Monday, January 31, 2011
Updates Found on Setting Direction & Construction Blogs
Remember that updates about the Agency’s future can be found on the Setting Direction blog at http://direction.aea11.k12.ia.us and updates about the Johnston REC construction project can be found on the Construction blog at http://construction.aea11.k12.ia.us/.
AEA Legislative Report
Click here to download the weekly legislative report from AEA Government Relations Specialist Wayne Haddy. We will provide staff members with these updates each week during the legislative session.
Whalen to Join Agency as Business Manager
Heartland is pleased to announce that Brian Whalen will be joining the Agency as its Business Manager on February 9.
Whalen comes to Heartland with over 15 years of accounting experience including knowledge in reconciliations, fixed assets, budgeting, month-end closings and year-end closings. His most recent position was as the Director of Financial Services for the Ankeny Community School District, a position he has held since July 2007. Whalen also spent six years as an accountant for the Des Moines Public Schools, a year as an accountant for Broadlawns Medical Center and a year as an accounting manager for The ARC of East Central Iowa. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Western Illinois University, is a Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the Iowa Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Iowa Association of School Business Officials. Whalen’s experience in the education, healthcare and non-profit sector will serve the Agency well as he begins his tenure here.
Whalen’s hiring was necessitated in order to bring the Business Office up to a full staffing level. A few years ago Rebecca McCreary’s title was changed from Accountant to Business Manager, and since that time, the Accountant position has remained unfilled. In order to adequately distribute the functions and workload of the Chief Financial Officer, Business Manager and Accountant, a third person needed to be hired. McCreary requested to transition back to the Accountant position, where she can focus on accounting duties, which are where her interests lie. The fully staffed Business Office will be able to provide more financial and business support to all budget managers in the Agency’s new regional structure.
In the Business Manager position, some of the duties Whalen will be responsible for include preparing agency financial reports and documents, coordinating the preparation of the Agency’s budget, providing support and training for budget managers, managing agency grants, developing contracts, implementing and monitoring internal controls, reviewing purchase orders and travel claims and supervising the Business Office staff.
Please join us in welcoming Brian to the Agency.
Whalen comes to Heartland with over 15 years of accounting experience including knowledge in reconciliations, fixed assets, budgeting, month-end closings and year-end closings. His most recent position was as the Director of Financial Services for the Ankeny Community School District, a position he has held since July 2007. Whalen also spent six years as an accountant for the Des Moines Public Schools, a year as an accountant for Broadlawns Medical Center and a year as an accounting manager for The ARC of East Central Iowa. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Western Illinois University, is a Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the Iowa Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Iowa Association of School Business Officials. Whalen’s experience in the education, healthcare and non-profit sector will serve the Agency well as he begins his tenure here.
Whalen’s hiring was necessitated in order to bring the Business Office up to a full staffing level. A few years ago Rebecca McCreary’s title was changed from Accountant to Business Manager, and since that time, the Accountant position has remained unfilled. In order to adequately distribute the functions and workload of the Chief Financial Officer, Business Manager and Accountant, a third person needed to be hired. McCreary requested to transition back to the Accountant position, where she can focus on accounting duties, which are where her interests lie. The fully staffed Business Office will be able to provide more financial and business support to all budget managers in the Agency’s new regional structure.
In the Business Manager position, some of the duties Whalen will be responsible for include preparing agency financial reports and documents, coordinating the preparation of the Agency’s budget, providing support and training for budget managers, managing agency grants, developing contracts, implementing and monitoring internal controls, reviewing purchase orders and travel claims and supervising the Business Office staff.
Please join us in welcoming Brian to the Agency.
Tax Information: You May Have to Wait Longer to File Your Tax Returns This Year
The IRS has said it needs until mid- to late-February to reprogram its processing systems because Congress acted so late this year cleaning up the tax code. The bill, which includes deductions for state and local sales taxes, college tuition and teacher expenses, wasn’t signed into law until Dec. 17.
The bill ensured that the federal income tax rates would not change, and itemized deductions will continue to be allowed in full for high-income taxpayers. As a result, the 50 million taxpayers who itemize their deductions will have to hold off for a bit before they file. Of course, not everyone files early: only about 9 million of the 140 million U.S. tax filers filed in January or February of last year.
The delay affects both paper and electronic filers who itemize deductions on Form 1040 Schedule A. That includes those claiming the new Educator Expense Deduction, which credits grade school teachers for out-of-pocket expenses of up to $250.
