Heartland AEA is pleased to announce the commencement of contract negotiations as outlined below. All meetings are open to all staff and the public.
The Heartland Education Association (HEA) will be presenting its opening negotiations on January 19, 2012, from 4:00-5:00 p.m., at the Heartland AEA Administration Center, 6445 Corporate Drive, Johnston in Conference Room 116. Heartland AEA will be presenting its response on January 25, 2012, from 4:00-5:00 p.m., at the Heartland AEA Administration Center in the Board Room.
The Teamsters Local #238 will be presenting its opening negotiations on January 12, 2012, from 3:30-5:00 p.m., at the Heartland AEA Administration Center, 6445 Corporate Drive, Johnston in Conference Room 116. Heartland AEA will be presenting its response on January 18, 2012, from 3:30-5:00 p.m., at the Heartland AEA Administration Center in Conference Room 116.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Q & A About Employee Wellness Program
After kicking off the Wellness program with presentations at regional meetings a few weeks ago, there have been some common questions that have come up. Below you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions. You can also find a full list of frequently asked questions under “View Heartland Wellness FAQs” on the Wellness tab on your Employee Dashboard. Don’t forget to schedule your physical and fill out your well-being assessment on Wellmark’s website before February 15!
Q. I already had my physical but didn’t get any blood work done. Will my routine blood work be covered now if I go back after my physical?
A. Yes, you can now get your routine blood work done before or after your physical and it will still be covered at 100% (as long as it is coded as “routine/preventive”). This is a change from past years.
Q. If I work part-time and do not have Heartland’s insurance coverage, do I get to participate?
A. Unfortunately there is no other way to replicate the well-being assessment other than through Wellmark’s website, so if you do not have Heartland insurance, you can’t fill out the well-being assessment. However, even though you won’t be able to fill out the assessment, part-time employees will have access to all of Heartland’s Wellness activities and programs (as they become available).
Q. What kind of programs/incentives are you putting together for the Wellness program?
A. In February the Wellness Committee will be looking at an aggregate well-being report for Heartland employees. At that time, the committee will help to determine what programs will be most beneficial to target areas of concern for employees. At this time, if you have any ideas for potential programs, please route the information to your Wellness Coordinator for the discussion in February.
Q. What if I am covered under two different Wellmark health policies (one through a spouse)? Which policy number do I use when I am registering for the website?
A. When you register for the Wellmark website, please use the policy number you have through Heartland. This is the only way for Wellmark to know that you are a Heartland employee.
Q. How will you know I filled out the well-being assessment?
A. After February 15, Wellmark will provide us with a list of people who filled out the assessment. They will provide us with names only, so we can determine which region had the highest percentage of people participate.
Q. Will Wellmark look at my information? And can they use my health information to change our rates?
A. No. Wellmark is governed by HIPAA regulations and will never share the information with your employer or your physician. They will never use the information to increase rates or deny coverage. See the link under the Wellness tab on the Employee Dashboard titled “Is Your Personal Health information Protected?” for more information.
Q. I already had my physical but didn’t get any blood work done. Will my routine blood work be covered now if I go back after my physical?
A. Yes, you can now get your routine blood work done before or after your physical and it will still be covered at 100% (as long as it is coded as “routine/preventive”). This is a change from past years.
Q. If I work part-time and do not have Heartland’s insurance coverage, do I get to participate?
A. Unfortunately there is no other way to replicate the well-being assessment other than through Wellmark’s website, so if you do not have Heartland insurance, you can’t fill out the well-being assessment. However, even though you won’t be able to fill out the assessment, part-time employees will have access to all of Heartland’s Wellness activities and programs (as they become available).
Q. What kind of programs/incentives are you putting together for the Wellness program?
A. In February the Wellness Committee will be looking at an aggregate well-being report for Heartland employees. At that time, the committee will help to determine what programs will be most beneficial to target areas of concern for employees. At this time, if you have any ideas for potential programs, please route the information to your Wellness Coordinator for the discussion in February.
Q. What if I am covered under two different Wellmark health policies (one through a spouse)? Which policy number do I use when I am registering for the website?
A. When you register for the Wellmark website, please use the policy number you have through Heartland. This is the only way for Wellmark to know that you are a Heartland employee.
Q. How will you know I filled out the well-being assessment?
A. After February 15, Wellmark will provide us with a list of people who filled out the assessment. They will provide us with names only, so we can determine which region had the highest percentage of people participate.
