Click here for the April issue of the Educator Connection and World of Media that was e-mailed to area educators last week. There is a unique URL for each page making it easy to share. Review the content and use the resources as you have conversations with educators. If you have feedback or suggestions for content, contact Claire Sowder, Communications Specialist, at csowder@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14014.
This issue includes:
• K-8 literacy support with Tales 2 Go audiobooks (with links to the Iowa Core)
• Posters to support science teaching
• Hundreds of resources to support the K-6 unit on the states or regions
• A tool to help parents combat summer reading loss
• Primary sources--finding them and using them
• Professional development classes
Monday, April 15, 2013
2013-14 Employee Work Calendars Available
The 2013-14 employee work calendar has been added to the Employee Dashboard for those staff members who need to complete a working days calendar. The link to this function is found in the Calendar Online Forms folder on the LeaveOnline tab.
The calendar presented will be the default calendar based on the individual staff member’s pay assignment. This will look very similar to the online Calendar View function; however, functionality is built into the interface to allow the personalization of the calendar to reflect the staff member’s schedule. This is done by simply clicking on the day in question. Each time a day is clicked, it will change to one of the following:
Blue X – represents a non-working day
Green / - represents a half working day
White Space – represents a full working day
A yellow H represents an unpaid holiday, and a yellow H followed by an asterisk (*) represents a paid holiday. Sundays and holidays cannot be changed.
At the top of the screen two numbers will be presented. The number on the left is the number of working days based on the days selected as such; in other words, the total of the white spaces (full days) and green slashes (half days). The second number is the number of days expected to work based on the pay assignment. These two numbers must match when the calendar is submitted. A help document named ‘Calendar Online Entry Documentation” is available on the Help tab. This doc describes in detail all functions of the interface.
When the calendar is submitted, it will be routed to the staff member’s supervisor just as a leave request would be. And, just as a leave request, the supervisor will review and can approve or reject your calendar. Applicable e-mails are sent to the staff member and his or her need-to-know person.
Once approved, the staff member, the supervisor and the need-to-know person can view the calendar. Also, all subsequent changes to the 2013-14 calendar must be submitted via the Calendar Exchange Online request system after July 1, 2013.
Working days calendars are must be submitted before you leave for the summer or June 14, whichever comes first.
If you have any questions, contact Chrissy Bradley, Human Resources Specialist, at cbradley@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14432.
The calendar presented will be the default calendar based on the individual staff member’s pay assignment. This will look very similar to the online Calendar View function; however, functionality is built into the interface to allow the personalization of the calendar to reflect the staff member’s schedule. This is done by simply clicking on the day in question. Each time a day is clicked, it will change to one of the following:
Blue X – represents a non-working day
Green / - represents a half working day
White Space – represents a full working day
A yellow H represents an unpaid holiday, and a yellow H followed by an asterisk (*) represents a paid holiday. Sundays and holidays cannot be changed.
At the top of the screen two numbers will be presented. The number on the left is the number of working days based on the days selected as such; in other words, the total of the white spaces (full days) and green slashes (half days). The second number is the number of days expected to work based on the pay assignment. These two numbers must match when the calendar is submitted. A help document named ‘Calendar Online Entry Documentation” is available on the Help tab. This doc describes in detail all functions of the interface.
When the calendar is submitted, it will be routed to the staff member’s supervisor just as a leave request would be. And, just as a leave request, the supervisor will review and can approve or reject your calendar. Applicable e-mails are sent to the staff member and his or her need-to-know person.
Once approved, the staff member, the supervisor and the need-to-know person can view the calendar. Also, all subsequent changes to the 2013-14 calendar must be submitted via the Calendar Exchange Online request system after July 1, 2013.
Working days calendars are must be submitted before you leave for the summer or June 14, whichever comes first.
If you have any questions, contact Chrissy Bradley, Human Resources Specialist, at cbradley@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14432.
More Enhancements for Flex Plan Participants
This week Kabel Business Services announced that it is introducing some new user-friendly enhancements for cafeteria/flex plan participants that will make managing their plan more convenient than ever. Participants are now able to access their flex accounts with a mobile phone app. This will allow iPhone and Android phone users to take photos of their receipts, attach them and submit claims; check flex balances; get text and email messages acknowledging receipt of debit card swipes and reimbursement claims; and much more! For instructions, participants may log in to their individual accounts at www.myflexonline.com and click on the “Go Mobile” tab.
In addition, Kabel’s www.myflexonline.com website has been upgraded with a new look and easier to use features. Be sure to visit the website soon and check out these exciting enhancements. Sometimes with progress come minor inconveniences. Such is the case with the upgrades to this website. Participants unable to login to their flex accounts (medical and dependent care) may have to login as a new user. If you have both a flex and a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA), they may have to login separately for each account.
