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

Johnston REC HVAC Project Rolling Along on Schedule!

Phase 3 of the HVAC project is off and running! Phase 3 staff, including Creative Services, Internal Technology and Information Systems, will be relocating to Conference Rooms 13 A&B this week. The print shop will stay in its normal location, and staff will be able to access it by going through the dock. 

This week we will finish up construction on the new regional director offices in the former Ed Services area. Kathie Danielson, Keri Steele, Karla Jones and Steve Iverson will be located in the offices when complete. 

Click here to see photos from the completion of Phase 1 of the remodel project. At the time these were taken, there was much to be unpacked yet, but you get the picture! Cubicles are now lined up in rows across the space rather than being placed here and there. Storage cabinets and shelves are lined up along the walls to allow for more working space. Light now flows from the windows through the entire space rather than just into a few offices. And there is new lighting, carpet and window shades! You’ll see a photo of the new wall color in the lounge, which will look even better when the new floor and cabinets are installed toward the end of the project. One photo also shows the HVAC work being done outside of Room 18.

Second Semester A-87 E-mails Coming This Week

On Wednesday, April 23, the second semester A-87 certification will be e-mailed to federally-funded employees. We are following the same process that was used for previous certifications. The e-mail will come from heartlandworkflow with the subject A87 Certification Notice - Action Required. There will be a link in the e-mail for employees to follow to complete the certification. If you have questions or problems with accessing the link, contact Brian Whalen, Business Manager, at bwhalen@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14005. The Business Office appreciates your prompt completion of the certifications and your assistance in helping us maintain compliance with this reporting requirement.

Benefit Enrollment Continues; Instructions for Setting Up Kabel Online Accounts

There’s only a week and a half to go to get enrolled! Don’t delay – do it today!! Due to many questions that have arisen about our flex plan and HRA, please see below for information about setting up an online account with Kabel Business Services. This article has previously run in The Connection, but the information is still current. 

How to Set Up an Online Account with Kabel Business Services 
Do you have money in a medical or dependent care flex spending account or an HRA (health reimbursement arrangement)? 

If you have previously set up an account online with Kabel Business, you may have noticed that their website has changed. You now will need to set up a separate login and password for each of the three possible plans that you participate in. Follow these instructions and if you run into difficulty, please contact Kabel Business directly at 515-224-9400. 

Participants may log on to www.kabelbiz.com Select the “employee” link. This will take you to the log in website. Or you will have the option of clicking on Password Re-set and User Name Retrieval. 

Enter the following information as it appears on your employer’s records so Kabel can identify you. 
First name 
Last name 
Date of birth mm/yy 
Home ZIP code (first 5 digits) 
Social Security number (last 4 digits) 

An image appears on the page. You must enter the characters from the image above. 

Follow the instructions given. 

Having an online account with Kabel will enable you to log in any time and check your balance, see if they received a claim that you faxed in and help you to monitor how you’re doing at using your balance before the end of the plan year. However, please be aware that the dates Kabel uses on the website are not necessarily correct. For example, if you plan to remain a full-time employee with Heartland AEA, you do not need to use your HRA dollars before the end of the plan year. Those unused dollars will simply roll over to the new plan year. 

If you have questions on the beginning and ending dates of your plans, contact Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist, at jhouseman@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14315.

Addendum Process and Form for Summer Service for June 2014

Below is the process to receive addendum pay for services provided in June. This is only for staff members who need addendum pay for providing direct service to students between the dates of June 1-30, 2014. Please remember the expectation is that you will provide service to children you serve if summer service is needed. If you need addendum days outside of this timeframe, please talk with your supervisor. This form is for the purposes of estimating addendum time so addendum can be initiated in IFAS. You will need to submit your actual time through the addendum online process. 

Please read the directions carefully. Any forms that are not filled out correctly will be returned.

1. Click here for the Request Summer Service Form. 
2. Fill in the appropriate boxes in the Excel form (the boxes that need to be filled out have been shaded in gray). If you need more student lines, you can add rows, but do so before the last line so the calculations will remain intact. 
3. If you are serving students in multiple regions, please only fill out ONE form. Just list the kids for both regions in one document. 
4. Save the document as YourName 2014. 
5. Email the form to Tinna Walberg, Regional Director, at twalberg@heartlandaea.org prior to May 14. 
6. If you pick up additional students after you have submitted your form, please contact Tinna Walberg. 
7. Tinna will initiate addendum time for you through the online system. You will receive an e-mail the time has been initiated. The amount of time you will be allotted will be based on what you have submitted. 
8. After you have completed the service, you can submit your addendum time through the Employee Dashboard. 
9. You must list dates and initials for the students who received services in the notes box at the time you submit the time worked. 
10. Tinna will approve the addendum and notification will be sent to your supervisor. 

If you have questions about the process or the form, contact your supervisor or Tinna Walberg.

The Facts About Education Funding

The Joint Education Allowable Growth Group (IASB, UEN, AEAs, SAI, ISEA) developed an action plan to address Iowa’s declining education funding and the need for consistent growth in the annual spending rate (as well as the need to set the rate consistent with law). A weekly “Fact About Education Funding” will be sent to all legislators, Gov. Branstad and Dept. of Education Director Buck highlighting a pertinent fact about education spending in Iowa. 

Increase in Iowa Per Pupil Funding Since 2008: Is it really more than 10%?

Iowa Core Teacher Quality Opportunity for Heartland AEA Staff

Heartland AEA will be offering an Iowa Core Teacher Quality (TQ) course for staff on June 11 and 13. The course is called “High Impact Collaborative Structures to Implement ELA Iowa Core and MTSS/RtI.” Even though this is being offered as a course, staff can choose to attend only one day. 

The purpose of these two days is to address how high impact collaborative structures can support elementary buildings in successful implementation of the ELA Iowa Core standards through a Multi-Tiered System of Support framework to address the needs of all students (lowest performing to highest performing). 

Day 1 will focus on Organizational Leadership and Structures (functions of leadership team, consensus and collaborative culture, data routines and assessment literacy). Day 2 will focus on Universal Instruction and Implementation of the ELA Iowa Core Standards. 

These workshops are open to all staff eligible for TQ money. If you already took a TQ class during the 2013-14 school year, you are eligible to take this course or attend one day for TQ reimbursement, since these are being funded from the Iowa Core TQ funding stream.

Heartland AEA staff may sign up to attend one or both days. The reimbursement rate will be $250 for each day. If the June dates don’t work in your calendar, we will be offering the workshops again in the fall. Districts will also be able to pay a fee and register for these two workshops. 

TQ Registration Information (Heartland AEA staff will be able to register without paying the fee): 
High Impact Collaborative Structures to Implement ELA Iowa Core and MTSS/RtI
June 11 & 13 (credit)
RE033599111501 

Organizational Leadership and Structures 
June 11 only (no credit) 
RE033399111501

ELA Iowa Core - Universal, Targeted and Intensive Instruction 
June 13 only (no credit) 
RE033499991501 

If you have any questions, please email Kevin Fangman, Executive Director of District Services, at kfangman@hearltandaea.org.

April 2014 AEA PD Online & AEA K-12 Online Updates

The April 2014 blog updates for AEA PD Online and AEA K-12 Online are now available. 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 

• Security Concerns 
• Preparations for the 2014 Back-to-School Trainings 
• Upcoming Courses: May 1-June 15, 2015 
• External Partners

AEA K-12 Online 

• Atomic Learning Launches Mobile Learning and Common Core Resources for Educators 
• Iowa Teachers Uses Core Skills Mastery (CSM) with Students

Register Now for 2014 Our Kids Summer Institute

We have fielded many questions on when registration will be open for the 2014 Our Kids Summer Institute. Well, wait no more! Click here to register for this year’s event happening June 24 and 25. 

Participants will have the opportunity to network with other educational professionals and to discover new strategies for working with English Language Learners throughout Iowa. It is important to note that if schools had to write a CAP (Corrective Action Plan), they must attend with their district team. Heartland AEA will provide a $200 stipend for area school staff members who attend both days. Districts are encouraged to send teams of classroom teachers, administrators and ESL teachers.