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

What the New Tax Reform Law Means For Your Paycheck

On Dec. 22, 2017, President Trump signed into law H.R. 1, aka the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This legislation will impact the amount of federal income tax that is withheld from your paycheck. In general, the expected impact of this legislation is to reduce the amount of federal income tax withheld from your paycheck, thus increasing your net pay. 

Because the legislation was passed so late in 2017, the IRS will not be issuing payroll withholding guidance for 2018 until sometime in January. Indications are it may be late January before such guidance will be issued and our payroll system can be updated. It will likely be February before you’ll see the effects of this legislation in your paycheck. We’ll keep you updated as more information becomes available. If you have any questions, contact Steve Jordan, Senior Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14908.

Pay Day Will Be Jan. 12 Due to Martin Luther King Day

The Federal Reserve and other banks will be closed on Monday, Jan. 15 2018, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. As a result, Heartland AEA’s pay day will be Friday, Jan. 12, rather than Monday, Jan. 15. If you have any questions, contact Steve Jordan, Senior Payroll Specialist at ext. 14908.

Have You Reviewed the Business Office Contact Guide Lately?

Thank you to all of you who took the time to complete the Business Office/Human Resources Customer Service survey at the end of October. We appreciate your feedback! 

The Business Office has reviewed the results from the survey and noticed many respondents had some confusion about what functions the Business Office performs as well as who to contact for certain function. Did you know a contact directory with Business Office functions already exists on the on the Intranet? Take a look by going to your Employee Dashboard >Intranet > Business Office > Contact Us. If you are unsure about who to contact for a business-related question, always feel free to start with Brian Whalen, Business Manager, at ext. 14005.  

Reminder: Payroll Dates for 2018 Now Available

Staff members frequently inquire when timesheets, addendum pay, direct deposit forms and other changes need to be submitted to the Payroll Department in order to be processed for a particular pay date. To assist you in your planning, a list of 2018 pay dates and corresponding due dates is available. This document is archived on the Intranet > Business Office > Payroll Forms & Information > 2018 Payroll Dates. Payroll needs to receive all information by the end of the day on the due date to ensure payments and/or changes are made on the corresponding pay date. Any information received in Payroll after the due date may be processed during the next payroll cycle.



For those staff members being paid from a timesheet or receiving addendum pay, keep in mind these items are to be completed, approved/signed by a supervisor and submitted to Payroll within four working days after the end of the pay period. Any items received after the due date may be processed on the next payroll.



If you have any questions, contact Steve Jordan, Senior Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14908.

Jan. 2018 School Leader Update Now Available

The Jan. 2018 issue of the School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education is now available.

Jan. 2018 Each and Every Child Newsletter Now Available

The Jan. 2018 issue of the Each and Every Child newsletter from the Iowa Department of Education is now available. Today we look into a fledgling Iowa program that aims to ensure access to quality education for a small but significant group of students.

When You Can Expect Quarterly HRA Contributions

FYI for those staff who have an HRA: Quarterly HRA contributions and reimbursements that are based on the contribution will occur on the following dates in 2018. Note that these are the dates you can expect the funds to be placed in your account, not the following Friday. If you have any questions, contact Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist, at ext. 14315. 


Jan. 12

April 13

July 13

Oct. 12

Spots Now Available for TST’s “Ignite Heartland AEA” Wellness Program

Tuel Shed Training (TST) is back to help you reach your wellness goals in the new year! Spots have opened up to join the “Ignite Heartland AEA” wellness program if you're interested. 

Those interested in the Ignite program initially indicated their interest at last fall’s All-Staff Meeting — since then spots in the program have become open for staff to participate in the 8-week fitness and nutrition program. The program consists of a daily 20-minute workout, which is streamed live on Facebook and archived on TST's website, and includes activities for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. The TST team also educates you on nutrition, writes daily about meal prep and recommended foods and provides you with the nutrient count they believe you should have based on your body. 

The program begins today, but don’t worry, you still have time to catch up if you want to join! The program starts with an initial assessment, there is a mid-point assessment (the first week of February) and one at the end of the program in March. Once you have your initial assessment, you’ll have access to the Facebook group and all the information you need to move forward. 

If you’d like to receive the initial assessment, TST staff will be at the Johnston Administration Center on Jan. 10 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. performing assessments. If you’re unable to make those times work, contact Molly Stevenson with TST to arrange for an alternative. Molly says, “We are so thrilled with how Ignite Heartland AEA has kicked off and love everyone's energy and motivation! Feel free to stop by anytime between these hours, and we will do your initial assessment. Also, if you have questions, please stop by and see us!”

Mark Your Calendar! Two Wellness Challenges Still to Come

Challenge

Stressless (individual - 28 days)

Goal

Track "yes" to completing 5 relaxation activities for at least 14 days

Registration Begins

Jan. 29, 2018

Start Date

Feb. 12, 2018

End Date

March 11, 2018

Close Date

March 19, 2018

Challenge

Invitational (team - 5 weeks)

Goal

TBD

Registration Date

April 4, 2018

Start Date

April 18, 2018

End Date

May 22, 2017

Close Date

May 30, 2018

Reminder: “12 Days of Wellness,” A Hilarious Winter Wellness Video Update is Here!

Check out this hilarious take on the “12 Days of Christmas” featuring a number of agency staff. Happy Wellness!

Jan. 2018 Board of Directors Meeting Agenda Now Available

The agenda for the Jan. 9, 2018 Heartland AEA Board of Directors meeting agenda is now available.

To Do: Nominate Deserving Individuals for Iowa’s AEAs Annual Awards Recognition

Do you know someone who has made outstanding contributions to education and Iowa’s Area Education Agencies (AEAs)? Please take a few minutes to nominate this person for recognition! 

Iowa’s AEAs bestow three awards annually to outstanding candidates for their contributions to education and the work of Iowa’s AEAs. To submit a nomination, complete this application by Feb. 2, 2018. Anyone is welcome to submit a nomination. The nominations will be reviewed by a selected group of AEA personnel in February. Both the nominating individual and those who are selected to be recognized will be notified the first week of March. Awards will be presented during the annual Iowa’s AEAs Boards of Directors’ Conference and the ceremony will be held at 6:30 p.m. on April 5, 2018 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Johnston. 

The three awards and criteria can be found below. Each nomination should include examples of why your nominee should receive the award. 

Friend of the AEA Award

Acknowledges contributions by policymakers, citizens, board members, school district partners, businesses and organizations who have been great partners and demonstrate strong support for furthering the mission of Iowa’s AEAs. Open to all policymakers, citizens, board members, school district partners, businesses and organizations. 

E. Robert Stephens Award
Dr. E. Robert Stephens, better known as “Dr. Bob” and the father of Iowa’s AEAs, acknowledges contributions in the area of innovation and support to local districts, AEAs, the Department of Education and other partners/organizations. There should be evidence of outstanding contributions to the well-being of the educational community including: 

• Benefits of this individual’s leadership; 
• Creative leadership in inspiring and motivating others to achieve and contribute; 
• Strong commitment to the profession by active participation in professional activities; and 
• Evidence that the individual is respected by his/her colleagues and the community. 

Open to AEA staff who serve in an administrative role and AEA board members. 

Innovative Creator 
Celebrates amazingly innovative and creative thinking and actions to get results for students, educators, Iowa’s AEAs, school districts and other partners. Open to all AEA staff, board members, educators, policymakers, students...all of us are creators! 

For more information, contact Connie Johnson, Iowa’s AEAs Communications Director, at (712) 335-6044.