Monday, January 10, 2011
Updated Regional Map Now Available
Click here to download the proposed regional map for 2011-2012. The Agency will serve 53 public school districts beginning next school year, as the Manning district consolidates with the IKM district and moves under the Green Hills AEA service area. The remaining districts will be divided into eight regions, which will have roughly equal student populations. Please contact any partnership director or agency supervisor if you have questions about the map.
January 2011 Board of Directors Meeting Agenda
Click here to download the agenda for the January 11, 2011 Heartland AEA Board of Directors meeting.
Update on Shelter Care Educational Program Classrooms at Quakerdale Shelters
We’d like to take the opportunity to update you on some changes taking place in the Agency’s Shelter Care Educational Program. If you have any questions about these changes or the Shelter Care program in general, please contact Steve Iverson, Shelter Care Program Administrator, at siverson@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 18111.
Quakerdale of Newton
Quakerdale, which is a private, non-profit social service agency that offers treatment services to youth and families and operates shelters throughout Iowa, has decided to close its Quakerdale of Newton shelter on March 1, 2011. Quakerdale wasn’t able to stay in the shelter facility it has rented from Jasper County for the past 17 years, and because of costs, wasn’t able to find a suitable new location in Newton. With the closure of the shelter will come the closure of the Heartland Shelter Care classroom at the site as well. Heartland staff members who work in the Shelter Care classroom in Newton have been notified and the Agency is planning for the closure.
Another private, non-profit youth shelter has expressed interest in establishing a new shelter in Newton if funding and necessary approvals can be secured. Students who would normally be placed at Quakerdale in Newton will most likely now be placed instead in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids or Ottumwa.
Quakerdale of Manning
Green Hills AEA, based in Council Bluffs, will assume responsibility of the Quakerdale of Manning shelter on July 1, 2011. This change is taking place due to the Manning school district’s consolidation with the IKM school district, which is currently served by Green Hills AEA. When the consolidation takes effect, the new IKM-Manning district, including Quakerdale of Manning, will become part of Green Hills AEA’s service area. Heartland staff members who work in the Shelter Care classroom in Manning have been notified of the change in service at the shelter and the Agency is planning for the smooth transition of the program from Heartland to Green Hills. Heartland will not offer a summer school program at Quakerdale of Manning in summer 2011.
Quakerdale of Newton
Quakerdale, which is a private, non-profit social service agency that offers treatment services to youth and families and operates shelters throughout Iowa, has decided to close its Quakerdale of Newton shelter on March 1, 2011. Quakerdale wasn’t able to stay in the shelter facility it has rented from Jasper County for the past 17 years, and because of costs, wasn’t able to find a suitable new location in Newton. With the closure of the shelter will come the closure of the Heartland Shelter Care classroom at the site as well. Heartland staff members who work in the Shelter Care classroom in Newton have been notified and the Agency is planning for the closure.
Another private, non-profit youth shelter has expressed interest in establishing a new shelter in Newton if funding and necessary approvals can be secured. Students who would normally be placed at Quakerdale in Newton will most likely now be placed instead in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids or Ottumwa.
Quakerdale of Manning
Green Hills AEA, based in Council Bluffs, will assume responsibility of the Quakerdale of Manning shelter on July 1, 2011. This change is taking place due to the Manning school district’s consolidation with the IKM school district, which is currently served by Green Hills AEA. When the consolidation takes effect, the new IKM-Manning district, including Quakerdale of Manning, will become part of Green Hills AEA’s service area. Heartland staff members who work in the Shelter Care classroom in Manning have been notified of the change in service at the shelter and the Agency is planning for the smooth transition of the program from Heartland to Green Hills. Heartland will not offer a summer school program at Quakerdale of Manning in summer 2011.
Reminder About Inclement Weather Closing Communication
Since we are in the thick of the winter season, here’s a friendly reminder about how the Agency will be communicating about inclement weather office closings. The Agency has changed the way it communicates about office closings for inclement weather and other emergency situations to make sure the information is communicated correctly, consistently and in a timely manner. We will no longer broadcast closings via TV and radio stations, but through the following ways:
SchoolReach
This is an online system that is able to send voice messages to staff when there is an office closure. When used, the service will call selected phone numbers in our employee contact list and will deliver a recorded message. The service will deliver the message to both live answer and answering machines. No answers (phones ringing over 40 seconds) and busies will be automatically retried twice in 15 minute intervals after the initial call.
