We want to make sure that staff members know and follow the guidelines that have been established for contacting legislators and participating in political activities. Staff members are encouraged to contact their legislators about issues that are important to them, especially issues that involve the AEAs. Personally contacting legislators to tell them “your AEA story” can be very powerful when it comes time for legislators to make decisions. But when it comes to contacting legislators about the AEAs, there are guidelines that staff members must follow.
It is essential for staff members to send communications to legislators from their PERSONAL e-mail account or stationery or using their own telephone. It is against the law for AEA employees to lobby the legislature using agency e-mail or stationery. Also, do not send any such messages during agency work hours, as that would also be a violation of the law.
Heartland Board Policy 415 Employee Political Activity also states: Limited examples of prohibited uses of public funds include the following:
• use of office equipment such as copy, fax, postage machines, computer hardware/software, typewriters, or calculators
• employees engaging in campaign activities of any sort during working hours
• use of telephones owned or leased by the political subdivision to make calls in support of or opposition to a ballot issue or a candidate.
Click here to download tips on how to effectively communicate with legislators. Click here to download contact information for legislators who serve Heartland area districts. (The list has been updated since it was last included in The Connection.)
It is acceptable for staff members to sign petitions such as the Kids First petition and the like, but please do such activities during non-work hours.
Monday, February 28, 2011
February 2011 Staff Advisory Council Minutes
Click here to download the minutes from the February 22 Staff Advisory Council meeting.
AEAs Support Numerous Statewide Initiatives
Click here to download a piece that was developed by the AEA Joint Directors and AEA Communications Committee that identifies many of the initiatives that the AEAs support statewide. If you ever need some talking points about how our AEA system works together and the variety of services provided to schools by the AEAs, this document may provide you with some excellent information to share.
Setting the Agency’s Direction Update Found on Blog
Remember that updates about the future of the Agency can be found on the Setting Direction blog at http://direction.aea11.k12.ia.us.
AEA Legislative Report
Click here to download the weekly legislative report from AEA Government Relations Specialist Wayne Haddy.
Iowa’s Special Education Eligibility Standards Have Been Rescinded
As soon as possible, please read the letter (click here) from Dr. Martin Ikeda, Chief of the Bureau of Student and Family Support Services, Iowa Department of Education, notifying AEAs that Iowa’s Special Education Eligibility Standards (2006) have been rescinded, effective immediately. The letter contains very important information about why the standards have been rescinded at this time. The Iowa Department of Education has been and will continue working on new mandatory standards.
In the short-term, this action does not change AEA staff members’ daily work, nor the procedures you are to follow in making special education entitlement decisions. The letter from Dr. Ikeda clearly states that, “...teams making eligibility decisions shall be required to follow rules on whether, when, and how to evaluate a child who has or is suspected of having a disability, including the requirement that teams consider data concerning progress, discrepancy, and need. See generally Iowa Admin. Code rules. 281—41.111, 41.300 to 41.313.”
In other words, the Area Education Agency Special Education Procedures remain in effect to guide practice. If you have any questions, please contact Grace Bargstadt, Director of Special Education, at gbargstadt@aea11.k12.ia.us.
In the short-term, this action does not change AEA staff members’ daily work, nor the procedures you are to follow in making special education entitlement decisions. The letter from Dr. Ikeda clearly states that, “...teams making eligibility decisions shall be required to follow rules on whether, when, and how to evaluate a child who has or is suspected of having a disability, including the requirement that teams consider data concerning progress, discrepancy, and need. See generally Iowa Admin. Code rules. 281—41.111, 41.300 to 41.313.”
In other words, the Area Education Agency Special Education Procedures remain in effect to guide practice. If you have any questions, please contact Grace Bargstadt, Director of Special Education, at gbargstadt@aea11.k12.ia.us.
Delay of Implementation of the New EER
During the Special Education Winter Institute, we indicated that the new version of the EER would be available for use on March 1. We are planning to delay the start by several weeks. Watch future Connections for instructions on availability.