If you have questions or concerns, contact Kabel Business Services at (515) 224-9400 or (800) 300-9691.
In addition, Kabel’s www.myflexonline.com website has been upgraded with a new look and easier to use features. Be sure to visit the website soon and check out these exciting enhancements. Sometimes with progress come minor inconveniences. Such is the case with the upgrades to this website. Participants unable to login to their flex accounts (medical and dependent care) may have to login as a new user. If you have both a flex and a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA), they may have to login separately for each account.
If you have questions or concerns, contact Kabel Business Services at (515) 224-9400 or (800) 300-9691.
Spend Your Medical Flex Dollars by May 31; HRA Dollars Will Remain If Continuing Employment
If you have a medical flex spending plan or an HRA, you may have just received a statement in the mail showing you have some money to spend before the end of the plan year (May 31) or you will lose it.
Although your HRA statement shows that you must also spend all of your HRA dollars, this is incorrect. If you are continuing employment with Heartland AEA in a full-time position for the 2013-14 plan year, any unused dollars in your HRA will roll over and be available to you next year.
Below is a partial list of qualified expenses you can be reimbursed for under either the medical flex spending plan or the HRA.
Under Health Care Reform, parents can now submit claims for reimbursement under their Medical Flex Spending plan for their children up to the age of 27.
If you have questions about qualified expenses or for which dependents you may submit claims, contact Kabel Business Services at (515) 224-9400 or (800) 300-9691.
Although your HRA statement shows that you must also spend all of your HRA dollars, this is incorrect. If you are continuing employment with Heartland AEA in a full-time position for the 2013-14 plan year, any unused dollars in your HRA will roll over and be available to you next year.
Below is a partial list of qualified expenses you can be reimbursed for under either the medical flex spending plan or the HRA.
- Bandages & first aid supplies
- Birth control products
- Blood pressure kits
- Canes and walkers
- Contact lenses
- Contact lens solution
- Denture products
- Diabetes testing supplies
- Durable medical equipment
- Hearing aid batteries
- Heating pads
- Hot, cold & steam packs
- Incontinence products
- Insulin
- Lasik eye surgery
- Nebulizers
- Orthopedic aids
- Pregnancy and fertility kits
- Splints, supports & braces
- Thermometers
- Wheelchairs and Accessories
- Medical or dental office visits
- Dental - costs of covered dental procedures, e.g, crowns, root canals, fillings, orthodontia, etc. (Cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening are NOT eligible expenses)
- Medical - cost of covered medical procedures (Cosmetic procedures such as plastic surgery are NOT eligible expenses)
- Eye glasses or prescription sunglasses Prescription drugs
Under Health Care Reform, parents can now submit claims for reimbursement under their Medical Flex Spending plan for their children up to the age of 27.
If you have questions about qualified expenses or for which dependents you may submit claims, contact Kabel Business Services at (515) 224-9400 or (800) 300-9691.
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.
Help Ensure Accurate Van Mail Delivery to Co-Locations
To help ensure accurate and timely van mail delivery to our agency co-locations at Parkview Middle School in Ankeny and Clay Elementary in Altoona, please clearly mark van mail for these two locations as:
Heartland AEA Co-location @ Parkview Middle School
Room 153
Van Route 6.08
Heartland AEA Co-location @ Clay Elementary
Room D124
Van Route 6.28
Also be sure to label van mail for the Newton Office as Heartland AEA Newton Office, Van Route 8.05 since our office is located at Newton’s Emerson Hough School. Thank you for your attention to this. If you have any questions or concerns, contact Dustin Gean, Operations Manager, at dgean@aea11.k12.ia.us.
Heartland AEA Co-location @ Parkview Middle School
Room 153
Van Route 6.08
Heartland AEA Co-location @ Clay Elementary
Room D124
Van Route 6.28
Also be sure to label van mail for the Newton Office as Heartland AEA Newton Office, Van Route 8.05 since our office is located at Newton’s Emerson Hough School. Thank you for your attention to this. If you have any questions or concerns, contact Dustin Gean, Operations Manager, at dgean@aea11.k12.ia.us.
Waukee CSD’s E-mail Addresses to Change
Waukee Community Schools is changing its email addresses to firstinitiallastname@waukeeschools.org. The district is slowing rolling out this change, so not all staff members will have new addresses at the same time. We wanted you to be aware that some Waukee staff may reply to an e-mail you send and tell you their email address has changed, but others may not yet. When the district lets us know that all emails have been updated, we will update the district's staff in PeopleBox.
Safe and Successful Schools Resource Available
Click here for “A Framework for Safe and Successful Schools” resource document. This is a joint framework from the following organizations:
- American School Counselor Association
- National Association of School Psychologists
- School Social Work Association of America
- National Association of School Resource Officers
- National Association of Elementary School Principals and
- National Association of Secondary School Principals
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