We will contact only those staff members who are assigned to offices that close. For instance, if the Newton and Indianola offices are closed, we will make one call to the staff members assigned to both offices to let them know of the office closure. Staff in other offices won’t automatically receive a call. The calls that SchoolReach makes will be generated by the Agency’s Communication Department; they will not come directly from a person at SchoolReach.
Website
We will post closing information on the front page of the Agency’s website (www.aea11.k12.ia.us) at the top of the Latest News section.
Cancellation Hotline
We will record closing information on a “cancellation hotline” that staff members can call into at (515) 270-0405 ext. 14041. When you call in you will hear a recorded message that says the date and which offices are closed if there are closings. If there are no closings the message will reflect that.
Social Media
We will post closing information on the Agency’s Facebook & Twitter accounts at www.facebook.com/heartlandaea & twitter.com/HeartlandAEA.
SchoolReach
This is an online system that is able to send voice messages to staff when there is an office closure. When used, the service will call selected phone numbers in our employee contact list and will deliver a recorded message. The service will deliver the message to both live answer and answering machines. No answers (phones ringing over 40 seconds) and busies will be automatically retried twice in 15 minute intervals after the initial call.
We will contact only those staff members who are assigned to offices that close. For instance, if the Newton and Indianola offices are closed, we will make one call to the staff members assigned to both offices to let them know of the office closure. Staff in other offices won’t automatically receive a call. The calls that SchoolReach makes will be generated by the Agency’s Communication Department; they will not come directly from a person at SchoolReach.
Website
We will post closing information on the front page of the Agency’s website (www.aea11.k12.ia.us) at the top of the Latest News section.
Cancellation Hotline
We will record closing information on a “cancellation hotline” that staff members can call into at (515) 270-0405 ext. 14041. When you call in you will hear a recorded message that says the date and which offices are closed if there are closings. If there are no closings the message will reflect that.
Social Media
We will post closing information on the Agency’s Facebook & Twitter accounts at www.facebook.com/heartlandaea & twitter.com/HeartlandAEA.
Reserving New Conference Room 13 in Johnston REC
Starting today, the new large classroom in the Johnston REC, Conference Room 13, will be split into two rooms, 13A & 13B, which will each hold 40 people. These rooms may be reserved individually or combined for one large room. Please note that all previously scheduled reservations have been moved to 13A or, if the meeting is larger, both 13A & 13B. The schedule of events for the room is on the Room Scheduler, but all future reservations for either room will need to be made by contacting Anita Davids at ext. 14613.
Change in Schools at West Central Valley
Menlo Elementary in Menlo closed over winter break, and the students and staff at the school have moved to the former high school building in Stuart. The building will be called Stuart Elementary. It will have the same DE building # as Menlo Elementary and will still be a PK-5 building. It will have the same van route # as well. Contact information is phone: (515) 523-1018, fax: (515) 523-1174 and address: 320 N.E. 3rd Street, Stuart, IA.
Updates Found on Construction & Setting Direction Blogs
Remember that updates about the Johnston REC construction project can be found at http://construction.aea11.k12.ia.us/ and updates about the Agency’s future can be found at http://direction.aea11.k12.ia.us/.
Paycheck Update: Reduction in FICA Tax Rate for 2011, Increase in Federal Income Tax Rate
In mid December President Obama signed into law the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010, also referred to as the Tax Relief Act of 2010. One of the key provisions of the Act is a reduction in the FICA tax rate paid by employees from 6.2% to 4.2% on wages paid in calendar year 2011. This change will result in less FICA tax being withheld from your paycheck, resulting in more take-home pay each pay period. It is important to note the reduction in the FICA tax rate is only for 2011 and will return to the 6.2% rate in 2012.
One tax provision that expired December 31, 2010, is the Making Work Pay (MWP) credit. The MWP credit was part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, sometimes referred to as ARRA or the economic stimulus plan. The MWP credit was paid out through reduced federal income tax withholding from March 15, 2009 through December 31, 2010. The expiration of this credit will result in an increase in the amount of federal income tax withheld from your paycheck beginning in January, resulting in less take-home pay. Higher-income taxpayers will see little or no change in their take-home pay.
Generally speaking, the net affect of the reduction in the FICA tax rate and expiration of the MWP credit is that most taxpayers will see an increase in their take-home pay beginning in January. However, the actual change in your take-home pay will depend on your individual circumstances, e.g., your pay, your marital status and the number of withholding allowances you are claiming.
With tax season upon us, now is a good time to review the amount of your federal and state income tax withholdings to ensure the correct amounts are being withheld from your pay. Changes in your financial or personal circumstances may affect the accuracy of your withholding. These include changes in:
• Marital status
• Number of dependents
• Family wage income (more than one job or both spouses working)
• Itemized deductions
• Non-wage income (interest, dividends, capital gains)
Please consultant your tax advisor regarding your personal situation. If you have any questions, contact Steve Jordan, Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14908 or Michelle Smith, Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14422.
One tax provision that expired December 31, 2010, is the Making Work Pay (MWP) credit. The MWP credit was part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, sometimes referred to as ARRA or the economic stimulus plan. The MWP credit was paid out through reduced federal income tax withholding from March 15, 2009 through December 31, 2010. The expiration of this credit will result in an increase in the amount of federal income tax withheld from your paycheck beginning in January, resulting in less take-home pay. Higher-income taxpayers will see little or no change in their take-home pay.
Generally speaking, the net affect of the reduction in the FICA tax rate and expiration of the MWP credit is that most taxpayers will see an increase in their take-home pay beginning in January. However, the actual change in your take-home pay will depend on your individual circumstances, e.g., your pay, your marital status and the number of withholding allowances you are claiming.
With tax season upon us, now is a good time to review the amount of your federal and state income tax withholdings to ensure the correct amounts are being withheld from your pay. Changes in your financial or personal circumstances may affect the accuracy of your withholding. These include changes in:
• Marital status
• Number of dependents
• Family wage income (more than one job or both spouses working)
• Itemized deductions
• Non-wage income (interest, dividends, capital gains)
Please consultant your tax advisor regarding your personal situation. If you have any questions, contact Steve Jordan, Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14908 or Michelle Smith, Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14422.
Payroll Dates & Information for 2011
Due Dates
Staff members frequently inquire when timesheets, addendum pay forms, direct deposit forms, income tax withholding forms and other changes need to be turned in to the Payroll Department in order to be processed for a particular pay date. To assist in your planning, below is a list of 2011 pay dates and corresponding due dates. Payroll needs to receive all information by the end of the day on the due date to ensure payments and/or changes are made on the corresponding pay date. Any information received in Payroll after the due date may be processed during the next payroll cycle.
For those staff members paid from a timesheet or addendum pay form, please keep in mind these items are to be completed, signed by a supervisor and submitted to Payroll within four working days after the end of the pay period. Any forms received after the due date may be processed on the next payroll.
Pay Dates & Due Dates
The first column list pay dates and the second column lists due dates:
01/14 01/06
01/31 01/20
02/15 02/04
02/28 02/21
03/15 03/04
03/31 03/21
04/15 04/06
04/29 04/21
05/13 05/05
05/31 05/19
06/15 06/06
06/30 06/21
07/15 07/07
07/29 07/21
08/15 08/04
08/31 08/19
09/15 09/07
09/30 09/21
10/14 10/06
10/31 10/20
11/15 11/04
11/30 11/21
12/15 12/06
12/30 12/21
Addendum & Overtime Forms
As noted above, these forms are to be completed, signed by a supervisor and submitted to Payroll within four working days after the end of the pay period. Once a supervisor has signed these forms, the supervisor will return the pink copy of the form to the employee for his or her records. For addendum forms, the white and yellow copies are both to be submitted to Payroll. For overtime forms, only the white copy is to be submitted to Payroll.
PDF/Faxed Timesheets
Questions have been raised about the use of PDF or faxed copies of timesheets. We recognize geographic location sometimes makes it difficult for employees and supervisors to consistently have timesheets to Payroll within four working days after the end of the pay period. Payroll will process pay from a PDF or faxed copy (a PDF copy is preferred) of the timesheet (must be signed by the employee and supervisor) so there is no delay in payment. However, the original copy of the timesheet must still be sent to Payroll for its permanent records.
Questions
Please contact Steve Jordan, Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14908 or Michelle Smith, Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14422.
