We are pleased to announce that the Heartland AEA Board of Directors has approved terms and conditions of employment for the Heartland Education Association (HEA), Classified Non-Union and Certified Non-Union employment groups for the 2012-2013 fiscal year. All package increases include the health insurance rate increase as well as the IPERS increase. The Agency’s health insurance rate will increase an average of 11.26% for the next fiscal year, and the IPERS employer contribution rate will increase from 8.07% to 8.67% for next year. Below is a summary of key points for each employment group.
Heartland Education Association – Certified Union
The settlement is a general fund package of 3.7% and a total package of 3.742% (compensation including Teacher Salary Supplement (TSS) plus benefits). A step 2 was added to the salary schedule across all lanes. All incoming employees with less than three years experience will be placed on step 2 of the salary schedule. Current employees will remain on step and receive a flat fixed dollar increase based on number of contract days worked.
Highlights of changes include Article 18 (H) Distribution of Teacher Salary Supplement moneys as described below.
In the 2011-12 contract year, each eligible employee represented by the Heartland Education Association received moneys based on the 2010-11 schedule. Each eligible employee received a step advancement on the schedule, and staff members on longevity for one year or more received $327. Payment was included in regular paychecks.
For the 2012-13 contract year, contingent upon receiving TSS, each eligible employee represented by the Heartland Education Association will receive moneys based on the 2011-12 schedule as described above, excluding the $327 longevity stipend. In addition, each cell on the 192-day TSS schedule is increased by $286.50, each cell on the 210-day TSS schedule is increased by $313.36 and each cell on the 225-day TSS schedule is increased by $335.74. The resulting 2012-13 TSS salary schedule utilizes all funds estimated to be available less the benefits estimated on those salaries.
Contracts are expected to be mailed no later than the first week of May. To learn more about these changes, please refer to the 2012-13 HEA Negotiated Agreement soon to be posted on the Intranet under Human Resources.
Certified Non-Union
A total package increase was approved at 3.25% plus adjustments to reduce the compensation gap between regional directors. This group includes staff such as regional directors and other certified leadership positions within the Agency. Contracts are expected to be mailed within a week.
Classified Non-Union
A total package increase was approved at 3.769%. Highlights of changes for this group include a new salary banding structure, which was a result of a years-long study using outside data sources of salaries based on job descriptions and functions within this group. Employment notices are expected to be mailed within a week.
We hope to be able to provide you with similar information for the Teamster’s settlement within the next few weeks.
If you have any questions about this information, please contact Laura Gillon, Executive Director of Human Resources, at lgillon@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14416.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Reminder: Deadline for Benefits Enrollment is April 25
Our online benefit enrollment will be open to all full-time and 96-day employees until 4:00 p.m. on April 25. Full-time employees will be enrolling in health, dental and medical flex spending, and part- time employees (96-day) will just be enrolling in medical flex spending. We will need your enrollment selections even if you choose not to make any changes to your benefits for next year.
This enrollment period is not for enrollment in the dependent care plan, which is done in November. If you have dependents who are under 26 years of age (regardless of their student or marital status) or if they are 26 or older but are full-time students and single, they may stay on your health and dental plans. You may also turn in out-of-pocket medical, dental and vision expenses under the medical flex spending plan for your dependents up to the age of 27.
Please take five minutes to enroll in your benefits for the new plan year. You will find a new tab on your Employee Dashboard called “Benefit Enrollment,” and it will step you through the enrollment process. While enrolling you’ll find a “Save and Finish Later” button at the bottom of the page that will allow you to leave and return to the program when you’re ready. You may change your benefit selections as many times as you’d like until the close of enrollment on April 25.
If you have any questions or would like to have someone help explain the differences in plans to you, don’t hesitate to contact Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at kmartin@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14385.
This enrollment period is not for enrollment in the dependent care plan, which is done in November. If you have dependents who are under 26 years of age (regardless of their student or marital status) or if they are 26 or older but are full-time students and single, they may stay on your health and dental plans. You may also turn in out-of-pocket medical, dental and vision expenses under the medical flex spending plan for your dependents up to the age of 27.
Please take five minutes to enroll in your benefits for the new plan year. You will find a new tab on your Employee Dashboard called “Benefit Enrollment,” and it will step you through the enrollment process. While enrolling you’ll find a “Save and Finish Later” button at the bottom of the page that will allow you to leave and return to the program when you’re ready. You may change your benefit selections as many times as you’d like until the close of enrollment on April 25.
If you have any questions or would like to have someone help explain the differences in plans to you, don’t hesitate to contact Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at kmartin@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14385.
Second Semester A-87 Certification for Federally Funded Staff
Heartland is continuing to comply with the federal grant rules identified in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-87 pertaining to documentation needed for federal expenditures. For employees whose positions are funded 100% with federal funding, there are Circular A-87 audit requirements we need to meet in order to document appropriate expenditures. If you are in the fully funded group, on April 17 you will receive an e-mail from aea11_online_systems_WF with the subject A87 Certification Notice - Action Required with a link to the certification page. The process is very simple and the same as previous certifications.
If you are new to this process or need a refresher, below is a link to a PowerPoint presentation that explains the background for Circular A-87 and the steps Heartland is taking to meet the A-87 requirements. Please watch the five-minute video by clicking on the link below. Keep in mind that the video was created in March 2011. Although, some of the dates and timelines in the video are outdated, the process and the purpose of the A-87 certification remain the same.
Video link: https://aea111.eduvision.tv/Default.aspx?q=3SfVi13wT7TQcvi960rMNg%253d%253d
Password: a87aea
You will need to click on the play button in order to start the video. As the video will explain, employees who are fully funded from one grant will need to certify every six months that they are performing duties allowed under the federal grant.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Brian Whalen, Business Manager, at bwhalen@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14005. The Business Office appreciates your prompt completion of the certifications and your assistance in helping us comply with this reporting requirement.
If you are new to this process or need a refresher, below is a link to a PowerPoint presentation that explains the background for Circular A-87 and the steps Heartland is taking to meet the A-87 requirements. Please watch the five-minute video by clicking on the link below. Keep in mind that the video was created in March 2011. Although, some of the dates and timelines in the video are outdated, the process and the purpose of the A-87 certification remain the same.
Video link: https://aea111.eduvision.tv/Default.aspx?q=3SfVi13wT7TQcvi960rMNg%253d%253d
Password: a87aea
You will need to click on the play button in order to start the video. As the video will explain, employees who are fully funded from one grant will need to certify every six months that they are performing duties allowed under the federal grant.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Brian Whalen, Business Manager, at bwhalen@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14005. The Business Office appreciates your prompt completion of the certifications and your assistance in helping us comply with this reporting requirement.
AEA Legislative Update
Click here to read the weekly legislative update from the AEAs’ lobbyists, Matt Eide and John Pederson, of the Eide & Heisinger firm.
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