The so-called “fiscal cliff” has been avoided, or at least deferred for a few months, by the passage and signing of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. This act continues the graduated federal income tax withholding rates of 10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33% and 35%. A new top rate of 39.6% has been added and will impact individuals earning more than $400,000 and couples earning more than $450,000. Because the existing federal income tax withholding rates were maintained, employees will not see an increase in the amount of federal income tax withheld from their paychecks in 2013. In fact, most employees will see a slight decrease in federal income tax withholding because the wage brackets have been adjusted for inflation.
The FICA (Social Security) withholding rate for employees had been reduced from 6.2% to 4.2% for calendar years 2011 and 2012. The reduction in the FICA withholding rate was not extended. This increase in the FICA withholding rate will decrease the amount of your take home pay.
As noted in the December 17, 2012 Connection, you can estimate the impact of the FICA rate change by viewing a recent pay stub. Login to your Employee Dashboard and select the Employee Online navigation tab at the top of the page, just like the Intranet or Leave Online tabs. Once in Employee Online, go to the left-hand navigation and click on the link that says Pay Stub to find your pay stubs. Locate your current FICA deduction (at 4.2%) shown in the POST-TAX DEDUCTIONS box on the right hand side of your pay stub and the FICA Contribution (at 6.2%) shown under the EMPLOYER PAID BENEFITS section of your pay stub. The difference between these amounts is the amount your net pay may decrease beginning with your January 15, 2013 paycheck.
If you have any questions, contact Steve Jordan, Payroll Specialist, at sjordan@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14908.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Bloodborne Pathogen Training
Last August, many Heartland AEA employees tried to renew their Bloodborne Pathogen Training and encountered difficulty because the training system was overloaded. To avoid wait times in August we would suggest that you go into the system, at your convenience, and take the training again. This can be anytime between now and August. Doing so will reset your expiration to the new date, and help to avoid everyone taking the training in August.
Update Your Beneficiaries
The sad events of last month are a good reminder that we all need to take the time to update our beneficiary information.
Has your life situation changed? Have you gotten married or divorced? Perhaps your children have grown and changed names? Or perhaps your younger children are now old enough that you want them listed as your beneficiaries?
Life Insurance
Every full-time employee has agency provided life insurance. Click here for a life beneficiary form. Your spouse’s signature is not required and you do not need a witness. Mail (do not e-mail or fax) the original form back to Carolyn Jones in Human Resources.
IPERS
All full-time, part-time and some regular hourly employees have IPERS. To find out who you have listed as your beneficiary, to verify that your contact information is up-to-date or to get an estimate of your benefits, register today on their website, www.ipers.org. Under Members, click on Member login>My Account. IPERS just updated its online system so you will be required to go through the registration process again. For help, contact IPERS at (515) 281-0020 or (800) 622-3849.
Click here for an IPERS change of beneficiary form. This form must be signed by your spouse (if applicable) and must be witnessed by someone who is not one of your beneficiaries. A hard copy, original form must be mailed directly to IPERS at the address on the form.
Questions about updating your beneficiaries can be directed to Carolyn Jones, Human Resource Assistant, at cjones@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14614.
Has your life situation changed? Have you gotten married or divorced? Perhaps your children have grown and changed names? Or perhaps your younger children are now old enough that you want them listed as your beneficiaries?
Life Insurance
Every full-time employee has agency provided life insurance. Click here for a life beneficiary form. Your spouse’s signature is not required and you do not need a witness. Mail (do not e-mail or fax) the original form back to Carolyn Jones in Human Resources.
IPERS
All full-time, part-time and some regular hourly employees have IPERS. To find out who you have listed as your beneficiary, to verify that your contact information is up-to-date or to get an estimate of your benefits, register today on their website, www.ipers.org. Under Members, click on Member login>My Account. IPERS just updated its online system so you will be required to go through the registration process again. For help, contact IPERS at (515) 281-0020 or (800) 622-3849.
Click here for an IPERS change of beneficiary form. This form must be signed by your spouse (if applicable) and must be witnessed by someone who is not one of your beneficiaries. A hard copy, original form must be mailed directly to IPERS at the address on the form.
Questions about updating your beneficiaries can be directed to Carolyn Jones, Human Resource Assistant, at cjones@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14614.
Flu Vaccinations and Disease Prevention
It is time, once again, to think about getting your flu or pneumococcal vaccines. If you missed the previous Connection article about what is and isn’t covered by insurance, you can access it here.
Here are some other tips from the CDC to stay healthy and well this winter.
• Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
• Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
• Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
• Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
Here are some other tips from the CDC to stay healthy and well this winter.
• Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
• Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
• Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
• Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
January 2013 Board of Directors Meeting Agenda
Click here to download the agenda for the January 8 Heartland AEA Board of Directors meeting.
Statewide Enrollment Climbs for the First Time Since 1996
Last week, the Iowa Department of Education released a report that Iowa’s enrollment had its first significant enrollment increase in 17 years. The statewide enrollment increase is due in part to an upsurge in birth rates from 2003 to 2008. Birth rates spiked in 2007 but have decreased in recent years. Click here to view the full report which includes one- and five-year enrollment trends. Waukee, Des Moines and Ankeny reported the largest one-year enrollment number increases, while West Sioux, Moulton-Udell and Waukee reported the largest one-year percentage increases.