Staff members frequently inquire when timesheets, addendum pay forms, direct deposit forms, income tax withholding forms and other changes need to be turned in to the Payroll Department in order to be processed for a particular pay date. To assist in your planning, below is a list of 2011 pay dates and corresponding due dates. Payroll needs to receive all information by the end of the day on the due date to ensure payments and/or changes are made on the corresponding pay date. Any information received in Payroll after the due date may be processed during the next payroll cycle.
For those staff members paid from a timesheet or addendum pay form, please keep in mind these items are to be completed, signed by a supervisor and submitted to Payroll within four working days after the end of the pay period. Any forms received after the due date may be processed on the next payroll.
Pay Dates & Due Dates
The first column list pay dates and the second column lists due dates:
01/14 01/06
01/31 01/20
02/15 02/04
02/28 02/21
03/15 03/04
03/31 03/21
04/15 04/06
04/29 04/21
05/13 05/05
05/31 05/19
06/15 06/06
06/30 06/21
07/15 07/07
07/29 07/21
08/15 08/04
08/31 08/19
09/15 09/07
09/30 09/21
10/14 10/06
10/31 10/20
11/15 11/04
11/30 11/21
12/15 12/06
12/30 12/21
Addendum & Overtime Forms
As noted above, these forms are to be completed, signed by a supervisor and submitted to Payroll within four working days after the end of the pay period. Once a supervisor has signed these forms, the supervisor will return the pink copy of the form to the employee for his or her records. For addendum forms, the white and yellow copies are both to be submitted to Payroll. For overtime forms, only the white copy is to be submitted to Payroll.
PDF/Faxed Timesheets
Questions have been raised about the use of PDF or faxed copies of timesheets. We recognize geographic location sometimes makes it difficult for employees and supervisors to consistently have timesheets to Payroll within four working days after the end of the pay period. Payroll will process pay from a PDF or faxed copy (a PDF copy is preferred) of the timesheet (must be signed by the employee and supervisor) so there is no delay in payment. However, the original copy of the timesheet must still be sent to Payroll for its permanent records.
Questions
Please contact Steve Jordan, Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14908 or Michelle Smith, Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14422.
Health and Prescription Drug Deductibles Start Over Every January 1
Just a reminder that your health and prescription drug deductibles start over every January 1. If you are filling a prescription that is NOT a generic, you will first have to meet the individual $100 deductible (maximum of two per family for a total of $200) before Wellmark pays anything towards your prescriptions.
If your prescription comes in a generic, you may want to talk to your doctor about whether switching to a generic would be a good option for you. There is never a deductible on generic drugs. (The deductible will apply regardless of whether there is a generic available for your drug.)
If you have questions about when and how the prescription drug deductible works, please check out the video on the Intranet>Benefits tab>2010 Benefit Videos> Wellmark Health Benefits.
If your prescription comes in a generic, you may want to talk to your doctor about whether switching to a generic would be a good option for you. There is never a deductible on generic drugs. (The deductible will apply regardless of whether there is a generic available for your drug.)
If you have questions about when and how the prescription drug deductible works, please check out the video on the Intranet>Benefits tab>2010 Benefit Videos> Wellmark Health Benefits.
Contact Person for Reporting Workplace Accidents
If you are injured on the job, it is very important that you contact Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at ext. 14385 within the first 24 hours after the accident. Kathy will take about 10 minutes to ask you a few questions about the accident/injury.
Many times with a fall or a minor accident, the initial feeling is that either no injury has taken place, or the discomfort will go away in a few days. However, in some cases, you may find that by the next day, the pain has actually increased and there may be concern about more serious injuries.
Reporting accidents that expose an employee to blood or other bodily fluid is especially important. Please find a way to step away from the classroom or accident site to call the Benefits Office at your earliest opportunity.
Injured employees who need immediate medical attention may seek care from the medical provider of their choice. However, please follow up with a call to the Benefits Office within 24 hours (anyone in Human Resources can help if Kathy is not available). A voicemail message giving your name, cell phone number and a short description of your injury is always appreciated and will be followed up shortly with a return call. Of course, your supervisor will appreciate a call as well, so he/she can see how you’re doing.
Help us keep you healthy and safe! If you encounter an unsafe work site, please contact either Kathy Martin at ext. 14385 or Dustin Gean at ext. 14460.
