Updates About Johnston REC HVAC System Remodeling

West Des Moines Walnut Creek Secured as Agency Meeting Space During HVAC Remodel 
The Agency is happy to announce that it is partnering with West Des Moines Schools to use the district’s Walnut Creek Campus as the site for agency meetings and temporary office space during the Johnston Regional Education Center’s (REC) HVAC system remodel, February 1 to June 1. 

The Walnut Creek building, which is located at 815 8th Street in West Des Moines, has many rooms, both large and small, to accommodate different types of meetings and temporary work spaces. It is handicapped accessible, has ample parking and is close to various restaurants. The entire West Des Moines Schools’ administration staff was housed in the building this summer and fall while their Learning Resource Center was being renovated.

We will do our best to provide as many amenities as possible, including wireless Internet, some rooms with dedicated LCD projectors and access to copying and printing. The wireless access will not be what we are used to in the Johnston REC, but it will be adequate for holding meetings and conducting agency business. There will be projectors and other possible equipment on-site for check out.

We also plan to have one or more agency staff members stationed at Walnut Creek during the four months we are there to provide support to staff and visitors. 

Room Rescheduling to Begin Immediately; Reminder About New Form 
As we told you in a previous Connection, all meetings scheduled in the Johnston REC from February 1 to June 1 will be moved due to the remodeling project. Cassie Britton, Central Office Administrative Assistant, will be rescheduling meetings—you do not need to reschedule them yourself. Rescheduling will begin immediately and will be done through the Resource Scheduler. Please pay attention to any emails you receive from the Resource Scheduler. A calendar for Walnut Creek will be added to the Resource Scheduler so you will be able to see what is happening there during February to June. 

We encourage you to communicate with Cassie about your event if you have any questions or concerns. If you need to schedule a new event, please fill out the Room Scheduling & Set-up Form. 

Revised Room Scheduling & Set-up Form 
Based on feedback, a few revisions were made to the new Conference Room Request & Set-up Form that was included in the past two Connections. Click here for the updated form. Remember that this form needs to be filled out when scheduling large conference room spaces at the Johnston Regional Education Center (REC) (Conference Rooms 3 & 4, 13A & B, 14 and 18) as well as off-site meeting spaces that require a fee (except those scheduled for regional meetings and regional planning council meetings). If you have any questions, contact Cassie Britton, Central Office Administrative Assistant, at cbritton@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14002. 

Staff Should Begin to Make Preparations for Remodeling Project 
As we prepare for the HVAC remodel, staff members who work in the Johnston REC should begin to make preparations for the project. Please begin looking through your files to see what you want to keep, take to the warehouse or shred. This will help you when it comes time to pack up your area during the project. When the time comes, you will need to take all of your personal items home so they are not damaged in anyway during the project. All staff members in the building should also be prepared for the possibility that your workstation may be torn down and reconfigured.