Monday, October 2, 2017

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 


Have You Supported United Way Yet?

You’ve heard a lot about United Way and the important work it leads so that kids succeed in school, families become financially stable and people lead healthier lives.

Heartland AEA is proud to stand with United Way in the fight for a better life for everyone who calls our communities “home.” We hope you will join us in our United Way campaign this year. United Way brings together the passion, expertise and commitment to get things done through efforts such as: 

  • Read to Succeed – a community-wide call to action to help central Iowa kids read proficiently by the end of third grade, the number one predictor of high school graduation.
  • Bridges to Success – an initiative to help 10,000 central Iowa adults earn their high school equivalency diploma so they are on a path to financial stability.
  • 5-2-1-0 – an effort to promote healthy habits with kids in environments such as child care centers, schools and medical clinics.
The dollars you invest in United Way directly address the needs in our community in the most cost-effective way possible. They fund programs and initiatives that expert volunteers determine will have the most impact in meeting bold Goals for 2020 in Education, Income and Health. And they go to an organization that has earned the highest four-star rating from Charity Navigator for the past 12 years.

If you haven’t donated yet, please consider doing so. This simple act can make a big difference for so many people in our communities. Contact Courtney Croatt or Whitney Anderson for your pledge form.

Reminder: Early Notification Incentive Again Offered to Certified Union & Management Staff

During the past three years, Heartland AEA has filled up to 175 vacancies in the Certified Union and Management staff employee groups. It has been to the Agency’s advantage to enter the recruitment cycle as early as possible. 

For 2017-18, the Heartland AEA Board of Directors has again approved an Early Notification Incentive for staff who have signed a contract and who notify Heartland AEA of their intent to not renew their contract for the 2018-19 school year by Dec. 8, 2017. The details are listed below.

Early Notification Incentive Process & Requirements
  • Certified Union and Management staff who do not plan to return to Heartland AEA for the 2018-19 school year submit early notification letters of resignation that are effective at the end of the 2017-18 work year.
  • Early notification letters must be received in the Human Resources Department by 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 8, 2017.
  • Heartland AEA’s Board of Directors takes action on early notification letters no later than the regular meeting on Dec. 12, 2017.
  • Departing staff must fulfill their individual employment contract obligations for the 2017-18 work year.
Early Notification Incentive
  • A $1,500 early notification incentive will be paid on June 30, 2018 to employees fulfilling these requirements.
If you have any questions about the early notification incentive, contact Tony Chiaramonte, Human Resources Manager, at ext. 14534.

Check Out the Sept. 2017 Educator Connection Newsletter!

Last week the Communications Department sent out the first issue of the Educator Connection newsletter for the 2017-18 school year. The Educator Connection is intended to keep our educators better connected to our agency and to the many programs and services we offer to educators, students and families. The newsletter is emailed to educators and automatically archived on our agency website. Agency and district staff can also subscribe to the newsletter via the webpage.

Articles:

  • Collaboration Spotlight: Improving Literacy Instruction Through Data Reviews in Ballard
  • Contact Creative Services for All Your Custom-Designed Instructional Materials
  • Sign Up Today to Attend Our ESL Advisory Network Meetings
  • Meet Our ESL/Diversity Consultants!
  • Registration for the 2017 Iowa Culture and Language Conference is Now Open
  • Did You Know? We Have a Scanning Service to Create Accessible Instructional Materials for Students
  • STEM & History Come to Life for Middle Schoolers with ScienceFLIX & FreedomFLIX Digital Resources
  • Mystery Science Units Now Grouped by NGSS Grade Level
  • Check Out the Great Professional Learning Courses We Have for Educators
  • Join the Team as a Paraeducator and Impact Student Achievement
  • Don’t Miss the 2017 Family & Educator Partnership Resource Fair
  • What Are You Waiting For? Check Out This Year’s Technology Integration & Collaboration Sessions!

2017-18 Staff & Schools Directory is Here!

The 2017-18 Staff & Schools Directory is now available. You can also access it on the Intranet > Communications > Annual Publications or on our public website under About > Staff & Schools Directory.

Oct. 2017 School Leader Update Now Available

The October 2017 issue of the School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education is now available.

Oct. 2017 Each and Every Child Newsletter Now Available

The October 2017 issue of the Each and Every Child newsletter from the Iowa Department of Education is now available.