Q. Will Wellmark look at my information? And can they use my health information to change our rates?
A. No. Wellmark is governed by HIPAA regulations and will never share the information with your employer or your physician. They will never use the information to increase rates or deny coverage. See the link under the Wellness tab on the Employee Dashboard titled “Is Your Personal Health information Protected?” for more information.
Important 2012 Payroll Tax Tips
You can help ensure that the Social Security Administration correctly posts earnings to your retirement earnings account. Make sure your name under Home Address in the Personal Information section of Employee Online (available via your Employee Dashboard) matches exactly with your current Social Security card name. Report any discrepancies to Payroll immediately. Any name discrepancy means the Social Security Administration will not be able to post earnings to your retirement earnings record correctly, and it could result in a penalty to the Agency.
Tax filing season is a good time to review the amount of federal and state income tax you are having withheld from your paycheck. Have you had any major life changes, e.g., gotten married, had a child, purchased a home, experienced your spouse beginning or stopping work, etc.? Your income tax withholding can be adjusted at any time through Tax Information in the Tax Status section of Employee Online. You can model the impact of your tax withholding changes on your net pay by using the What If calculator under the Pay Check section under the Employee Online tab.
Uncertain how to determine if you’re having the right amount of federal income tax withheld from your paycheck? IRS Publication 919, “How Do I Adjust My Tax Withholding,” may be a useful tool for you. The 2012 version of this publication should be available around February 1. You can obtain this publication from the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p919.pdf.
Please consult with your tax preparer, legal advisor, the IRS or the Iowa Department of Revenue with your specific tax questions. Heartland cannot provide tax advice or help you complete tax forms. Payroll questions can be directed to Steve Jordan, Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14908 or Michelle Westcott, Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14422.
Tax filing season is a good time to review the amount of federal and state income tax you are having withheld from your paycheck. Have you had any major life changes, e.g., gotten married, had a child, purchased a home, experienced your spouse beginning or stopping work, etc.? Your income tax withholding can be adjusted at any time through Tax Information in the Tax Status section of Employee Online. You can model the impact of your tax withholding changes on your net pay by using the What If calculator under the Pay Check section under the Employee Online tab.
Uncertain how to determine if you’re having the right amount of federal income tax withheld from your paycheck? IRS Publication 919, “How Do I Adjust My Tax Withholding,” may be a useful tool for you. The 2012 version of this publication should be available around February 1. You can obtain this publication from the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p919.pdf.
Please consult with your tax preparer, legal advisor, the IRS or the Iowa Department of Revenue with your specific tax questions. Heartland cannot provide tax advice or help you complete tax forms. Payroll questions can be directed to Steve Jordan, Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14908 or Michelle Westcott, Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14422.
Paycheck Update: FICA (Social Security) Tax Rate for 2012
In December 2010 President Obama signed into law the “Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act,” also referred to as the Tax Relief Act of 2010. One of the key provisions of the Act was a reduction in the FICA tax rate paid by employees from 6.2% to 4.2%. This change resulted in more take-home pay each pay period in 2011. The reduction in the FICA tax rate was only for 2011.
Late last month the “Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011” was passed by Congress. The Act temporarily extends the two-percentage point payroll tax cut for employees, continuing the reduction of their FICA tax-withholding rate from 6.2% to 4.2% of wages paid through February 29, 2012. Indications are Congress would like to extend the FICA rate reduction throughout all of 2012, providing they can agree on a way to pay for this temporary tax cut. We’ll continue to monitor this situation and will keep you informed.
Questions may be directed to Steve Jordan, Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14908 or Michelle Westcott, Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14422.
Late last month the “Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011” was passed by Congress. The Act temporarily extends the two-percentage point payroll tax cut for employees, continuing the reduction of their FICA tax-withholding rate from 6.2% to 4.2% of wages paid through February 29, 2012. Indications are Congress would like to extend the FICA rate reduction throughout all of 2012, providing they can agree on a way to pay for this temporary tax cut. We’ll continue to monitor this situation and will keep you informed.
Questions may be directed to Steve Jordan, Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14908 or Michelle Westcott, Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14422.
Teacher Quality Sign Up Delayed One Week
The information needed to register for Teacher Quality courses will not be available until next week. Many individuals have been working hard to get all course proposals submitted and processed and there will be many wonderful learning opportunities available for Heartland staff. Check next week’s Connection for registration information. Thanks for your patience and understanding.