Many times with a fall or a minor accident, the initial feeling is that either no injury has taken place, or the discomfort will go away in a few days. However, in some cases, you may find that by the next day, the pain has actually increased and there may be concern about more serious injuries.
Reporting accidents that expose an employee to blood or other bodily fluid is especially important. Please find a way to step away from the classroom or accident site to call the Benefits Office at your earliest opportunity.
Injured employees who need immediate medical attention may seek care from the medical provider of their choice. However, please follow up with a call to the Benefits Office within 24 hours (anyone in Human Resources can help if Kathy is not available). A voicemail message giving your name, cell phone number and a short description of your injury is always appreciated and will be followed up shortly with a return call. Of course, your supervisor will appreciate a call as well, so he/she can see how you’re doing.
Help us keep you healthy and safe! If you encounter an unsafe work site, please contact either Kathy Martin at ext. 14385 or Dustin Gean at ext. 14460.
Reminder: Complete Insurance Survey By January 12
Last Thursday all full-time Heartland employees received an e-mail asking them to complete the annual insurance survey. The Insurance Committee reviews the data from the survey and uses employee feedback to guide them in making decisions about your benefits.
If you received the survey, please make sure to complete it by January 12. Below is the link to the survey: http://tp2.aea11.k12.ia.us/004/AEA11InsSurveyJan2011.tp4
If you have concerns about your benefits, or have encountered difficulties with claims or service issues, please contact Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at kmartin@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14385 so that action can be taken to rectify those problems.
If you received the survey, please make sure to complete it by January 12. Below is the link to the survey: http://tp2.aea11.k12.ia.us/004/AEA11InsSurveyJan2011.tp4
If you have concerns about your benefits, or have encountered difficulties with claims or service issues, please contact Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at kmartin@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14385 so that action can be taken to rectify those problems.
Johnston REC Equipment Checkout Room Has Moved
The equipment checkout room in the Johnston REC has moved to the middle part of the back of the building where the former data center was housed, near the Graphics Department. This new location provides better security and organization of the equipment. If you have any questions about the equipment or checkout, contact Jane Quanbeck, Internal Technology Support, at ext. 14409 or Aaron Cook, Video/Multimedia Technology Support Specialist, at ext. 14438.
Implementation of Standards-based IEPs Has Been Pushed Back
The July 1, 2010 Special Education Procedures Manual and Documentation Guide describes standards-based IEPs and states that the these will be required for K-8 reading and math IEPs beginning on March 15, 2011. Please note that this requirement has been pushed back. K-8 reading and math IEPs that are written in the 2011-2012 school year will be the first that will need to meet the new requirements. Professional development is being planned for summer/early fall 2011 to assist IEP teams and special education teachers to write and implement standards-based IEPs. If you have any questions about this topic, please contact Ron Lorenz, Assistant Director of Special Education, at rlorenz@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14504 or Grace Bargstadt, Director of Special Education, at gbargstadt@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14360.
Transitional Life Skills: Educating Beyond Basics
Heartland will provide a learning opportunity for teachers and staff who focus on functional programming in the area of transition planning for students with disabilities on April 7. This learning opportunity will provide Level II and Level III teachers information about resources, curriculum and units of study to help successfully incorporate transition activities to enhance post-secondary living, learning and working.
This training will only be appropriate for staff who are primary contacts for Level II/III teachers. There is a limit on enrollment, so please consider only sending one person per team. Our Level I/II teachers attended transition training in October, and this event would not be beneficial for our Level I/II teachers.
April 7, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Johnston REC, Room 13
Activity Number: DL005792111101
If you have questions, contact Sue Severson, Program Assistant, Special Education & Transition Consultants, at sseverson@aea11.k12.ia.us or your Transition Consultant.
This training will only be appropriate for staff who are primary contacts for Level II/III teachers. There is a limit on enrollment, so please consider only sending one person per team. Our Level I/II teachers attended transition training in October, and this event would not be beneficial for our Level I/II teachers.
April 7, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Johnston REC, Room 13
Activity Number: DL005792111101
If you have questions, contact Sue Severson, Program Assistant, Special Education & Transition Consultants, at sseverson@aea11.k12.ia.us or your Transition Consultant.
January 2011 Iowa Department of Education School Leader Update
Click here to download the January 2011 School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education.
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