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 

Mark Your Calendars: Coffee With the Chief

Mark your calendars for “Coffee With the Chief” sessions to be held through the Agency this spring! These will be non-mandatory open forum-style meetings with no formal presentation. They are an opportunity for you to talk with me about anything and everything. If you aren’t able to attend the session in your region, you are welcome to attend in another region. I look forward to seeing those of you who are able to fit one of the chat sessions into your busy schedule. If you aren’t able to participate in any of the sessions but have input to share, please feel free to e-mail me at pvincent@heartlandaea.org. (Remember you can always contact me if you have questions, concerns, feedback or good news to share.) I look forward to hearing from you! 

- Paula

Date	Office/Room	Time
March 31	Adel Regional Office Meeting Room	8:30-9:30 a.m.
April 27	Johnston REC Conf. Rooms 152 A/B/C	11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
May 1	Guthrie Center Library 400 Grand Street	11 a.m.-Noon
	Carroll Regional Office	2-3 p.m.
May 8	Indianola Regional Office Large Conf. Room	11 a.m.-Noon
May 15	Knoxville Regional Office	8-9 a.m.
	Newton Regional Office Conf. Room 125	Noon-1 p.m.
May 18	Ames Regional Office Conf. Rooms A & B	3-4 p.m.

 

From the Chief Administrator: Update: Iowa AEA Legislative Priorities

Iowa AEAs continue to advocate alongside local school partners for the legislature to set supplemental state aid for the school year that begins July 1, 2015. Technically, this action is required to be taken within 30 days following the Governor’s submission of the budget proposal to the legislature. While both the House (1.25% increase) and Senate (4% increase) have passed separate bills, the Conference Committee has been unable to find a position to bridge the differences. For Heartland AEA, the difference between a 1.25% increase and a 4% increase is approximately $1.5 million. 

In addition to the basic supplemental state aid funding, we are advocating for restoration of state aid for AEAs as provided by Iowa’s Foundation Formula. In Heartland AEA’s case, each year that the funding formula is not followed and the AEA system is reduced, it has a negative effect on our ability to expand staff in response to the enrollment growth of area schools. The $15 million system-wide reduction over the past few years has effectively reduced Heartland AEA’s funding by an additional $3.5 million each year. It is not likely that the entire $15 million would be restored at one time, but we continue to advocate for a plan to restore funding over a three-year period. 

As noted in recent updates, a request to fund a pilot program in each AEA to support mental health services in partnership with local schools and community-based mental health services was introduced and passed by the Senate. Support in this area continues to be a frequent request by local school staff; however, the future of this legislation is in doubt due to the current stalemate over basic school aid. 

Each of the priorities mentioned above will be addressed with legislators this week during the AEA forum at the Capitol. You can also share your perspective with legislators by attending weekly forums in your community, sending personal notes, etc. Please don’t hesitate to contact our Communications Department or me if you have questions or would like additional information on any of these topics. 

- Paula

Annual Benefit Enrollment Coming in April; New Enrollment Process for Most; No Insurance Rate Changes

Our annual benefit enrollment will be open to all full-time and 96-day employees from April 1 through April 30, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. for the 2015-16 year benefit year, which begins July 1, 2015. Full-time employees will be enrolling in health and dental insurance and medical flex spending plans, while part-time staff (96-day) will only be enrolling in medical flex spending. (Note: This enrollment period is not for enrollment in the dependent care plan, which is done in November.) We will need your enrollment selections even if you choose not to make any changes to your benefits for next year. This is the time that you can add and/or drop family members to your health and dental plans without a life event or change of status. 

A change coming this year is that enrollment will now be completed through the Employee Online tab on the Employee Dashboard rather than through a separate web link. Look for instructions in The Connection leading up to and during the enrollment period. 

And rates are staying the same -- no increase!! 

The monthly insurance premium rates for the $750 and $1,500 deductible health plans will be as follows: 

$750 Deductible Plan 

• Single - $617.57 (paid in full by the Agency) 
• Family - $1,543.94 (agency pays 60% of the premium for Classified and Certified Union employees so you owe only $308.79 per pay period) 
• No HRA with the $750 deductible plan 

$1,500 Deductible Plan 

• Single - $540.28 (paid in full by the Agency) – Annual HRA is $681.96 ($170.49/quarter) 
• Family - $1,350.71 (agency pays 60% of the premium for Classified and Certified Union employees so you owe only $270.14 per pay period) 
• Annual HRA for Classified and Certified Union taking $1,500 family plan - $1,053.00 ($263.25/quarter) 
• Annual HRA for Non-Union taking $1,500 family - $1,794.96 ($448.74/quarter) 

Medical Flex Spending Plan 
REMINDER: Each employee may choose to deduct from his/her paycheck a maximum of $2,499.84 ($104.16/pay period) regardless of how many family members you have or whether your spouse is able to contribute at his/her place of employment. As in the past, you may submit claims for eligible expenses for you, your spouse and your eligible children. For those couples where both husband and wife work at Heartland AEA, each spouse may elect up to $2,499.84 for the plan year. 

Remember, if you enroll in medical flex spending and aren’t able to spend your entire election amount, you will be able to rollover up to $500 from the 2014-15 plan into the 2015-16 plan. 

If you have any questions, contact Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist, at jhouseman@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14315.

2015-16 Settlements Reached for Certified Union and Classified Union Employee Groups

We are pleased to announce the Heartland AEA Board of Directors has approved terms and conditions of employment for the Heartland Education Association (HEA) and Teamster Union employment groups for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 fiscal years. The transparent and interest-based approach of union representatives and management in monthly collaboration meetings has resulted in successfully addressing several issues over the course of the year. Below is a summary of key points of the bargaining agreements for each employment group. 

Heartland Education Association – Certified Union 
Article 18: Compensation 

• Total package increase of 3.75%, including Teacher Salary Supplement (TSS), for 2015-16 
• Total package increase of 3.9%, including Teacher Salary Supplement (TSS), for 2016-17 
• 2 steps will be added to the BA lanes in 2015-16 and 2 additional steps in 2016-17 

Article 14: Temporary Leaves of Absence 

• 5 days of leave can be used for the purpose of sick family/weather and will be deducted from annual sick leave allotment (18 days) 

Article 23: Duration 

• All articles will be in effect until June 30, 2017. 

Teamsters Local #238 – Classified Union 
Article 14: Wages 

• Total package increase of 3.0% for 2015-16 
• Total package increase of 3.0% for 2016-17 
• Full implementation of longevity pay 

Article 8: Temporary Leaves of Absence 

• 5 days of leave can be used for the purpose of sick family/weather and will be deducted from annual sick leave allotment (18 days) 

Article 9: Paid Holidays 

• Language clarifies specific paid holidays for 12-month and 218-, 199- and 185-day employees 

Article 16: Duration 

• All articles will be in effect until June 30, 2017. 

Classified Non-Union 
A Meet and Confer session for Classified Non-Union staff has been scheduled for April 20 from 8:30-10:30 a.m. in Rooms 107 A/B. More information about the agenda will follow. 

The 2015-16 Negotiated Agreements will be posted under the Human Resources link on the Intranet by May 1. If you have any questions about this information, contact Laura Gillon, Executive Director of Human Resources, at lgillon@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14416.

Reminder: Complete Biometric Screenings (to Earn Your FitBit) and Wellness Challenge by May 1

Anyone who is interested and hasn’t yet completed his or her Health Assessment and Biometric Screening in order to earn a FitBit has until May 1, 2015 to get this completed. We want to give a FitBit to as many staff as we can! 

May 1 is also the same deadline to complete the Wellness Challenge in order to earn a $50 gift card! Staff can go back from July 1, 2014 through May 1, 2015 to enter any activities they have completed. To participate in the Challenge, log on to wellmark.com and go to the ‘Wellness Center.’ Then go to the ‘Get Rewarded’ tab in the center of the page. After you click on the ‘Get Rewarded’ tab, then click on ‘Heartland AEA Wellness Challenge.’ 

If you have any questions, contact our Wellness leads, Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist, or Katie Streff, Human Resources Assistant.

AEA Legislative Update

Each week during the Iowa legislative session, we will bring you an AEA Legislative Update from the AEA system’s lobbyists, Tom Lane, Matt Eide and John Pederson.

Third Annual Transition Conference: Present or Attend!

Iowa Transition Conference 
Sept. 22-24, 2015 
Coralville Marriott 

Proposals are now being accepting for the third annual Iowa Transition Conference: 

• Submissions accepted through April 10, 2015 
• Presenters notified by May 1, 2015 
• Possible topics may include: post-secondary transition planning, career development and skills training strategies, adult agency collaborations, student run businesses, increasing student engagement strategies, dropout prevention and parent collaboration 
• Presenters may attend the day they are presenting for free!! 

To submit a proposal: 

• Go to www.EdEvents.org and click on Iowa Transition Conference. 
• On the right side of the home page, you will see Submit a Proposal. Click on that link to access your account. 
• If you don’t already have an account, you will need to create one. If you do have an account, just type in your email and password to access the proposal submission form. The system recognizes you by your unique email address and password combination, so be sure to use the same email address whenever you log on to EdEvents. 
• Complete the form and click Submit Proposal. 

If you have any questions, please contact info@EdEvents.org.