It also includes those claiming deductions for college students, covering up to $4,000 of tuition, which is claimed on Form 8917, though the IRS said there will be no delays for those who claim other education tax credits.
The bill ensured that the federal income tax rates would not change, and itemized deductions will continue to be allowed in full for high-income taxpayers. As a result, the 50 million taxpayers who itemize their deductions will have to hold off for a bit before they file. Of course, not everyone files early: only about 9 million of the 140 million U.S. tax filers filed in January or February of last year.
The delay affects both paper and electronic filers who itemize deductions on Form 1040 Schedule A. That includes those claiming the new Educator Expense Deduction, which credits grade school teachers for out-of-pocket expenses of up to $250.
It also includes those claiming deductions for college students, covering up to $4,000 of tuition, which is claimed on Form 8917, though the IRS said there will be no delays for those who claim other education tax credits.
Agency Professional Learning Committee Update
This fall marked the establishment of the Agency Professional Learning Committee and the beginning of a new way for agency workgroups to plan for the professional learning that is specific to their group’s needs. This new way of approaching professional learning was initiated through the work of a group that met last year and used a Kaizen process to improve the process, which was later outlined in the HEA agreement. The intent of the new process has been to give everyone a stronger voice in determining their own professional learning needs.
The Agency Professional Learning Committee would like to thank the facilitators and the workgroup team members who gave of their time and put their efforts into development of such high quality plans. Groups were very creative and thoughtful as they designed plans that incorporated formats for learning that represented new ways of thinking. Here are just a few of the activities that have been planned:
• Some groups are using their funding to bring national experts to Heartland so that large groups can benefit from their expertise. A few examples of those experts include Anita Archer, Randy Sprick, Scott Bellini and Michael Dolcemascolo.
• Other groups are accessing webinars that have been developed by experts in their fields.
• Individuals from some workgroups are attending conferences and then coming back to their region or discipline to share their learning with others.
• Some groups are using expertise here in the Agency to help the group improve their skills in an area (for example, Julie Sypersma providing Adobe Connect training to the assessment consultants so that they can consult and demonstrate on computers from afar).
• There is collaboration among groups who have similar needs (like school psychologists and social workers partnering on a social skills project).
• Early childhood special education consultants are having peer coaching sessions and lunch and learn sessions to network and learn from each other.
• Internal technology staff will be attending training so that they can stay on the cutting edge and help agency staff with their technology needs.
• Occupational therapists and physical therapists are collaborating with colleagues from across the state to provide a conference that will help them learn new techniques and earn the continuing education credits they need to be licensed.
• And there are many more to come!
Everyone’s flexibility and involvement has made this year’s professional learning planning very successful. We are now in the process of refining the process for next year. Thank you for your patience and support!
2010-2011 Agency Professional Learning Committee
- Teresa Bellinghausen, Consultant, Teaching and Learning Secondary Education
- Nola Bond, Director of Human Resources
- Sarah Brown, Program Assistant, Internal Professional Development
- Gwen Hoffmann, Special Education Clerk
- Rod Howell, Data Processing Operations Manager
- Sharon Kurns, Director of Professional Learning & Leadership
- Gilmara Mitchell, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant - Cultural Competence
- John Richardson, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant - Positive Behavior Supports
- Barb Thompson, School Psychologist
- Kristi Upah, Interim Partnership Director
- Dave Wood, Partnership Director
The Agency Professional Learning Committee would like to thank the facilitators and the workgroup team members who gave of their time and put their efforts into development of such high quality plans. Groups were very creative and thoughtful as they designed plans that incorporated formats for learning that represented new ways of thinking. Here are just a few of the activities that have been planned:
• Some groups are using their funding to bring national experts to Heartland so that large groups can benefit from their expertise. A few examples of those experts include Anita Archer, Randy Sprick, Scott Bellini and Michael Dolcemascolo.
• Other groups are accessing webinars that have been developed by experts in their fields.
• Individuals from some workgroups are attending conferences and then coming back to their region or discipline to share their learning with others.
• Some groups are using expertise here in the Agency to help the group improve their skills in an area (for example, Julie Sypersma providing Adobe Connect training to the assessment consultants so that they can consult and demonstrate on computers from afar).