January 2012 School Leader Update
Click here to download the January 2012 issue of the School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education.
Tell Us Your Good News!
At the last regional meeting, a form called Heartland AEA Newsmakers should have been handed out to those in attendance to solicit good news stories of services that are being provided to our students and educators. The response was a bit less than we had hoped for! To try to help spur on our efforts, we’re providing the form in an electronic version that will replace the previous “Good News” form on the Intranet. It can be filled out anytime, anywhere, and the information will go to the Communications Dept.
The Communications Dept. would like to highlight the great work our staff does on a daily basis, but we can’t do that unless you tell us about some specific examples of that great work. Click here to go to the form and to submit your story about how you positively impact lives every day!
The Communications Dept. would like to highlight the great work our staff does on a daily basis, but we can’t do that unless you tell us about some specific examples of that great work. Click here to go to the form and to submit your story about how you positively impact lives every day!
January 2012 Board of Directors Meeting Agenda
Click here to download the agenda for the January 2012 Heartland Board of Directors meeting.
Bookmark HEART’s New URL
In September 2011, the HEART database was moved to a new address. We recently discontinued the redirect messages from the old server addresses. All HEART users in the Heartland area now use this address: https://heart1.aea11.k12.ia.us to log in. If you haven't already, please update your bookmarks to this address.
Branstad-Reynolds Administration Unveils Final Recommendations for World-Class Schools
Last Friday Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds released their final recommendations for restoring Iowa’s standing as a leader in education and preparing all students to compete for jobs in a global economy.
The document represents an overview of proposed education legislation that will be presented by the Governor and Lt. Governor in the 2012 session.
The recommendations stay true to three key areas outlined in a blueprint for education reform released by the Branstad-Reynolds administration in October: highly effective teachers and leaders, high expectations for all students with fair measures for results, and innovation that boosts learning.
In July, the Branstad-Reynolds administration convened an education summit to discuss ideas about what it takes to lead the world in education. As part of the summit, the Iowa Department of Education released a report, “Rising to Greatness: An Imperative for Improving Iowa’s Schools.” The report documented Iowa’s stagnation in math and reading competency compared to other states and nations.
The education blueprint released in October was a starting point for meaningful change. Members of the Branstad-Reynolds administration traveled the state last fall to listen to ideas at dozens of town hall meetings.
One change made as a result of input from Iowans: Doing more, beginning in preschool, to help students read by the end of third grade. At that point, most students go from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.” Students who finish third grade without meeting basic literacy requirements across a broad set of measures would be retained and provided intensive reading assistance.
Another change adds state standards for music and other fine arts, applied arts, physical education, character education and entrepreneurship education.
Key proposals include:
• Be more selective about who can become an educator by requiring a 3.0 grade-point average to gain admission into teacher preparation programs.
• Candidates for teaching licensure must pass a test demonstrating content-specific and teaching knowledge.
• Evaluate teachers annually instead of every three years, which is the current requirement. Principals and superintendents also would be evaluated each year.
• Widen the pathways to alternative teacher licensure with a number of quality assurance checks.
• Make seniority a minor factor in deciding which teachers are laid off by a school district faced with reducing the workforce. Annual evaluations based on performance should be the main factor.
• Establish state task forces to study important long-term issues, such as teacher leadership, compensation and questions about extending the school day or school year.
• Give all preschool students and enrolled 4-year-olds a kindergarten readiness assessment to determine early literacy and numeracy skills.
• High school students will take end-of-course exams in core academic areas of algebra, English, science and U.S. history to make sure they have a solid foundation before they graduate and to better align high school courses to the Iowa Core.
• All 11th grade students take a college entrance exam as a way to provide one of the keys needed for postsecondary education. Phase out the current 11th grade assessment, the Iowa Tests of Educational Development.
• Eliminate requirements around seat time for academic credit to accommodate school districts that choose to adopt a system of competency-based education, which advances students based on their mastery of subjects.
• Widen the pathway for starting charter schools by giving the State Board of Education authority to approve charter applications from universities, community colleges and nonprofit organizations, as well as collaborative efforts of all these groups. Iowa’s current charter school law is restrictive in that it only allows existing school districts to establish charter schools.
• Give school districts greater flexibility to meet state requirements so that public schools can better apply innovative ideas to improve learning. School districts would have the same flexibility that charter schools have.
For more information, please visit www.educateiowa.gov.
The document represents an overview of proposed education legislation that will be presented by the Governor and Lt. Governor in the 2012 session.