Don’t Forget to Register Soon for Saturday TQ Technology Classes!
Below is the information you saw in a previous Connection about the technology sessions offered as part of our Teacher Quality professional learning this year. We had a few questions about the trainings:
Q: I already did a Teacher Quality study group or class, can I still participate in these trainings?
A: Yes! Even if you have already participated in or are planning to participate in a different Teacher Quality activity you can receive this additional money for these technology offerings.
Q: How much will I earn for attending?
A: $100 (It is only three hours.)
Q: Why Saturdays?
A: To give staff members an opportunity to attend without missing time providing services to districts/schools and students.
Q: Could you do a class in our region?
A: This year we are trying to figure out the level of interest and willingness of staff to take classes on Saturday. If in the future a region has enough people interested, we would be happy to schedule this in a region.
Q: Why are these trainings only for certified staff?
A: Because Teacher Quality funding is only to be used for eligible staff.
Please read below for training information. Additional opportunities for Teacher Quality are available for certified staff members. Two classes are being offered. One will focus on Google Apps the Agency is using (Docs and Sites), and the other will discuss tips and tricks for using various computer applications (e.g., Word, PowerPoint). Each course will be three hours long and will be repeated four times through different Saturday sessions. Participants need only attend one session, as the content will be the same in each session.
There are still openings for all sessions. We will offer these courses at other times and next fall in order to ensure that others who wish to take the courses have opportunities as well that are at more convenient times.
We will be able to offer a stipend of approximately $100 for certified staff members who take these courses. Staff who are registered for another Teacher Quality session this year are able to take one of these classes and receive Teacher Quality funding. If you are interested, please register now to help us plan.
Using Google Apps (1 course repeated 4 times)
• April 9: IN040992111101
• April 16: IN040992111102
• May 7: IN040992111103
• May 21: IN040992111104
Tips and Tricks for Computer Applications (1 course repeated 4 times)
• March 5: IN040892111101
• March 26: IN040892111102
• April 2: IN040892111103
• April 16: IN040892111104
Q: I already did a Teacher Quality study group or class, can I still participate in these trainings?
A: Yes! Even if you have already participated in or are planning to participate in a different Teacher Quality activity you can receive this additional money for these technology offerings.
Q: How much will I earn for attending?
A: $100 (It is only three hours.)
Q: Why Saturdays?
A: To give staff members an opportunity to attend without missing time providing services to districts/schools and students.
Q: Could you do a class in our region?
A: This year we are trying to figure out the level of interest and willingness of staff to take classes on Saturday. If in the future a region has enough people interested, we would be happy to schedule this in a region.
Q: Why are these trainings only for certified staff?
A: Because Teacher Quality funding is only to be used for eligible staff.
Please read below for training information. Additional opportunities for Teacher Quality are available for certified staff members. Two classes are being offered. One will focus on Google Apps the Agency is using (Docs and Sites), and the other will discuss tips and tricks for using various computer applications (e.g., Word, PowerPoint). Each course will be three hours long and will be repeated four times through different Saturday sessions. Participants need only attend one session, as the content will be the same in each session.
There are still openings for all sessions. We will offer these courses at other times and next fall in order to ensure that others who wish to take the courses have opportunities as well that are at more convenient times.
We will be able to offer a stipend of approximately $100 for certified staff members who take these courses. Staff who are registered for another Teacher Quality session this year are able to take one of these classes and receive Teacher Quality funding. If you are interested, please register now to help us plan.
Using Google Apps (1 course repeated 4 times)
• April 9: IN040992111101
• April 16: IN040992111102
• May 7: IN040992111103
• May 21: IN040992111104
Tips and Tricks for Computer Applications (1 course repeated 4 times)
• March 5: IN040892111101
• March 26: IN040892111102
• April 2: IN040892111103
• April 16: IN040892111104
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