Our Mission
To provide services and leadership, in partnership with families, schools and communities, that improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth.
Our Goals
• Increase learning growth for students
• Decrease the gap in achievement
• Increase annual graduation rates
• Increase gateways to post-secondary success
Monday, September 30, 2013
October 2013 Each & Every Child Newsletter From Iowa Dept. of Education
Current Post-Employment Benefit for 2013-2014
Eligibility under the current policy is limited to employees who have a minimum of 15 consecutive years of full-time employment with the Agency and who reach their 58th birthday by June 30 of their final fiscal year of employment. The employee must attain the age of 58 before the date of retirement in order to receive benefits.
For qualified participants, the Agency agrees to pay the monthly rate of single health ($577.71/month) and dental ($31.35/month) coverage as was in effect during the employee’s last year of employment. If the employee has family coverage at the time they apply for the post-employment benefit, the family members may continue on the policy at the employee’s expense.
The Agency will continue to pay the full premium for a group term life insurance policy in the amount in effect immediately prior to retirement.
Those eligible for the post-employment benefit at the end of the 2013-14 plan year will be receiving a letter and application for post-employment benefits in mid-October. To apply for the benefit, all forms will need to be signed and submitted to the Benefits Specialist by November 29, 2013.
Click here to download the full version of the post-employment benefit policy for further information and other eligibility options and requirements.
Employees not eligible for the post-employment benefit, but who retire and start drawing IPERS, may still stay on the agency health insurance under Iowa Code 509A. The cost of premiums will be the responsibility of the employee. Dental and life insurance are not available under Iowa Code 509A.
If you have questions or would like to set up a meeting to discuss your individual situation, contact Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at kmartin@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14385.
New Background Check Requirements Coming for Heartland AEA Staff
Federal Background Checks
First, any staff member who has never had a federal background check (fingerprinting) conducted, will receive a fingerprint card and authorization form in the mail to complete. You will need to take the fingerprint card to your local police station (or anywhere that conducts fingerprinting) to get fingerprinted and return the card and authorization form to the Human Resources Department within two weeks of receipt. Be aware that most police stations will charge a small fee for the fingerprinting service and that fee cannot be turned in as an expense. Instructions will be enclosed as well. You can expect to receive notification if you need to complete the background check requirements anytime between October 1, 2013 and June 1, 2014, depending on your hire date.
Iowa Background Checks
Second, the new law not only requires new staff and staff who haven’t had a background check to be verified, but it also requires that ALL staff who don’t have a license through the Board of Educational Examiners (including temporary staff), as well as all licensed staff with a permanent professional license, to have a state of Iowa background check and abuse registries checked every five years from the date of hire. If you need to have a state of Iowa background check, you will be notified via email. We have set up automated reminders going forward, and you will receive an email with the State of Iowa Criminal History Record Check Request Form attached. You will need to complete and return the form to Human Resources by the deadline in your email. This form cannot be faxed or sent via PDF; it must have original signatures.
We appreciate your help in getting these items turned in on time so we our agency is in compliance with state requirements. If you have any questions, contact Chrissy Bradley, Human Resources Specialist, at cbradley@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14432 or Tony Chiaramonte, Human Resources Manager, at tchiaramonte@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14534.
New Wellness Center and Wellness Assessment Available Through WebMD
Start down the road to better health today with:
• Wellness assessment, which is a short questionnaire that gives you an accurate, confidential and personalized report about the state of your health and the next steps forward.
• Health and medical news and information to help you control your weight, stop smoking, reduce your stress and make smarter choices about nutrition to improve your overall health status.
• Health topics provide in-depth assessments and information about specific health conditions such as asthma, high cholesterol, depression, chronic fatigue and diabetes.
• Trackers to help you monitor your progress. Whether your goal is to keep track of daily glucose levels, lower your blood pressure or keep a regular exercise schedule, trackers are an easy way to chart your activity.
• Search for information on any health topic from A to Z and get fast results from reliable, up-to-date sources.
• Symptom Checker that gives you information to help determine what to do about your symptoms after you answer some questions.
Complete the Wellness Assessment and earn a Visa gift card!
Now’s the time to start learning more about your well-being and learn what you can do to improve it. Start by completing your annual physical and then taking a wellness assessment. If you participate, you will receive a $25 or $50 Visa gift card! (All participants will receive a $25 gift gift card. If your region/group has over 50% participation, all participants in that group will receive one $50 gift card. All gift cards are treated as taxable income according to law.) If you have any questions, contact Tony Chiaramonte, Human Resources Manager, at tchiaramonte@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14534.
Ready? Here’s what you need to do to get started today!
Step 1: Get your annual physical, including biometric data and lab results by December 31st, 2013. Collect the health information you need to complete the wellness assessment. The information needed includes: height, weight, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose and blood pressure. You’ll need to have routine blood work as well as your annual physical to collect this information. If you’ve had a physical with blood work in 2013, you can call your doctor’s office for the information.
Step 2: Log on to myWellmark at Wellmark.com with your User ID and password. Not a registered member of Wellmark.com? It’s easy and takes just a few minutes. Go to Wellmark.com and select “Member” from the “Register Now” drop-down menu. Or enter from the Wellness tab on the Employee Dashboard. Follow the instructions to complete your registration.
Step 3: Take the wellness assessment before January 31, 2014. Take 15-20 minutes to answer questions that will give you an accurate, confidential and personalized report that summarizes what you’re doing well and where to improve, including personalized steps to reduce your health risk factors. Be sure to enter your biometrics and lab results as you complete the wellness assessment for a complete picture of your health.
Step 4: Use the personalized tools and resources to achieve your wellness goals.
Step 5: Be rewarded. Each participant will receive a $25 or $50 visa gift card. (All participants will receive a $25 gift card. If your region/group has over 50% participation, all participants in that group will receive one $50 gift card. All gift cards are treated as taxable income according to law). Gift cards will be issued with the last pay date in February 2014.
Wellness Activity: Join the Hydrate Heartland Challenge!
• 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated?
• Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue?
• In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger?
• Being just 2% dehydrated reduces your ability to work and can result in a 10% decrease in mental functioning?
Well now that you know these important facts, you can help fight dehydration by joining the Hydrate Heartland Challenge! The challenge—to see who can drink the most water—will run from October 21 through November 27, and the deadline to register is October 8.
To sign up, just get a team of 4-8 people together, select a team captain and email your team members’ names to Katie Streff, Human Resources Assistant, at kstreff@heartlandaea.org. Everyone who signs up will receive a water bottle and coaster, as well as the opportunity to win a Visa gift card up to $100! The path to wellness begins with more water!
Employee Discounts & Special Offers Now Available Through Plum Benefits
Signing up is free and easy:
1. Visit www.plumbenefits.com/signup.
2. Use your Heartland AEA email address to get started.
3. Create and confirm a password. Password must be at least 8 characters.
4. Read and follow the steps on the site.
If you have any questions, Plum Benefits provides a live concierge service Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. Contact them at (212) 660-1888 or contact@plumbenefits.com.
Reminder: Change to the Required System Data (RSD) Tab in Web IEP System
This message was emailed to staff on Sept. 26 and is being repeated below.
Today Heartland AEA received notification that beginning, September 26, 2013, the following change has been made to the Required System Data (RSD) tab on the Web IEP program.
The question, “The student was placed in this school/facility at the direction of,” has been changed to, “The student receives special education in this location because it is.” There has also been a choice added of, “The Normal Attendance Center Based on Where the Student Lives.”
The program will not auto select any of the choices from the pull-down menu. The choice will need to be chosen manually. The available choices are:
The Iowa Department of Education has offered the following guidance with “Normal attendance center” and “Parent choice”:
• Normal attendance center: provides guidance for where the child would normally attend given where parents live and would be the correct choice for most IEPs.
• Parent Choice: includes children open-enrolled to another district or to another attendance center within the district of residence (both approved by district or districts) and includes the Junior-Senior rule (as a parent choice).
Today Heartland AEA received notification that beginning, September 26, 2013, the following change has been made to the Required System Data (RSD) tab on the Web IEP program.
The question, “The student was placed in this school/facility at the direction of,” has been changed to, “The student receives special education in this location because it is.” There has also been a choice added of, “The Normal Attendance Center Based on Where the Student Lives.”
The program will not auto select any of the choices from the pull-down menu. The choice will need to be chosen manually. The available choices are:
The Iowa Department of Education has offered the following guidance with “Normal attendance center” and “Parent choice”:
• Normal attendance center: provides guidance for where the child would normally attend given where parents live and would be the correct choice for most IEPs.
• Parent Choice: includes children open-enrolled to another district or to another attendance center within the district of residence (both approved by district or districts) and includes the Junior-Senior rule (as a parent choice).
Staff Trainings on Gmail & Calendar Coming in October & November
This spring and summer, we will offer trainings and resources focused on more advanced features. On each of the dates listed below, there will be a 9:00 a.m. to noon session and a 1:00-4:00 p.m. session. Those interested should sign up for a morning session or afternoon session, but not both. Please pre-register for the trainings through the Agency’s Universal Registration system and using the Activity number assigned to each training.
Click here for a list of the trainings.
This Week’s Getting Great with Google Tip:
How to Create Contact Groups (Distribution Lists)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)