Our Mission To
improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth
by providing services and leadership in partnership with families,
schools and communities.
Our Goals • Increase learning growth for students • Decrease the gap in achievement • Increase annual graduation rates • Increase gateways to post-secondary success
As we officially begin a new season (at least on the calendar), we also are hitting a critical time legislatively at both the state and federal levels. This is a good time to email your elected officials and thank them for their service and to express your point of view on issues related to education. When you can include a specific example of how proposed legislation may benefit or harm the students, families and educators with whom you are familiar, it is helpful.
Of particular interest in Iowa is legislation that would extend the years of allowable funding for students who are learning English, extension of the local sales and use tax (SAVE) for school infrastructure, flexibility in use of categorical funds and restrictions on future tax credits. These issues do not apply to AEA funding directly but could certainly address broad funding concerns for education. It also appears that the AEAs will be included in a bill that calls for a study of AEA service priorities. The statewide system is already at work in preparing information to help inform this study which would likely convene this summer.
At the federal level, I encourage you to stay tuned in to the debate over health care -- the early interpretations of the bill as proposed is that there would be a limiting effect on Medicaid funds. The other major legislation to keep in touch with is the budget (both FY 2017 and 2018). Unless Congress raises the debt limit or extends the budget through a continuing resolution in the next couple months, education funding will be restricted going forward.
If you ever have specific questions or would like additional background information, please do not hesitate to contact me or Heartland AEA's Communications staff.
Be on the look out for an email that arrived today with an invitation for you to participate in the Denison Organizational Culture Survey. The survey will be sent to ALL staff, so everyone will have a chance to provide their feedback about our agency’s culture (the way we do things around here).
Please remember to be as honest as possible when completing the survey and know that your responses are completely confidential and cannot be tracked. The survey will close on March 31. Thank you in advance for your time and feedback!
The Agency has an updated non-discrimination statement. The statement is to be used on all formal agency documents and publications that are distributed to the public. The statement can always be accessed under the Communications link on the Intranet. The words “and/or expression” and “parental” were added to the statement.
“At Heartland AEA we value diversity and inclusion,” said Tony Chiaramonte, Human Resources Manager. “In order to continue to be proactive, and taking into consideration state and federal law and guidelines, as well as the current landscape of diversity in education, we have updated our Equal Employment Opportunity statement. At the same time, we have updated our Affirmative Action manual, which can be found on the Intranet under the Human Resources link. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me.”
Heartland Area Education Agency 11 does not discriminate based on race, color, creed, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetics, pregnancy, disability, military or veteran status, parental, family or marital status. Direct inquiries to the Human Resources Director, 6500 Corporate Dr., Johnston, IA 50131-1603, the Director, Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-1004 or Director, Office for Civil Rights, Kansas City, MO 64106.
Looking for ways to boost your career? Whether you’re just starting out or have been working for years, LifeWorks has resources to help you improve your productivity, advance professionally and succeed in today’s fast-paced workforce.
Listen to our new podcast, How to Succeed at Work, featuring Kevin Kruse, Forbes contributor and bestselling author of 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management. He shares tips on how to be highly productive, stay motivated every day and be a star team player.
Also remember that you can always contact one of our expert consultants to discuss any questions or concerns you may have about work or any other issue. Talking things over with a professional helps.
Did you know every eight seconds someone calls a poison center? The U.S. Congress established National Poison Prevention Week in Sept. 1961. National Poison Prevention Week is recognized the third full week in March each year, designed to highlight the dangers of poisonings and how to prevent them. According to the Poison Prevention Week Council, each year more than 2 million poisonings are reported in the United States. About 90 percent of these poisonings occur in the home. The majority of non-fatal poisonings occur in children younger than six years old. And, poisonings are one of the leading causes of death among adults. Call 1-800-222-1222 to get help from your poison control center, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Service is available throughout the entire U.S. and its territories. Learn more about how to prevent a poisoning from the American Association of Poison Control Centers.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has also established a 24-hour hotline to call if you believe your pet has ingested a potentially poisonous substance. Like our kids, our pets are vulnerable to everyday products (including foods) in our homes. Call 1-888-426-4435 to get help from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. (A consultation fee may be added to your credit card.) To find out what foods you should avoid feeding your pet, or what other hazards may affect them, visit the ASPCA website.
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. Our best wishes go out to John, who is recovering from a stroke he suffered last week. The AEA family is thinking of you!