Iowa Department of Education Announces Winning Bid for New Statewide Assessments

The Iowa Department of Education last week announced the winning bidder for new statewide assessments of student progress in English language arts, mathematics and science to be given in the 2018-19 school year.
 
A formal notice of intent to award was issued naming a proposal from American Institutes for Research (AIR), an independent non-profit organization. AIR’s proposal for an assessment called Independent College and Career Readiness Solution scored highest overall in a competitive-bidding process that followed criteria set by Iowa lawmakers this year. Iowa will re-name the assessment once a contract is awarded. 

A request for proposals was required by 2017 state legislation (Senate File 240). The Iowa Department of Administrative Services issued the RFP on the education department’s behalf in June. Selection criteria followed requirements outlined in Senate File 240. For each bid, reviewers considered alignment with Iowa’s academic standards and federal law, ability to measure student progress and proficiency, costs, feasibility of implementation for school districts, time required to administer the assessments, and infrastructure and technology needs. Assessments must be available in both paper-and-pencil and computer-based formats.

Eight proposals from six vendors were considered by a review team made up of Iowa school administrators and educators, as well as staff from the Iowa Department of Education. The vendors who submitted bids were ACT Inc., American Institutes for Research, Data Recognition Corporation, Pearson, Questar, and the University of Kansas.

An appeal period of five business days is underway, as required by law. Following this period, an assessment proposal will be taken to the State Board of Education to start the formal administrative rule-making process required for adoption. 

A contract for new statewide assessments is expected to run one year and eight months – the time needed to prepare for and administer a new state test -- with an option to renew annually for four more years. Iowa students will take new state assessments for the first time in the spring semester of the 2018-19 school year.

Five Iowa Schools Named National Blue Ribbon Schools -- Two in Heartland AEA Area

Five Iowa schools have been named National Blue Ribbon Schools for their overall academic excellence or for their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. The schools are:
  • Charter Oak-Ute Elementary School, Charter Oak-Ute CSD: Closing the achievement gap
  • North Kossuth Elementary School, North Kossuth CSD: Closing the achievement gap
  • Stilwell Junior High School, West Des Moines CSD: High performing school
  • Tipton Elementary School, Tipton CSD: High performing school
  • Whittier Elementary School, Indianola CSD: High performing school
“Iowa can learn from these schools as our education system continues to make sure every student is prepared for success in and beyond school,” said Iowa Department of Education Director Ryan Wise. “We celebrate Iowa’s Blue Ribbon Schools for their commitment to excellence and for their leadership.”

Now in its 35th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed recognition on more than 8,500 schools.

All schools are honored in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:

  • Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
  • Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s subgroups and all students over the past five years.

Wellness Update: Register Oct. 4 For This Year’s First Wellness Challenge—Ready! Set! Move!

Registration begins Oct. 4, 2017 for this year’s first wellness challenge -- Ready! Set! Move! 

Through your Fitbit, track a minimum of 450 minutes of movement, which is, on average, 30 minutes a day for 20 days of the 30-day challenge. Ready! Set! Move! will be held from Oct. 18 through Nov. 16. Registration for the challenge will be available on the WebMD wellness portal on Oct. 4. 

If you have any questions, contact Katie Streff, Human Resources Coordinator, at ext. 14614.

Wellness Update: Reminder: Wellness Program Information on Intranet Link

Just a reminder that information about the Wellness Program, including the topics below, is now available through its own link on the Intranet. Open the Intranet and look for the link named “Wellness” in the left hand navigation. The former “Healthy Express” Wellness Google Site has been retired.

•    Elements of the Program
•    2017-18 Program Overview
•    Biometric Screening Information
•    A Link to the WebMD Portal
•    Discounts
•    Archived Presentations

Reminder: Full-Time Staff Have Credit Monitoring & Identity Theft Assistance Through Wellmark

As a full-time staff member with Wellmark health insurance, you have access to the following services as part of your health benefits through Wellmark:
  • Credit monitoring: Monitors activity that may affect a member’s credit record.
  • Cyber monitoring: Monitoring the web 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to make sure member information has not been stolen.
  • Fraud detection: Alerts members when activity has been identified and protects them from all types of identity theft.
  • Complete identity recovery: Concierge-style services to help members recover their identity if it has been compromised.
  • Reimbursement insurance: $1 million of identity-theft recovery insurance.
See the Intranet > Benefits > Other > “Identity Theft Assistance” for more information. 

