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), and Teamster Union employment groups for the 2013-2014 fiscal 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 3.9 percent and a total package of 3.857 percent (compensation including Teacher Salary Supplement plus benefits). Current employees, other than those on the highest step of a lane, will advance a step. Full-time staff members on the highest step of a lane (longevity) for one year or more will each receive a package increase and an additional stipend of $460. Staff working less than full time will receive a pro-rated amount. As with last year, all incoming employees with less than three years experience will be placed on step 2 of the salary schedule.
Highlights of changes include:
Article 2 – Recognition. The following positions were added:
• Early Access Family Support Coordinator
• Instructional Coach
Article 17 – Service Year. Employees will no longer receive a service year notification with contracts. In the new agreement, service year is defined as working days scheduled between July 1 and June 30 (12 month/year round calendar) for all employees. Prior to the start of the service year, supervisors will communicate with employees regarding their assignment.
Teamsters Local #238 – Classified Union
The settlement is a 3.3% total package increase. There is no group step movement.
Highlights of changes include:
Article 1 – Recognition. The position of Facilities Maintenance Technician was added and the position of Early Access Family Support Coordinator was removed.
To learn more about these changes, please refer to the 2013-14 Negotiated Agreements soon to be posted on the Intranet under the Human Resources link.
We hope to be able to provide you with similar information for the Classified Non-Union and Certified Non-Union groups in April.
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, March 18, 2013
Changes in Benefits for 2013-14
Rates for 2013-14
Again this year, the Agency will renew its contract with Wellmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield to provide insurance benefits for the 2013-14 plan year. The renewal will mean an 8% increase in rates. Heartland AEA employees will continue to take advantage of network discounts negotiated by Wellmark on medical charges. These discounts are considerably better than the discounts offered through other providers.
Dental insurance rates through Delta Dental have remained unchanged for several years, but this year, dental rates will increase by 5%.
Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)
We will continue to offer the HRA to those with the $1,500 deductible plan.
Annual amounts will be as follows:
● Single $1,500 plan – $634.08
● Family Union $1,500 plan – $981.12
● Family Non-Union $1,500 plan – $1,675.20
Plan Design Changes
Deductible/Out-of-pocket Maximum
Our current health plan offers a choice of two deductibles: $500 or $1,500. Effective July 1, 2013, we will replace the $500 deductible plan with a $750/$1,500 deductible which has a $1,500/$3,000 out of pocket maximum. No HRA will be provided with the $750 deductible plan.
We will retain our current $1,500/$3,000 deductible plan. This plan has a $3,000/$6,000 out of pocket maximum, and the Agency will again provide an HRA with this plan.
Drug Deductible and Co-Pays
The annual drug deductible will remain at $100/person, $200/family.
The drug co-pays will be Tier 1 - $5 (generic), Tier 2 - $25 and Tier 3 - $45.
PPACA (Healthcare Reform)
Most of the changes mandated by PPACA are already being offered by Heartland AEA, however, Tier 1 and Tier 2 birth control will now be covered at 100%.
Online Benefit Enrollment to Open Soon
Benefit enrollment will be available on your Employee Dashboard from April 1, 2013 through April 26, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. Even if you have no changes to your benefit selections, all full-time and 96-day employees are asked to complete online enrollment. More information about online enrollment will be coming soon.
If you have individual benefit questions or concerns, please contact Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at kmartin@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14385.
Dental insurance rates through Delta Dental have remained unchanged for several years, but this year, dental rates will increase by 5%.
Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)
We will continue to offer the HRA to those with the $1,500 deductible plan.
Annual amounts will be as follows:
● Single $1,500 plan – $634.08
● Family Union $1,500 plan – $981.12
● Family Non-Union $1,500 plan – $1,675.20
Plan Design Changes
Deductible/Out-of-pocket Maximum
Our current health plan offers a choice of two deductibles: $500 or $1,500. Effective July 1, 2013, we will replace the $500 deductible plan with a $750/$1,500 deductible which has a $1,500/$3,000 out of pocket maximum. No HRA will be provided with the $750 deductible plan.
We will retain our current $1,500/$3,000 deductible plan. This plan has a $3,000/$6,000 out of pocket maximum, and the Agency will again provide an HRA with this plan.
Drug Deductible and Co-Pays
The annual drug deductible will remain at $100/person, $200/family.
The drug co-pays will be Tier 1 - $5 (generic), Tier 2 - $25 and Tier 3 - $45.
PPACA (Healthcare Reform)
Most of the changes mandated by PPACA are already being offered by Heartland AEA, however, Tier 1 and Tier 2 birth control will now be covered at 100%.
Online Benefit Enrollment to Open Soon
Benefit enrollment will be available on your Employee Dashboard from April 1, 2013 through April 26, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. Even if you have no changes to your benefit selections, all full-time and 96-day employees are asked to complete online enrollment. More information about online enrollment will be coming soon.
If you have individual benefit questions or concerns, please contact Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at kmartin@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14385.
Change in Plan Years for HRA and Medical Flex Spending
We will be setting a plan in place this year that we hope will make it easier to understand when your benefit plan years start and stop.
Current Plan Years
Medical Flex Spending – June 1 to May 31
HRA – June 1 to May 31
Health and Dental – July 1 to June 30
Dependent Care – January 1 to December 31
New Plan Years to be Implemented Beginning July 2014
Medical Flex Spending – July 1 to June 30
HRA – July 1 to June 30
Health and Dental – July 1 to June 30 (unchanged)
Dependent Care – January 1 to December 31 (unchanged)
Transition Plan for 2013-2014
Medical Flex Spending – This year our plan will run from June 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014. You will have 13 months to accrue expenses (so plan accordingly), but we will only take 24 payroll deductions (no payroll deductions in June of 2014).
