Professional Learning & Leadership, at skurns@aea11.k12.ia.us. The following are questions, who decides and why.
Q: I want to go to my state association meeting.
A: Workgroup
Why: State associations are directly related to a person’s role/workgroup in the Agency.
Q: My district is sending teachers to X conference/meeting, and I have been asked to go along.
A: Supervisor or Partnership Director
Why: This falls in the category of individual client needs, which supervisors approve and direct.
Q: I just heard about a conference coming to town. A number of people in my office want to go. We are all in different workgroups.
A: Send request to Sharon Kurns for the Agency Professional Learning Committee to consider.
Why: This involves multiple workgroups and would need to be agency directed.
Q: Our work group would like to study the research on XYZ and will need resources.
A: Workgroup
Why: This is directly related to the roles of the individuals in the work group.
Q: Our workgroup wants to bring in this really famous person to talk about this really important topic. We think people from other workgroups might want to participate with us.
A: Workgroups involved
Why: This is directly related to workgroups in the agency
Budget
The following lists types of professional learning, funding sources and decision-making for each:
Type: Agency-wide Committee
Funding: Agency-wide Budget
Decision-Making: Agency Professional Learning Committee
Type: Workgroup
Funding: Workgroup Budget
Decison-Making: Workgroup Committee
Type: Individual/Client-driven
Funding: Central/Regional Budget
Decision-Making: Supervisor
Q: I want to go to my state association meeting.
A: Workgroup
Why: State associations are directly related to a person’s role/workgroup in the Agency.
Q: My district is sending teachers to X conference/meeting, and I have been asked to go along.
A: Supervisor or Partnership Director
Why: This falls in the category of individual client needs, which supervisors approve and direct.
Q: I just heard about a conference coming to town. A number of people in my office want to go. We are all in different workgroups.
A: Send request to Sharon Kurns for the Agency Professional Learning Committee to consider.
Why: This involves multiple workgroups and would need to be agency directed.
Q: Our work group would like to study the research on XYZ and will need resources.
A: Workgroup
Why: This is directly related to the roles of the individuals in the work group.
Q: Our workgroup wants to bring in this really famous person to talk about this really important topic. We think people from other workgroups might want to participate with us.
A: Workgroups involved
Why: This is directly related to workgroups in the agency
Budget
The following lists types of professional learning, funding sources and decision-making for each:
Type: Agency-wide Committee
Funding: Agency-wide Budget
Decision-Making: Agency Professional Learning Committee
Type: Workgroup
Funding: Workgroup Budget
Decison-Making: Workgroup Committee
Type: Individual/Client-driven
Funding: Central/Regional Budget
Decision-Making: Supervisor
Learning Team Facilitator Wiki Has Been Developed
A new wiki has been designed to support learning team facilitators by providing information, facilitation tools and resources that may be used with their learning team. Facilitators will be notified through The Connection when the wiki is periodically updated. The web address for the Facilitator’s Wiki is below. http://learningteams.pbworks.com/w/page/FrontPage
If you have any questions, please contact Cheryl Risen, Program Assistant, External Professional Development, at ext. 14587 or crisen@aea11.k12.ia.us.
If you have any questions, please contact Cheryl Risen, Program Assistant, External Professional Development, at ext. 14587 or crisen@aea11.k12.ia.us.
Reminder: Operations Meeting to Be Held October 26
The Operations workgroup will hold its office meeting on October 26 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church in Des Moines.
Relocation for Some Cultural Competence Lunch and Learns at Johnston Campus
The following Lunch & Learns that were publicized in last week’s Connection have been relocated due to remodeling at the Johnston REC.
• November 19, 2010 – Teen Pregnancy (moved to Conference Rooms 3 & 4)
• February 23, 2011 – Domestic Violence/Dating Violence (moved to Zion Lutheran Church)
• November 19, 2010 – Teen Pregnancy (moved to Conference Rooms 3 & 4)
• February 23, 2011 – Domestic Violence/Dating Violence (moved to Zion Lutheran Church)
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