The recommendations stay true to three key areas outlined in a blueprint for education reform released by the Branstad-Reynolds administration in October: highly effective teachers and leaders, high expectations for all students with fair measures for results, and innovation that boosts learning.
In July, the Branstad-Reynolds administration convened an education summit to discuss ideas about what it takes to lead the world in education. As part of the summit, the Iowa Department of Education released a report, “Rising to Greatness: An Imperative for Improving Iowa’s Schools.” The report documented Iowa’s stagnation in math and reading competency compared to other states and nations.
The education blueprint released in October was a starting point for meaningful change. Members of the Branstad-Reynolds administration traveled the state last fall to listen to ideas at dozens of town hall meetings.
One change made as a result of input from Iowans: Doing more, beginning in preschool, to help students read by the end of third grade. At that point, most students go from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.” Students who finish third grade without meeting basic literacy requirements across a broad set of measures would be retained and provided intensive reading assistance.
Another change adds state standards for music and other fine arts, applied arts, physical education, character education and entrepreneurship education.
Key proposals include:
• Be more selective about who can become an educator by requiring a 3.0 grade-point average to gain admission into teacher preparation programs.
• Candidates for teaching licensure must pass a test demonstrating content-specific and teaching knowledge.
• Evaluate teachers annually instead of every three years, which is the current requirement. Principals and superintendents also would be evaluated each year.
• Widen the pathways to alternative teacher licensure with a number of quality assurance checks.
• Make seniority a minor factor in deciding which teachers are laid off by a school district faced with reducing the workforce. Annual evaluations based on performance should be the main factor.
• Establish state task forces to study important long-term issues, such as teacher leadership, compensation and questions about extending the school day or school year.
• Give all preschool students and enrolled 4-year-olds a kindergarten readiness assessment to determine early literacy and numeracy skills.
• High school students will take end-of-course exams in core academic areas of algebra, English, science and U.S. history to make sure they have a solid foundation before they graduate and to better align high school courses to the Iowa Core.
• All 11th grade students take a college entrance exam as a way to provide one of the keys needed for postsecondary education. Phase out the current 11th grade assessment, the Iowa Tests of Educational Development.
• Eliminate requirements around seat time for academic credit to accommodate school districts that choose to adopt a system of competency-based education, which advances students based on their mastery of subjects.
• Widen the pathway for starting charter schools by giving the State Board of Education authority to approve charter applications from universities, community colleges and nonprofit organizations, as well as collaborative efforts of all these groups. Iowa’s current charter school law is restrictive in that it only allows existing school districts to establish charter schools.
• Give school districts greater flexibility to meet state requirements so that public schools can better apply innovative ideas to improve learning. School districts would have the same flexibility that charter schools have.
For more information, please visit www.educateiowa.gov.
Do You Know a Student Who Would Be Interested in New State Learning Council?
Iowa students are invited to apply for a seat on a new state advisory council formed by Iowa Department of Education Director Jason Glass.
The Learning Council, which will be made up of 15 students, complements efforts by the Branstad-Reynolds administration and Director Glass to get input from various stakeholders across the state on transforming Iowa’s education system. The administration released a comprehensive education package last Friday that focuses on three key areas: highly effective educators, high expectations for all students with fair measures for results and innovation that boosts learning.
“Students deserve a seat at the table in discussions about the future of their schools,” Glass said. “I look forward to hearing their input and ideas.”
Students enrolled in grades 8-12 from public and nonpublic schools in Iowa may apply. Meetings will take place in March, May, September and December. Council members also will communicate via e-mail.
Applications can be found here and must be returned by Jan. 31. Students who are chosen to serve on the council will be notified by Feb. 10.
The Learning Council, which will be made up of 15 students, complements efforts by the Branstad-Reynolds administration and Director Glass to get input from various stakeholders across the state on transforming Iowa’s education system. The administration released a comprehensive education package last Friday that focuses on three key areas: highly effective educators, high expectations for all students with fair measures for results and innovation that boosts learning.
“Students deserve a seat at the table in discussions about the future of their schools,” Glass said. “I look forward to hearing their input and ideas.”
Students enrolled in grades 8-12 from public and nonpublic schools in Iowa may apply. Meetings will take place in March, May, September and December. Council members also will communicate via e-mail.
Applications can be found here and must be returned by Jan. 31. Students who are chosen to serve on the council will be notified by Feb. 10.
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