HRA – This year our plan will run from June 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014. Contributions during this transition year, and in the following year, will be made as follows:
2013-2014 2014-2015
June 1 July 1
October 1 October 1
January 1 January 1
April 1 April 1
These changes may seem confusing, but bear with us; we think you’ll like the new simpler alignment of the plans by July 2014. If you’re already confused, feel free to contact Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at kmartin@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14385.
Current Plan Years
Medical Flex Spending – June 1 to May 31
HRA – June 1 to May 31
Health and Dental – July 1 to June 30
Dependent Care – January 1 to December 31
New Plan Years to be Implemented Beginning July 2014
Medical Flex Spending – July 1 to June 30
HRA – July 1 to June 30
Health and Dental – July 1 to June 30 (unchanged)
Dependent Care – January 1 to December 31 (unchanged)
Transition Plan for 2013-2014
Medical Flex Spending – This year our plan will run from June 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014. You will have 13 months to accrue expenses (so plan accordingly), but we will only take 24 payroll deductions (no payroll deductions in June of 2014).
HRA – This year our plan will run from June 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014. Contributions during this transition year, and in the following year, will be made as follows:
2013-2014 2014-2015
June 1 July 1
October 1 October 1
January 1 January 1
April 1 April 1
These changes may seem confusing, but bear with us; we think you’ll like the new simpler alignment of the plans by July 2014. If you’re already confused, feel free to contact Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at kmartin@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14385.
Make Plans to Attend April Benefit Meetings
Thank you to those staff members who took the time to complete the Insurance Survey in January. In response to the feedback we received, we will again be offering in-person benefit meetings specific to the insurance changes for the 2013-2014 year.
All benefit meetings are optional and will be two hours long. We have tried to offer a variety of locations so that no staff member will have to drive more than 40 minutes in order to attend. However, you may attend any of the meetings listed below.
April 3
9-11 a.m.
Ames AEA office
April 3
1-3 p.m.
Johnston Regional Education Center, Rooms 13 A & B
April 11
9-11 a.m.
Lutheran Church of the Cross, Altoona
April 11
1-3 p.m.
Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum, Knoxville
April 15
1-3 p.m.
Johnston Regional Education Center, Rooms 13 A & B
April 19
9-11 a.m.
Adel AEA office
April 19
1-3 p.m.
Ascension Lutheran Church, Coon Rapids
If you’re not able to attend a benefit meeting, please pay special attention to Connection articles and benefit information posted on the Intranet that will inform you about upcoming changes. We also plan to have a video of the first benefit meeting posted on the Intranet by April 10. We hope you will choose the education method that works best for you to ensure you are well informed about your benefits.
If you have questions about your benefits or the benefit meetings, contact Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at kmartin@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14385.
All benefit meetings are optional and will be two hours long. We have tried to offer a variety of locations so that no staff member will have to drive more than 40 minutes in order to attend. However, you may attend any of the meetings listed below.
April 3
9-11 a.m.
Ames AEA office
April 3
1-3 p.m.
Johnston Regional Education Center, Rooms 13 A & B
April 11
9-11 a.m.
Lutheran Church of the Cross, Altoona
April 11
1-3 p.m.
Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum, Knoxville
April 15
1-3 p.m.
Johnston Regional Education Center, Rooms 13 A & B
April 19
9-11 a.m.
Adel AEA office
April 19
1-3 p.m.
Ascension Lutheran Church, Coon Rapids
If you’re not able to attend a benefit meeting, please pay special attention to Connection articles and benefit information posted on the Intranet that will inform you about upcoming changes. We also plan to have a video of the first benefit meeting posted on the Intranet by April 10. We hope you will choose the education method that works best for you to ensure you are well informed about your benefits.
If you have questions about your benefits or the benefit meetings, contact Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at kmartin@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14385.
AEA Legislative Update
Click here to read the latest update of the Iowa legislative session from the AEA system’s lobbyists, Matt Eide and John Pederson, of the Eide & Heisinger firm.
Registration Now Open for Assessing Academic Rigor
Registration is available for the spring Assessing Academic Rigor course to be held in Ames. Please note the location changes!!
Assessing Academic Rigor
April 11, 23 and May 2, 9, 2013
8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Activity Number: AD013999991302
Assessing Academic Rigor
April 11, 23 and May 2, 9, 2013
8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Activity Number: AD013999991302
What’s New in AEA PD Online & AEA K-12 Online
AEA PD Online and AEA K-12 Online's March updates are now available. Go to the blogs or click on the direct links below. For real time updates, follow AEA PD Online on Twitter @aeapdonline or on your mobile device by accessing our app at myapp.is/aeapdonline.
AEA PD Online
• AEA PD Online WANTS K-12 Teachers!
• Tool of the Month: What's Your Favorite Tool?
• 2013 Summer OLLIE and MOLLIE Schedule
• AEA PD Online: Live!
• Upcoming Courses
• External Partners Webinars
AEA K-12 Online
• Connect to Collaborate: Statewide CoPI Event Reminder
• Iowa's CoPI Interest Form
• A New Vision for Professional Development
• CoPI: A View from the Field
AEA PD Online
• AEA PD Online WANTS K-12 Teachers!
• Tool of the Month: What's Your Favorite Tool?
• 2013 Summer OLLIE and MOLLIE Schedule
• AEA PD Online: Live!
• Upcoming Courses
• External Partners Webinars
AEA K-12 Online
• Connect to Collaborate: Statewide CoPI Event Reminder
• Iowa's CoPI Interest Form
• A New Vision for Professional Development
• CoPI: A View from the Field
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