Operations Meeting
April 6
1:00-4:00 p.m.
Johnston REC, Conference Rooms 3 & 4
Central Office Teaching & Learning Meeting
April 7
8:30-11:30 a.m.
Johnston REC, Conference Rooms 3 & 4
Regional Meetings
April 8
8:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Regions 1 & 2 - Annunciation Church, Coon Rapids
Region 3 - Adel AEA office
Region 4 - Adel Public Library
Regions 5, 6, 7 - Ames AEA office
Region 8 - St. Mary of Nazareth Church, Des Moines
Region 9 - Johnston REC, Conference Rooms 3 & 4
Region 10 – Zion Lutheran Church, Des Moines
Region 11 - Indianola AEA office
Regions 12 & 14 - Third Reformed Church, Pella
Region 13 - Lutheran Church of the Cross, Cross Creek, Altoona
Monday, March 21, 2011
Setting the Agency’s Direction Update
The Leadership & Learning Planning Council met on March 21 to once again continue its work on allocation and assignment planning for certified staff members. The work has progressed and the details are beginning to fall into place. On March 22 certified staff members will receive an e-mail from the Communications Department on behalf of Human Resources regarding assignments to regions. Regional directors (partnership directors) will then follow-up with an e-mail to the staff members who will be working in their region with more details about opportunities for staff input about assignments and details regarding our work moving forward.
Stay tuned for a Setting Direction blog (http://direction.aea11.k12.ia.us) update on Wednesday of this week as well.
Stay tuned for a Setting Direction blog (http://direction.aea11.k12.ia.us) update on Wednesday of this week as well.
2011 Diversity Day Celebrations Coming Soon
Plans are being made for Diversity Day celebrations that are held annually around the Agency. Participation is voluntary, but these events are a great way to get to know your co-workers and a wonderful, informal learning opportunity.
Region 1
March 18, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Carroll Office
Staff members dined on corned beef to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and viewed displays of “Hobbies of the Heart(land)” to learn more about what their colleagues do during their “down” time.
Region 2
March 18, noon-1:30 p.m., Guthrie Center Office
Staff members celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with a potluck and listed to a presentation from staff member Summer Boes on the topic of foster care.
Regions 3 & 4
Plans will be shared soon
Regions 5, 6 & 7
April 8, Ames Office
Staff members will participate in a lunch & learn during which time they will watch a video about Kunawan Refugees.
Regions 8, 9, 10, 13 & 15 & Johnston REC & Administration Center staff
April 20 (Correction from original date that was published), 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Johnston REC, Conference Rooms 3 & 4
Staff members will dine on a potluck in which ethnic dishes are encouraged. A cultural competence documentary (title to be announced) will be viewed and discussed after the potluck.
Region 11
April 8, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Indianola Office
Diversity Day will include a “Foods from Other Cultures” potluck luncheon. Outside of participating in events at the office, staff can sign up to volunteer for the Warren County Habitat for Humanity, attend a cultural event or read a book from our selected book list. Participants can share their experiences during the Diversity Day luncheon. We will display our participation on an electronic survey graph and compare it to last year to see if we have increased participation in cultural and diverse experiences.
Region 12
March 22, 3:00 p.m., Location TBA
Staff members will watch the documentary Temple Grandin about how a young autistic woman succeeds against all odds.
Region 14
April 29, 12:00-1:30 p.m., Newton Office
Staff members will listen to guest speaker Marissa Schletzbaum, a 16-year-old student with Down syndrome, who will share information about her disability and supports that have helped her be successful. A potluck lunch will follow.
Region 1
March 18, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Carroll Office
Staff members dined on corned beef to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and viewed displays of “Hobbies of the Heart(land)” to learn more about what their colleagues do during their “down” time.
Region 2
March 18, noon-1:30 p.m., Guthrie Center Office
Staff members celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with a potluck and listed to a presentation from staff member Summer Boes on the topic of foster care.
Regions 3 & 4
Plans will be shared soon
Regions 5, 6 & 7
April 8, Ames Office
Staff members will participate in a lunch & learn during which time they will watch a video about Kunawan Refugees.
Regions 8, 9, 10, 13 & 15 & Johnston REC & Administration Center staff
April 20 (Correction from original date that was published), 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Johnston REC, Conference Rooms 3 & 4
Staff members will dine on a potluck in which ethnic dishes are encouraged. A cultural competence documentary (title to be announced) will be viewed and discussed after the potluck.
Region 11
April 8, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Indianola Office
Diversity Day will include a “Foods from Other Cultures” potluck luncheon. Outside of participating in events at the office, staff can sign up to volunteer for the Warren County Habitat for Humanity, attend a cultural event or read a book from our selected book list. Participants can share their experiences during the Diversity Day luncheon. We will display our participation on an electronic survey graph and compare it to last year to see if we have increased participation in cultural and diverse experiences.
Region 12
March 22, 3:00 p.m., Location TBA
Staff members will watch the documentary Temple Grandin about how a young autistic woman succeeds against all odds.
Region 14
April 29, 12:00-1:30 p.m., Newton Office
Staff members will listen to guest speaker Marissa Schletzbaum, a 16-year-old student with Down syndrome, who will share information about her disability and supports that have helped her be successful. A potluck lunch will follow.
AEA Legislative Report
Click here to download the weekly legislative report from AEA Government Relations Specialist Wayne Haddy.
Reminder: 2011-2012 Benefit Changes
The below two articles are being repeated from last week’s Connection.
Health Plan
Heartland will again be offering the Wellmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield health plan for the 2011-2012 year. The overall increase in rates will be 10.15%. This is an open enrollment year. This means that you may bring on eligible family members to both your health and dental coverage, to be effective July 1, 2011. We do not plan to have another open enrollment year for three years.
Changes:
• One routine/preventive colonoscopy ordered by your doctor will be paid at 100% regardless of whether a medical diagnosis is made during the colonoscopy. Currently, if a medical condition is diagnosed during the procedure, it goes towards your deductible.
• Due to changes in health care reform, in-network chiropractic care (now paid at $10 per visit) will be paid at 85%, as any other in-network office visit.
• Routine vision exam done at an in-network doctor (now paid at $10 per visit) will be paid at 85%, as any other in-network office visit.
• We have added a Tier 4 for convenience drugs. Convenience drugs are those that combine two drugs to make an expensive convenience drug. Wellmark is trying to discourage the use of these costly alternatives, and in fact, have eliminated them altogether for their own employees. However, they’ll be available to you, but at a higher co-pay. All Tier 4 drugs have a $75 co-pay, after you have met your $100 prescription deductible. Click here to download a list of drugs that are currently on the Tier 4 drug list. We will continue to offer Tier 1 generics at $5 with no deductible. Tier 2 and 3 will be offered at $20 and $35, respectively, after an annual $100 deductible per person has been met. No individual should ever pay more than one prescription deductible of $100 per calendar year. There is a maximum of two deductibles per family or $200 total. If you are currently taking a prescription for a Tier 4 drug, you may want to talk to your doctor now about trying a less expensive alternative.
• Due to changes in health care reform, the $5 million lifetime limit per person will be changed to unlimited.
• Smoking cessation consultation will be covered at 100% under preventive care (only with your PCP).
Delta Dental
• No changes in rates or coverage.
EyeMed Vision
• The insurance survey reflected three years of dissatisfaction with the EyeMed vision coverage. Feedback indicated you could get similar benefits without paying premiums by using a coupon or taking advantage of a sale. You also told us you were unhappy with the network of doctors and the difficulty you had coordinating a Wellmark provider for your routine vision exam and an EyeMed provider for your glasses or contacts. Because of this, our voluntary vision coverage through EyeMed will be discontinued June 30.
• If you currently carry the EyeMed voluntary vision insurance and are eligible for new lenses or frames (24 months since you purchased frames under the plan, 12 months since you purchased lenses under the plan, and 12 months since you purchased contact lenses under the plan), be sure to look into getting your vision hardware before June 30.
• The Insurance Committee will be searching for a vision plan with richer benefits that is accessible to all our employees. In the meantime, a vision discount plan will be offered this year. This plan uses EyeMed providers and is offered through our dental plan. It is free of charge to any full-time employee. There is no limit on the frequency of purchasing lenses or frames, and discounts such as 30% off of all frames and single vision lenses for $75 are some of the benefits that will be available after July 1. More information on how to take advantage of these discounts will be coming soon.
Take advantage of the in-person benefit meetings, benefit videos and other benefit materials available on the Intranet under the Benefits tab to learn more about your benefits. If you have any questions please contact Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at kmartin@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14385.
Health Plan
Heartland will again be offering the Wellmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield health plan for the 2011-2012 year. The overall increase in rates will be 10.15%. This is an open enrollment year. This means that you may bring on eligible family members to both your health and dental coverage, to be effective July 1, 2011. We do not plan to have another open enrollment year for three years.
Changes:
• One routine/preventive colonoscopy ordered by your doctor will be paid at 100% regardless of whether a medical diagnosis is made during the colonoscopy. Currently, if a medical condition is diagnosed during the procedure, it goes towards your deductible.
• Due to changes in health care reform, in-network chiropractic care (now paid at $10 per visit) will be paid at 85%, as any other in-network office visit.
• Routine vision exam done at an in-network doctor (now paid at $10 per visit) will be paid at 85%, as any other in-network office visit.
• We have added a Tier 4 for convenience drugs. Convenience drugs are those that combine two drugs to make an expensive convenience drug. Wellmark is trying to discourage the use of these costly alternatives, and in fact, have eliminated them altogether for their own employees. However, they’ll be available to you, but at a higher co-pay. All Tier 4 drugs have a $75 co-pay, after you have met your $100 prescription deductible. Click here to download a list of drugs that are currently on the Tier 4 drug list. We will continue to offer Tier 1 generics at $5 with no deductible. Tier 2 and 3 will be offered at $20 and $35, respectively, after an annual $100 deductible per person has been met. No individual should ever pay more than one prescription deductible of $100 per calendar year. There is a maximum of two deductibles per family or $200 total. If you are currently taking a prescription for a Tier 4 drug, you may want to talk to your doctor now about trying a less expensive alternative.
• Due to changes in health care reform, the $5 million lifetime limit per person will be changed to unlimited.
• Smoking cessation consultation will be covered at 100% under preventive care (only with your PCP).
Delta Dental
• No changes in rates or coverage.
EyeMed Vision
• The insurance survey reflected three years of dissatisfaction with the EyeMed vision coverage. Feedback indicated you could get similar benefits without paying premiums by using a coupon or taking advantage of a sale. You also told us you were unhappy with the network of doctors and the difficulty you had coordinating a Wellmark provider for your routine vision exam and an EyeMed provider for your glasses or contacts. Because of this, our voluntary vision coverage through EyeMed will be discontinued June 30.
• If you currently carry the EyeMed voluntary vision insurance and are eligible for new lenses or frames (24 months since you purchased frames under the plan, 12 months since you purchased lenses under the plan, and 12 months since you purchased contact lenses under the plan), be sure to look into getting your vision hardware before June 30.
• The Insurance Committee will be searching for a vision plan with richer benefits that is accessible to all our employees. In the meantime, a vision discount plan will be offered this year. This plan uses EyeMed providers and is offered through our dental plan. It is free of charge to any full-time employee. There is no limit on the frequency of purchasing lenses or frames, and discounts such as 30% off of all frames and single vision lenses for $75 are some of the benefits that will be available after July 1. More information on how to take advantage of these discounts will be coming soon.
Take advantage of the in-person benefit meetings, benefit videos and other benefit materials available on the Intranet under the Benefits tab to learn more about your benefits. If you have any questions please contact Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at kmartin@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14385.
Reminder: 2011 Benefit Meetings and Communication
We want to thank you for taking the time to complete the Insurance Survey in January. In response to the feedback we received, we will be offering additional means of communication specific to insurance changes for the 2011-2012 year.
You told us it would work well if we could give you a variety of ways to learn about your benefits because every person is different. You also said that the best way to inform you about benefits was by offering an in-person meeting. Therefore, we will be offering benefit meetings, benefit videos on the Intranet, personal e-mails about once a quarter to focus on specific benefit changes or problems, and articles in The Connection. We hope you will offer us feedback next January on how each of these worked for you and what suggestions you might have for the future.
All in-person benefit meetings are optional and will be two hours in length. We have tried to offer a variety of locations so that no staff member will have to drive more than 40 minutes in order to attend. However, you may attend any of the meetings listed below.
April 8
2 – 4 p.m. Annunciation Parish Hall, 723 Elm Street, Coon Rapids
April 11
2 – 4 p.m. Newton Public Library, 100 N. 3rd Ave West, Newton
April 13
2 – 4 p.m. Conference Rooms 3 & 4, Johnston Regional Education Center
April 14
2 – 4 p.m. AEA office, Ames
April 15
2 – 4 p.m. AEA office, Indianola
April 22
2 – 4 p.m. Conference Rooms 13 A & B, Johnston Regional Education Center
We hope you will choose the education method that works best for you to make sure you are well informed about your benefits. If you have questions about your benefits or the benefit meetings, please contact Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at kmartin@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14385.
You told us it would work well if we could give you a variety of ways to learn about your benefits because every person is different. You also said that the best way to inform you about benefits was by offering an in-person meeting. Therefore, we will be offering benefit meetings, benefit videos on the Intranet, personal e-mails about once a quarter to focus on specific benefit changes or problems, and articles in The Connection. We hope you will offer us feedback next January on how each of these worked for you and what suggestions you might have for the future.
All in-person benefit meetings are optional and will be two hours in length. We have tried to offer a variety of locations so that no staff member will have to drive more than 40 minutes in order to attend. However, you may attend any of the meetings listed below.
April 8
2 – 4 p.m. Annunciation Parish Hall, 723 Elm Street, Coon Rapids
April 11
2 – 4 p.m. Newton Public Library, 100 N. 3rd Ave West, Newton
April 13
2 – 4 p.m. Conference Rooms 3 & 4, Johnston Regional Education Center
April 14
2 – 4 p.m. AEA office, Ames
April 15
2 – 4 p.m. AEA office, Indianola
April 22
2 – 4 p.m. Conference Rooms 13 A & B, Johnston Regional Education Center
We hope you will choose the education method that works best for you to make sure you are well informed about your benefits. If you have questions about your benefits or the benefit meetings, please contact Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at kmartin@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14385.
Instructor Needed for Exceptional Learner Professional Development Course
Heartland is in need of a qualified instructor for our I-Learn: The Exceptional Learner course. This 2-credit course is offered over the summer. Some of the major areas that will be addressed include special education procedures, learning stages, learning strategies, instructional and material adaptations, testing, grading and behavior management. Matching instruction to learner needs will be emphasized. If you would be interested in teaching this course, please contact Sue Schirmer, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant – Relicensure, at sschirmer@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14379.
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