Happy Monday! Can you believe it’s already August 5th? Once again I’m left wondering, “Where did the summer go?!?”
To our current staff—I hope you’ve had a chance to enjoy summer and recharge your batteries before the start of another new school year. We’re pleased to have you and your talents working on behalf of Heartland AEA. To our new staff—we are happy to have you join our team and share your wealth of knowledge and skills with those we serve.
A new school year always brings excitement and potential for remarkable things to happen. Working together with our families, schools and communities, we can accomplish great things for our students! I look forward to working with you and for you as we make this a great year with our efforts to improve the learning and well-being of children and youth in central Iowa.
Paula Vincent
Monday, August 5, 2013
August 2013 School Leader Update
Click here to download the August 2013 issue of the School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education.
New Eligibility For Medical Flex & HRA Plans Due to Defense of Marriage Act Ruling
On June 26, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court made a decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and this has created some changes in the administration of our Section 125 Cafeteria Flex Plan (medical flex spending) and Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) plan.
Although the IRS has not yet issued guidelines on how to administer these changes, Kabel Business Services, the administrator of our medical flex spending and HRA plans, has made a decision to follow the guidelines of a memo issued by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
All legal same-sex marriages that predate the Supreme Court decision (June 26, 2013) will now be treated as new marriages. Flex plan participants will have 60 days from the date of the decision (until August 26, 2013) to make changes in their enrollment. This means that participants in same sex marriages may change their current medical flex plan election or may now enroll in a flex plan for the first time, if they wish to do so. This change will not affect domestic partnerships.
If you are in a same-sex marriage and have money in an HRA, you may now submit your spouse’s out-of-pocket medical, dental and vision expenses for reimbursement under your HRA as well. Eligible employees who would like to make a change to their medical flex spending plan should contact Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, to complete a Change of Election form before August 26, 2013.
If you have any questions contact Kathy Martin at kmartin@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14385 or Kabel Business Services at (515) 224-9400.
Although the IRS has not yet issued guidelines on how to administer these changes, Kabel Business Services, the administrator of our medical flex spending and HRA plans, has made a decision to follow the guidelines of a memo issued by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
All legal same-sex marriages that predate the Supreme Court decision (June 26, 2013) will now be treated as new marriages. Flex plan participants will have 60 days from the date of the decision (until August 26, 2013) to make changes in their enrollment. This means that participants in same sex marriages may change their current medical flex plan election or may now enroll in a flex plan for the first time, if they wish to do so. This change will not affect domestic partnerships.
If you are in a same-sex marriage and have money in an HRA, you may now submit your spouse’s out-of-pocket medical, dental and vision expenses for reimbursement under your HRA as well. Eligible employees who would like to make a change to their medical flex spending plan should contact Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, to complete a Change of Election form before August 26, 2013.
If you have any questions contact Kathy Martin at kmartin@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14385 or Kabel Business Services at (515) 224-9400.
North Polk Has New Email Addresses
North Polk has changed its email addresses. All addresses are now firstname.lastname@northpolk.org.
Reminder: How About Joining Your Co-Workers For a Night at the Ballpark?
How about a night at an Iowa Cubs game with your family and some of your Heartland AEA co-workers?
We are taking ticket orders for the August 23 Iowa Cubs vs. Memphis Redbirds game. Game time is 7:05 p.m. with fireworks after the game!
Grandstand tickets are $6.00 if at least 25 people are interested in attending. If this sounds like fun to you, contact Brianne Magel, Library Clerk, at bmagel@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14436 or Tony Chiaramonte, Human Resources Manager, at tchiaramonte@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14534 by August 9. If we can get enough people interested, we will notify you where to send your ticket money. Friends and family of staff members are welcome be a part of the reduced-price group as well. Go I-Cubs!
We are taking ticket orders for the August 23 Iowa Cubs vs. Memphis Redbirds game. Game time is 7:05 p.m. with fireworks after the game!
Grandstand tickets are $6.00 if at least 25 people are interested in attending. If this sounds like fun to you, contact Brianne Magel, Library Clerk, at bmagel@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14436 or Tony Chiaramonte, Human Resources Manager, at tchiaramonte@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14534 by August 9. If we can get enough people interested, we will notify you where to send your ticket money. Friends and family of staff members are welcome be a part of the reduced-price group as well. Go I-Cubs!
Reminder: UPDATED! Last Week’s Version of Special Education Procedures Manual & Release Notes Have Been Updated
The following have been posted on the Iowa IDEA website at www.iowaideainfo.org.
• UPDATED Special Education Procedures Manual dated July 25, 2013. NOTE: This version has been updated since the previous message on July 22, 2013.
• UPDATED Release Notes dated July 25, 2013. NOTE: This version has been updated since the previous message on July 22, 2013.
• Parental Rights Summary (same as July 22, 2013 message)
These documents are currently posted on the front page of the IDEA website in addition to their permanent location under the IEP downdrop menu > Statewide Special Education Procedures > Manual.
• UPDATED Special Education Procedures Manual dated July 25, 2013. NOTE: This version has been updated since the previous message on July 22, 2013.
• UPDATED Release Notes dated July 25, 2013. NOTE: This version has been updated since the previous message on July 22, 2013.
• Parental Rights Summary (same as July 22, 2013 message)
These documents are currently posted on the front page of the IDEA website in addition to their permanent location under the IEP downdrop menu > Statewide Special Education Procedures > Manual.
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