Heartland AEA health plan members can enroll in identity protection services through their myWellmark account or over the phone by calling 866-486-4812. Members will need their Wellmark ID card and the enrollment code: 4170999624 — also found on members’ myWellmark account — when they sign up for services.

If you have any questions, contact Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist.

Reminder: Doctor On Demand is Now Available 24/7/365

Doctor On Demand physicians are now available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year! This allows members with this benefit to schedule their visits before or after their own working hours or on holidays if necessary.

What is Doctor on Demand?
Visit a doctor on your smartphone, tablet or computer from virtually anywhere! If tomorrow brings a sore throat or your child wakes up with pink eye, skip the trip to urgent care. Instead, see a doctor on your smartphone, tablet or computer in just minutes. With Doctor On Demand, you and your family members can speak with a board-certified doctor who can treat the most common medical conditions and prescribe medication if needed.

Using Doctor On Demand is easy, you’ll love the convenience and your Wellmark benefits apply automatically for you and your covered family members.

Get treatment for issues such as:
•    Cold and flu
•    Bronchitis and sinus infections
•    Urinary tract infections
•    Sore throats
•    Allergies
•    Fever
•    Headache
•    Pink eye
•    Skin conditions
•    Mental health issues (including anxiety, depression, relationship issues, grief, eating disorders, smoking cessation or alcohol dependence)

Getting started is easy
1. Download the Doctor on Demand app or visit DoctorOnDemand.com.
2. Have your Wellmark member ID card ready. You’ll be asked to enter your full Wellmark ID number, including the three character prefix.
3. Create an account or sign in.

So, the next time you have a sore throat or the little one’s running a fever, pick up your smartphone and connect virtually with Doctor on Demand.



Out-of-State Dependents


For employees with dependents out-of-state, if they use Doctor On Demand, it is still considered In-Network because they will be connected with doctors who are licensed to practice in Iowa and are considered an In-Network doctor under our plan.



Meet the Doctors

The doctors at Doctor On Demand are among the best in the country. They go through several screenings and ongoing quality assurance. You can even rate your experience and write a review.



Wondering what the experience is like? 

Check out the Doctor On Demand YouTube channel.



If you have any questions, contact Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist.

Reminder: EMC OnCall Nurse Program Is New First Contact for Workplace Injuries

EMC’s OnCall Nurse is a free, 24 hour/7 days a week, work-injury nurse hotline that allows injured workers and their supervisors to immediately speak with a registered nurse and receive guidance on the appropriate level of medical care (self-treat, Occupational Medicine, Urgent Care, etc.). This frees you and your supervisors from making these types of medical decisions. Plus, a triage/incident report and the state-specific First Report of Injury, is completed by the OnCall Nurse and sent to you and the EMC claims staff immediately following the call. This takes some work off of your plate!

EMC has partnered with Medcor to provide this unique and beneficial service. Watch this video to learn more about the service.

If you have any questions, contact Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist.

To Do: Install Microsoft Office 2016 For Mac on Your Computer

Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac software is now available for installation from your Self Service application. While it is not mandatory to install Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac at this time, future computer replacements will have the new version of Office installed on them. Additionally, computers needing repair will have this new version of Office installed before being returned to you.

The installer for Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac is quite large (1.7 GB) and could take 30 minutes or more to download depending on the speed of your Internet connection. Please be patient as the software downloads and installs on your computer.

NOTE: As part of the installation of Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac, the older Microsoft Office 2011 version will be removed from your computer.

Instructions for Installing Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac:

1.    Quit all open applications.
2.    Open the Self Service application located in the Applications folder (you may have an icon on your dock).
3.    Click on the Productivity category on the right hand side of the Self Service screen.



4.    Locate the Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac option under the Productivity Section on the left and click the Install button.
5.    Read the information and click the Install button to proceed with the installation.


6.    Once the installation has finished, you should have icons on your Dock for Word, Excel and PowerPoint. If you do not, you can find the entire suite of software located in the Applications folder on your hard drive.

As you launch the new Office applications, you will notice that the look and feel is noticeably different than the old Microsoft Office 2011 version, but the core functionality of the applications is largely unchanged. Please utilize the support documents from Microsoft linked below for training support as your transition from Microsoft Office 2011 to Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac.

Word
Excel
PowerPoint

Contact Marquis Jones or Mike Permann in the Internal Technology Department if you have any problems with the installation or have questions using the new version of Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac.