Monday, October 10, 2011

Special Education Staff: EER Google Docs Training Information

In last week’s Connection we let everyone know that we will be using Google Docs to share and store our Educational Evaluation Reports while they are being developed. (See last week's article here.) All staff who write EERs are being asked to attend a training session to learn about the use of Google Docs and to get updates about the development of EERs. We will begin using the new EER form, and we will discontinue use of the form currently in the Web IEP during the first week of November.

If you have not completed the pre-training survey, please do so as soon as possible.
Survey Link: http://bit.ly/qqfzGc

If you are able to complete the survey that means that you already have a Google account and are able to enter the Heartland Google Domain. It also means that you do not have to attend the first 45 minutes of the training.


If you are not able to complete the survey, you may contact Joshua Burke webmanager@aea11.k12.ia.us or Jim Lagnese jlagnese@aea11.k12.ia.us before the training for assistance, or you will receive help during the first 45 minutes of the training.

All staff who write EERs should attend one of these sessions. The training is being offered three times in each region. You may attend in any region. All staff should register by going to https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/YYYYYYYYYYYYYYSRCH and typing in the activity number listed by the session you want to attend in the table below or by clicking on the appropriate URL. You may also download the schedule by clicking here.

If you cannot make any of the training sessions below, we will have two live webinars on November 9. These will originate from the Johnston Regional Education Center in Room 13A. You may access the webinar from any location with Internet connection at http://iowa.adobeconnect.com/eer/.

Sign in as a guest which does not require a password. You will be able to text questions during the webinar. If you have not used Google Docs and/or are not able to access the Heartland Domain (this means you were not able to complete the survey), you will need to contact Joshua Burke or Jim Lagnese before the webinar. These webinars are being offered to accommodate staff who may not be able to make a face-to-face session, but all staff are strongly encouraged to attend a face-to-face session.

Participants are asked to make sure they have downloaded the State Procedures Manual and Documentation Guide available on the Heartland AEA website. To find the guide on the website, go to the front page, click on the Educators tab, click the Special Education link, then click Resources and download the “State Procedures Manual and Documentation Guide, July 1, 2011.”
For a more direct route, go to http://www.aea11.k12.ia.us/educators/sped/resources.html.

Regional EER Google Docs Training Schedule
October 31 (Region 7)
Time: 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Location: Ames Office A and B
Activity Number: IN043792111201
URL: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/IN043792111201SIT

Time: 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Location: Ames AEA Office A & B
Activity Number: IN043792111202
URL: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/IN043792111202SIT

Time: 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Location: Ames AEA Office A & B
Activity Number: IN043792111203
URL: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/IN043792111203SIT

November 1 (Region 8)
Time: 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Location: DMACC Newton, Room 210B
Activity Number: IN043799111203
URL: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/IN043799111203SIT

Time: 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Location: Clay Elementary, Room D124
Activity Number: IN043761011201
URL: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/IN043761011201SIT

Time: 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Location: Clay Elementary, Room D124
Activity Number: IN043761011202
URL: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/IN043761011202SIT

November 2 (Regions 5 & 6)
Time: 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Location: Johnston REC, Room 18
Activity Number: IN043792111205
URL: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/IN043792111205SIT

Time: 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Location: Johnston REC, Room 18
Activity Number: IN043792111206
URL: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/IN043792111206SIT

Time: 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Location: Johnston REC, Room 18
Activity Number: IN043792111207
URL: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/IN043792111207SIT

November 3 (Region 1)
Time: 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Location: Guthrie Center AEA Office
Activity Number: IN043792111204
URL: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/IN043792111204SIT

Time: 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Location: Carroll DMACC, Room 173
Activity Number: IN043799111201
URL: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/IN043799111201SIT

Time: 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Location: Carroll DMACC, Room 173
Activity Number: IN043799111202
URL: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/IN043799111202SIT

November 4 (Region 3)
Time: 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Location: Indianola AEA Office
Activity Number: IN043792111208
URL: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/IN043792111208SIT

Time: 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Location: Indianola AEA Office
Activity Number: IN043792111209
URL: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/IN043792111209SIT

Time: 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Location: Knoxville Library
Activity Number: IN043799991201
URL: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/IN043799991201SIT

November 7 (Region 4)
Time: 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Location: Johnston REC, Room 13B
Activity Number: IN043792111210
URL: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/IN043792111210SIT

Time: 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Location: Johnston REC, Room 13B
Activity Number: IN043792111211
URL: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/IN043792111211SIT

Time: 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Location: Johnston REC, Room 13B
Activity Number: IN043792111212
URL: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/IN043792111212SIT

November 8 (Region 2)
Time: 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Location: Adel AEA Office
Activity Number: IN043792111213
URL: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/IN043792111213SIT

Time: 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Location: Adel AEA Office
Activity Number: IN043792111214
URL: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/IN043792111214SIT

Time: 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Location: Adel AEA Office
Activity Number: IN043792111215
URL: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/IN043792111215SIT

Clarification of Agency Paid CPR Classes

During the planning of CPR Classes this Fall, there was a miscommunication regarding agency payment of CPR/AED and/or First Aid class fees. Please note the following correction:

“The Agency will pay class fees for staff that require CPR/AED certification in order to maintain their professional license or if a staff member is a formal crisis responder for the agency as listed in the Crisis Action Plan. The independent First Aid Class fees will only be paid by the agency for crisis responders."

We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

October 2011 Board of Directors Meeting Agenda

Click here to download the agenda for the October 11 Heartland AEA Board of Directors meeting.

IEC Customer Service Evaluation

The Iowa Educators Consortium (IEC) is an initiative of Iowa’s Area Education Agencies and was formed as an independent, tax-exempt, nonprofit institution that supports the mission of the Area Education Agencies. The IEC would like to invite you to participate in the following survey to help them plan for the 2012-2013 school year as well as to learn how to better serve Iowa schools and AEAs in the future. All of your responses will be kept confidential unless you indicate otherwise. http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22D87DYERZZ

United Way Campaign Is Off and Running!

Thank you to all who participated in “Going Casual for the Kids Day,” our kick-off to this year’s United Way campaign. Remember to give your $5 donation to the designated regional staff person (see list below). Checks should be made payable to “United Way.” Designate in the memo section which United Way you would like your funds to go to. If you do not designate an office, your funds will be sent to the United Way of Central Iowa.

Region 1 – Janet Steinkamp (Carroll) and Colleen Chalfant (Guthrie Center)

Region 2 – Angela Bosworth

Region 3 – Kathy Teigland (Indianola) and Annette DeRouchey (Knoxville)

Region 4 & Central Staff – Katie Streff

Region 5 – Sue Mostek

Region 6 – Mary Johnson

Region 7 – Donna Wagnor

Region 8 – Carrie Roose (Newton) and Jodi Capps (Clay Elementary)

Johnston Administration Center – Carolyn Jones

SCEP – Christina Allen


Online Auction

Our Online Auction will kick off next Monday, October 17. You will be able to access the auction while in the schools or at home. The auction will close at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, October 21.


To have an online auction, we first need items to bid on! Send a digital photo and short description of your item to the Communications Department at comms@aea11.k12.ia.us by October 14. We ask that you keep items until the close of the auction.
Winners will be notified by email the week of October 24 to send in their payments. Write checks payable to “United Way.” Items will be sent to you through the van mail after you have sent your checks to Claire Sowder in the Johnston Administration Center. (Private delivery arrangements must be made for items too large or heavy for Heartland van delivery.) When all the payments are received, we will announce the winners of each item in the November issue of the HeartBeat.

Pledge Cards

Pledge cards are an easy way to donate to the United Way. You may designate in the lower left-hand corner of the card where you want your donation to go. Everyone who hands in a pledge card donation of any amount will receive a casual day sticker. Casual day stickers will be distributed after the pledge cards have been processed.

There are two classes of contributors that we intend to promote in our campaign:

Loyal Contributors

Employees who donate a minimum of $3 per pay period or a $72 one-time donation will be entered in a drawing to win one of several prizes.

Leadership Circle
Employees who donate a minimum of $42 per pay period or a $1010 one-time donation will be formally recognized as a Leadership Circle donor and will also be entered in a drawing to win one of several prizes.


Prizes in the drawing include three United Way Days. Winners of a United Way Day may take time from work to give back to the community. Winners will then share their day’s experiences in a future HeartBeat issue.


Designated office staff will have pledge forms available October 10-21. When completed, give it back to the designated office staff person who will collect completed forms for each office.


If for any reason you do not wish to donate to United Way, the Community Health Charities of Iowa and Iowa Shares are two other charity organizations in which you can donate. We are unable to do payroll deductions for these organizations at this time. If you choose to donate to these organizations, you can contact the agencies at the following:

Community Health Charities of Iowa (877) 517-6266

Iowa Shares (319) 338-1446


All events are purely voluntary but will be fun!

Submission Procedure for The Connection

The Connection is sent on Monday afternoons to all Heartland AEA staff. The Connection is a source for communicating important agency information that affects our work, and all staff are required to read it. If you have any information you’d like to communicate in the Connection, send it to Courtney Croatt, Communications Specialist, at ccroatt@aea11.k12.ia.us.