• There is collaboration among groups who have similar needs (like school psychologists and social workers partnering on a social skills project).
• Early childhood special education consultants are having peer coaching sessions and lunch and learn sessions to network and learn from each other.
• Internal technology staff will be attending training so that they can stay on the cutting edge and help agency staff with their technology needs.
• Occupational therapists and physical therapists are collaborating with colleagues from across the state to provide a conference that will help them learn new techniques and earn the continuing education credits they need to be licensed.
• And there are many more to come!
Everyone’s flexibility and involvement has made this year’s professional learning planning very successful. We are now in the process of refining the process for next year. Thank you for your patience and support!
2010-2011 Agency Professional Learning Committee
- Teresa Bellinghausen, Consultant, Teaching and Learning Secondary Education
- Nola Bond, Director of Human Resources
- Sarah Brown, Program Assistant, Internal Professional Development
- Gwen Hoffmann, Special Education Clerk
- Rod Howell, Data Processing Operations Manager
- Sharon Kurns, Director of Professional Learning & Leadership
- Gilmara Mitchell, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant - Cultural Competence
- John Richardson, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant - Positive Behavior Supports
- Barb Thompson, School Psychologist
- Kristi Upah, Interim Partnership Director
- Dave Wood, Partnership Director
Learning Teams Update
During office meetings last week learning teams were given a team functioning process to complete during your next learning team. We would like facilitators to fill out the survey using the link below regarding their team functioning. This information will be used as we determine what additional supports to provide learning teams. If you have any questions, contact Sarah Brown, Program Assistant, Internal Professional Development, at sbrown@aea11.k12.ia.us.
http://tp2.aea11.k12.ia.us/019/2010-11_Learning_Team_January.tp4
http://tp2.aea11.k12.ia.us/019/2010-11_Learning_Team_January.tp4
Grading Professional Learning Opportunities
This message applies to anyone who is teaching a professional development course. Recently we have seen an increase in the number of “Incomplete” grades given for coursework. The “Incomplete” should only be given if an assignment is late and will be submitted within a short period. Please see the clarified instructions below for grading. Instructors, as you enter your grades, please remember 100% attendance is required.
Depending upon the type of class, your choices for grading are as follows:
• A/B/Pass – Participants have met all requirements as outlined on the course proposal for the appropriate grade.
• F/Fail – Comments are required (attendance/course requirements were not met) – participants will NOT see your comments.
• I/Incomplete – This should RARELY be used! Only use an “I” if the assignment is expected to be turned in within a short period of time. Again, comments are required and participants will NOT see your comments.
• NC – if participants did not desire credit, but did participate in the course.
Examples:
• Teacher A took your course, but didn’t show up the last day. Grade = F
• Teacher B took your course, was there the entire time and participated in the course, but didn’t complete the assignment. You haven’t heard from the person and he/she doesn’t return your e-mails OR tell you directly he/she doesn’t want credit. Grade = F
• Teacher C took your course, but contacted you regarding a family emergency that is precluding them from completing the assignment by the due date. He/she has requested an extension and you agree. Grade = I. When the assignment IS complete, come back into this screen and change the grade to A/B/Pass.
If you have any questions, please contact Sue Schirmer, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant – Relicensure, at sschirmer@aea11.k12.ia.us.
Depending upon the type of class, your choices for grading are as follows:
• A/B/Pass – Participants have met all requirements as outlined on the course proposal for the appropriate grade.
• F/Fail – Comments are required (attendance/course requirements were not met) – participants will NOT see your comments.
• I/Incomplete – This should RARELY be used! Only use an “I” if the assignment is expected to be turned in within a short period of time. Again, comments are required and participants will NOT see your comments.
• NC – if participants did not desire credit, but did participate in the course.
Examples:
• Teacher A took your course, but didn’t show up the last day. Grade = F
• Teacher B took your course, was there the entire time and participated in the course, but didn’t complete the assignment. You haven’t heard from the person and he/she doesn’t return your e-mails OR tell you directly he/she doesn’t want credit. Grade = F
• Teacher C took your course, but contacted you regarding a family emergency that is precluding them from completing the assignment by the due date. He/she has requested an extension and you agree. Grade = I. When the assignment IS complete, come back into this screen and change the grade to A/B/Pass.
If you have any questions, please contact Sue Schirmer, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant – Relicensure, at sschirmer@aea11.k12.ia.us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)