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, October 14, 2013
New Process & Form in Effect for Scheduling Johnston REC Conference Rooms & Off-Site Meeting Spaces
The Agency has created a new process and form for scheduling large conference room spaces at the Johnston Regional Education Center (REC) (Conference Rooms 3 & 4, 13A & B, 14 and 18) as well as off-site meeting spaces that require a fee (except those scheduled for regional meetings and regional planning council meetings). The new process will make room scheduling for large groups more streamlined and will help us better coordinate events to meet the needs of our visitors.
We have created a form that captures the information needed to schedule large events, and rooms cannot be reserved until the form is completed. The new form also incorporates room set-up, so there will no longer be a separate form for room set-up. Please delete or recycle any previous room set-up forms you may have. Click here to download the form, which is archived on the Intranet under the new Room Scheduling & Set-Up link.
If you have any questions, contact Cassie Britton, Central Office Administrative Assistant, at cbritton@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14002.
We have created a form that captures the information needed to schedule large events, and rooms cannot be reserved until the form is completed. The new form also incorporates room set-up, so there will no longer be a separate form for room set-up. Please delete or recycle any previous room set-up forms you may have. Click here to download the form, which is archived on the Intranet under the new Room Scheduling & Set-Up link.
If you have any questions, contact Cassie Britton, Central Office Administrative Assistant, at cbritton@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14002.
New Opportunity! Staff Members Now Have 4 Paid Hours of Volunteer Time
We have heard from a number of staff members how they appreciate the new United Way event allowing staff to volunteer in their communities. In fact, the response was so positive we thought, “Why not make this into an agency-wide opportunity?!” Not only would allowing staff members time to volunteer during work hours help our communities, it would also help gain public recognition of who and what Heartland AEA is and stands for!
In its October 9 meeting, the Agency Planning Council (APC) decided that all staff members will be allowed up to 4 hours of agency time per year to do volunteer/community service work. These 4 hours can be used any time between now and June 30, 2014. Staff members will follow these procedures for volunteering during agency hours:
• There must be at least three Heartland AEA staff members (you and at least two other staff) working at the same volunteer opportunity together.
• Staff members are encouraged to wear Heartland AEA-logo clothing or our “Heartland Cares” stickers that were created for this purpose. You can request stickers by contacting Claire Sowder at csowder@heartlandaea.org.
• Of course, you must approve your leave with your supervisor before taking the time off.
• Finally, to celebrate our work, please take a photo of your group during the volunteer activity, and send it to the Heartland AEA Communications Department at comms@heartlandaea.org with information on the activity and who was involved.
Each region is coordinating a volunteer event as part of our United Way campaign. Feel free to participate in your regional volunteer opportunity or find volunteer opportunities on your own (just be sure to follow the above criteria).
As this is a new idea, we’ll pilot the volunteer leave for the remainder of this year. If it is well-received by staff, we’ll consider adding “volunteering” as one of the employee leave options in our Leave Online system beginning next year.
Thank you in advance for representing our agency in our communities and demonstrating that we’re proud to impact lives!
In its October 9 meeting, the Agency Planning Council (APC) decided that all staff members will be allowed up to 4 hours of agency time per year to do volunteer/community service work. These 4 hours can be used any time between now and June 30, 2014. Staff members will follow these procedures for volunteering during agency hours:
• There must be at least three Heartland AEA staff members (you and at least two other staff) working at the same volunteer opportunity together.
• Staff members are encouraged to wear Heartland AEA-logo clothing or our “Heartland Cares” stickers that were created for this purpose. You can request stickers by contacting Claire Sowder at csowder@heartlandaea.org.
• Of course, you must approve your leave with your supervisor before taking the time off.
• Finally, to celebrate our work, please take a photo of your group during the volunteer activity, and send it to the Heartland AEA Communications Department at comms@heartlandaea.org with information on the activity and who was involved.
Each region is coordinating a volunteer event as part of our United Way campaign. Feel free to participate in your regional volunteer opportunity or find volunteer opportunities on your own (just be sure to follow the above criteria).
As this is a new idea, we’ll pilot the volunteer leave for the remainder of this year. If it is well-received by staff, we’ll consider adding “volunteering” as one of the employee leave options in our Leave Online system beginning next year.
Thank you in advance for representing our agency in our communities and demonstrating that we’re proud to impact lives!
Reminder: Johnston REC to Undergo HVAC Remodel Feb.-June 2014
The Operations Department is excited
to share with you the initial details about the project to replace the
heating and cooling (HVAC) system in the Johnston Regional Education
Center (REC). This project will bring important improvements to the
environment of the building, leading to increased comfort for our staff
and visitors. It will also increase the overall energy efficiency of the
building.
The project is slated to take place between February 1 and June 1, 2014. The remodeling will be done in phases, which means individual sections of the building will be remodeled one-at-a-time.
Staff Relocation
While we will do our best to maintain a normal working environment for REC staff members, your work will be impacted by the project. You will be able to remain in your offices and work stations for the most part, but you will need to be relocated to temporary work space when the project affects your area. We are still making plans for this portion of the project, and we will update you on this when we have a concrete plan in place.
Conference/Meeting Relocation
This also means that all large conference rooms and small meeting rooms will be taken offline, and no events will be held in those spaces. We plan to relocate ALL conferences and meetings that are currently scheduled in the REC from February 1-June 1. Central Office Administrative Assistants, Cassie Britton and Sherise Ahlers, will personally contact everyone who has an event currently scheduled in the REC during that time, and Cassie and Sherise will make arrangements for those events to be moved to alternate locations. Those who have meetings scheduled DO NOT need to make any alternate arrangements themselves.
Construction Blog
As with the remodeling project a few years ago, we plan to use the “Construction Blog” to provide updates about the status of the project. That blog will be the primary source of information to keep staff up-to-date on the progress of the project.
Stay tuned, as we will continue to let you know more about the remodeling project as plans are solidified. If you have any general questions, contact Dustin Gean, Operations Manager, at dgean@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14460.
Staff Relocation
While we will do our best to maintain a normal working environment for REC staff members, your work will be impacted by the project. You will be able to remain in your offices and work stations for the most part, but you will need to be relocated to temporary work space when the project affects your area. We are still making plans for this portion of the project, and we will update you on this when we have a concrete plan in place.
Conference/Meeting Relocation
This also means that all large conference rooms and small meeting rooms will be taken offline, and no events will be held in those spaces. We plan to relocate ALL conferences and meetings that are currently scheduled in the REC from February 1-June 1. Central Office Administrative Assistants, Cassie Britton and Sherise Ahlers, will personally contact everyone who has an event currently scheduled in the REC during that time, and Cassie and Sherise will make arrangements for those events to be moved to alternate locations. Those who have meetings scheduled DO NOT need to make any alternate arrangements themselves.
Construction Blog
As with the remodeling project a few years ago, we plan to use the “Construction Blog” to provide updates about the status of the project. That blog will be the primary source of information to keep staff up-to-date on the progress of the project.
Stay tuned, as we will continue to let you know more about the remodeling project as plans are solidified. If you have any general questions, contact Dustin Gean, Operations Manager, at dgean@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14460.
New Cell Service Request & Termination Forms Available
New cell service request and termination forms are available on the Intranet under the Business Office link. These forms now reflect the update that staff can request a cell/MiFi card or iPad cellular service. If you have any questions, contact Tim Weets, Network Specialist, at tweets@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14322.
Correction to Previous Information About 2013 Flu Vaccinations
Wellmark has made a correction to the previous article that was posted in our September 23rd Connection. The correction applies only to the payment of flu shots if received at the pharmacy.
Click here for a list of approved in-network pharmacies where you may receive your flu shot and have it paid for by Wellmark at 100%. The cost of your flu shot will not go towards your drug deductible, nor will you be billed for a Tier-2 drug co-pay. The flu shot must be administered by the pharmacist. If the shot is administered by a pharmacist or pharmacy that is not on the attached list, it will not be covered by your Wellmark insurance.
If you have any questions, contact Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at kmartin@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14385.
Click here for a list of approved in-network pharmacies where you may receive your flu shot and have it paid for by Wellmark at 100%. The cost of your flu shot will not go towards your drug deductible, nor will you be billed for a Tier-2 drug co-pay. The flu shot must be administered by the pharmacist. If the shot is administered by a pharmacist or pharmacy that is not on the attached list, it will not be covered by your Wellmark insurance.
If you have any questions, contact Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at kmartin@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14385.
Let’s Get Ready to RAFFLE!
Ok, folks, let’s get the ball rolling on our first United Way raffle! Go to http://ow.ly/pho97 to see a list of the prizes you could win in this year’s raffle.
Click here for the raffle ticket form. Each square represents one ticket. Tickets are only $1 a piece or six for $5 (what a deal!). Fill out each ticket you would like to purchase, print the entire page and send the tickets and your check, payable to United Way and written for the correct amount, to Claire Sowder, van rt. 0.0 or 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston IA 50131.
Want more than just six tickets? No problem! Fill in all six tickets on your form and print the raffle ticket page multiple times. Below is some quick guidance for how many times you print the raffle ticket page for purchasing tickets.
12 tickets – print 2 and write a check for $10
18 tickets – print 3 and write a check for $15
24 tickets – print 4 and write a check for $20
30 tickets – print 5 and write a check for $25
That’s right! We’re making you work those math skills! Is the multiplication table coming back to you yet?! Raffle tickets need to arrive in Johnston (via US mail or van mail) to Claire Sowder by October 31.
We’ll hold a drawing for the raffle on November 1 at 1:00 p.m. in Conference Rooms 3, 4 & ICN at the Johnston REC. We’re planning to set up the Polycom so each office can tune in to watch the drawing live!
There’s still time to donate an item to the raffle. Those who donate will receive a casual day sticker—bonus! Send a short description of your item to Claire Sowder at csowder@heartlandaea.org so she can add it to the prize list.
Pledge Cards
Remember, if you submit a completed pledge card with any donation amount you can leave one hour early on a date of your choosing. You will not have to submit vacation time and if you submit a time sheet, you can mark it as “United Way Leave.” Send your completed forms to Claire.
If for any reason you do not wish to donate to United Way, the Community Health Charities of Iowa and Iowa Shares are two other charity organizations in which you can donate. We are unable to do payroll deductions for these organizations at this time. If you choose to donate to these organizations, you can contact the agencies at the following:
- Community Health Charities of Iowa (877) 517-6266
- Iowa Shares (319) 338-1446
All events are purely voluntary but will be fun!
Click here for the raffle ticket form. Each square represents one ticket. Tickets are only $1 a piece or six for $5 (what a deal!). Fill out each ticket you would like to purchase, print the entire page and send the tickets and your check, payable to United Way and written for the correct amount, to Claire Sowder, van rt. 0.0 or 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston IA 50131.
Want more than just six tickets? No problem! Fill in all six tickets on your form and print the raffle ticket page multiple times. Below is some quick guidance for how many times you print the raffle ticket page for purchasing tickets.
12 tickets – print 2 and write a check for $10
18 tickets – print 3 and write a check for $15
24 tickets – print 4 and write a check for $20
30 tickets – print 5 and write a check for $25
That’s right! We’re making you work those math skills! Is the multiplication table coming back to you yet?! Raffle tickets need to arrive in Johnston (via US mail or van mail) to Claire Sowder by October 31.
We’ll hold a drawing for the raffle on November 1 at 1:00 p.m. in Conference Rooms 3, 4 & ICN at the Johnston REC. We’re planning to set up the Polycom so each office can tune in to watch the drawing live!
There’s still time to donate an item to the raffle. Those who donate will receive a casual day sticker—bonus! Send a short description of your item to Claire Sowder at csowder@heartlandaea.org so she can add it to the prize list.
Pledge Cards
Remember, if you submit a completed pledge card with any donation amount you can leave one hour early on a date of your choosing. You will not have to submit vacation time and if you submit a time sheet, you can mark it as “United Way Leave.” Send your completed forms to Claire.
If for any reason you do not wish to donate to United Way, the Community Health Charities of Iowa and Iowa Shares are two other charity organizations in which you can donate. We are unable to do payroll deductions for these organizations at this time. If you choose to donate to these organizations, you can contact the agencies at the following:
- Community Health Charities of Iowa (877) 517-6266
- Iowa Shares (319) 338-1446
All events are purely voluntary but will be fun!
Stipends for Teacher Quality Courses & Study Groups Announced
The Teacher Quality (TQ) Committee met on October 10 and made the decision that the participant stipends for TQ courses and study groups will be $500. Study group facilitators will receive $550, and class instructors will receive their hourly rate of pay.
A few courses are being cancelled. Participants will be notified by Dawn Peitzman and will have one week to sign up for another course. The committee did decide to offer three-hour technology workshops again this year, and the earliest this information will be available is December.
If you have any questions, contact Kevin Fangman, Executive Director of District Services, at kfangman@heartlandaea.org.
A few courses are being cancelled. Participants will be notified by Dawn Peitzman and will have one week to sign up for another course. The committee did decide to offer three-hour technology workshops again this year, and the earliest this information will be available is December.
If you have any questions, contact Kevin Fangman, Executive Director of District Services, at kfangman@heartlandaea.org.
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