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act
With the recent adoption of iPads and the increase use of other mobile devices by staff, it was recommended that a quick reminder of the requirements of The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), be shared with all Heartland AEA employees.
Put into effect in 2000, COPPA governs how data is collected and then used around children under the age of 13. The law demands that sites aimed at children require parental approval in order for minors under the age of 13 to use them. The law states that:
• Children younger than 13 cannot be required to give out more information "than is reasonably necessary" to participate in a site's activities.
• Website operators must obtain parental permission to collect personal information from children younger than 13.
• Parents have the right to know what personal information is being collected and how it will be used.
• Parents have the right to review any information collected, determine whom it can be given to, and/or have the information deleted.
• Parental permission must be verifiable which can occur in a number of ways including the following:
So what should Heartland staff do to comply with this law? It is recommended that educators and parents:
• Preview the sites students will visit and the apps student will use. If a site or app requires users to register. See what kind of information it asks for and determine your comfort level. You also can see whether the site appears to be following the most basic rules, like posting its privacy policy for parents clearly and conspicuously.
• Review the privacy policy. Just because a site has a privacy policy doesn't mean it keeps personal information private. The policy can help you figure out if you're comfortable with what information the site collects and how it plans to use or share it. If the policy says there are no limits to what it collects or who gets to see it, there are no limits.
• Make sure there is a signed parental release on file before photographing, videotaping or recording individual students or groups of students.
• If you have questions about a site's practices or policies, ask. The privacy policy should include contact information for someone prepared to answer your questions.
Put into effect in 2000, COPPA governs how data is collected and then used around children under the age of 13. The law demands that sites aimed at children require parental approval in order for minors under the age of 13 to use them. The law states that:
• Children younger than 13 cannot be required to give out more information "than is reasonably necessary" to participate in a site's activities.
• Website operators must obtain parental permission to collect personal information from children younger than 13.
• Parents have the right to know what personal information is being collected and how it will be used.
• Parents have the right to review any information collected, determine whom it can be given to, and/or have the information deleted.
• Parental permission must be verifiable which can occur in a number of ways including the following:
- The "print and send" method, in which a parent prints a permission slip posted at the site, signs it, and returns it to the site operator by snail mail.
- A toll-free number staffed by trained personnel, which parents call to provide verbal permission.
- A parent's credit card used during a transaction.
- A digital signature, using an encryption method provided by the Web site operator.
- An e-mail accompanied by a PIN or password obtained by one of the verification methods listed above.
So what should Heartland staff do to comply with this law? It is recommended that educators and parents:
• Preview the sites students will visit and the apps student will use. If a site or app requires users to register. See what kind of information it asks for and determine your comfort level. You also can see whether the site appears to be following the most basic rules, like posting its privacy policy for parents clearly and conspicuously.
• Review the privacy policy. Just because a site has a privacy policy doesn't mean it keeps personal information private. The policy can help you figure out if you're comfortable with what information the site collects and how it plans to use or share it. If the policy says there are no limits to what it collects or who gets to see it, there are no limits.
• Make sure there is a signed parental release on file before photographing, videotaping or recording individual students or groups of students.
• If you have questions about a site's practices or policies, ask. The privacy policy should include contact information for someone prepared to answer your questions.
Teacher Quality Offerings Announced, Registration to Begin in January
Professional learning opportunities funded by Teacher Quality will be available to Heartland certified staff again this year. Each Job-Alike lead group included Teacher Quality offerings in their planning for professional learning and there are opportunities related to the learning in the Internal Capacity Building Strands. In addition, there will again be some offerings that are open to all/multiple groups.
Registration will not begin until January 14. Registration will close on January 31. Study groups will not begin until after March 1 to allow time to order books and materials. A list a study groups and course with dates and times is available here.
There will be technology courses available again. They will be held on Saturday mornings. Each is a three-hour session with payment of $100 for attendance. All certified staff members are allowed to take both a 15-hour course or study group and attend a technology session. This information will be available in late January.
Registration will not begin until January 14. Registration will close on January 31. Study groups will not begin until after March 1 to allow time to order books and materials. A list a study groups and course with dates and times is available here.
There will be technology courses available again. They will be held on Saturday mornings. Each is a three-hour session with payment of $100 for attendance. All certified staff members are allowed to take both a 15-hour course or study group and attend a technology session. This information will be available in late January.
Standards Based Grading Learning Opportunities Available Through Grant Wood AEA
Grant Wood Area Education Agency will help sponsor two Standards Based Grading learning opportunities this spring. The first is a series of three workshops facilitated by Tammy Heflebower from Marzano Research Labs that will explore the deeper work on Standards, Assessments and Grading practices. Click here for information about the workshops.
The second is an event hosted by educators from Solon, Clear Creek Amana and Van Meter Schools for secondary educators, administrators and others interested in learning more about Standards Based Grading. Click here for more information. Registration information will be available later in January.
The second is an event hosted by educators from Solon, Clear Creek Amana and Van Meter Schools for secondary educators, administrators and others interested in learning more about Standards Based Grading. Click here for more information. Registration information will be available later in January.
January 2013 School Leader Update
Click here to download the January 2013 edition of the School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education.
Iowa Department of Revenue Encourages Electronic Filing
Beginning in mid-January, the Iowa Department of Revenue website (www.iowa.gov/tax) will feature links to software companies offering online filing of income tax returns. File your federal and Iowa income tax returns together from the Department’s website. Most students are eligible to eFile for free!
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