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

Your Paycheck: Have You Thought About Your Federal Income Tax Withholding?

In late December, the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law. This legislation changed the amount of federal income tax that is withheld from your paycheck. In general, the impact of this legislation was to reduce the amount of federal income tax withheld from your paycheck, thus increasing your net pay. 

As staff members file their 2017 income tax returns and plan for 2018, many people have asked about the appropriate federal income tax withholding based on the new tax law. It’s a good question that we all should be asking. The law increased the standard deduction, removed personal exemptions, increased the child tax credit, limited or discontinued certain deductions and changed the tax rates and brackets. 

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is now offering a variety of resources to help taxpayers determine if they are having the right amount of federal income tax withheld from their paychecks. The starting point to review these resources can be found on the IRS website. The resources include FAQs, YouTube videos and a Withholding Calculator. 

If you need to make a change in your tax withholding, it can be made through the Employee Online tab of your Dashboard. Once there, click on “Tax Information” in the left-hand navigation section, click on “Edit” in the lower right-hand corner of the screen, make your changes and click “Save” in the lower right-hand corner of the screen. Your change will automatically update the payroll system and will be processed on the next available payroll. 

You can also model the impact of a tax withholding change on your paycheck through Employee Online by clicking “What If” under “Pay Check” in the left-hand navigation section. Once there, click “Create Baseline” in the bottom center of the screen (it may take a few seconds to calculate). In the “What If” column, make your withholding changes and click Submit. You can see the estimated change in your net pay on the right-hand side of the screen. 

Everyone’s tax withholding needs are unique to their individual circumstances. Heartland AEA cannot provide tax advice to staff, but we are glad to help you navigate the Employee Online tools to help you achieve your desired withholding. If you have any questions, contact Steve Jordan, Senior Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14908.

April 2018 School Leader Update Available

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

April 2018 Each and Every Child Newsletter Available

The April 2018 issue of the Each and Every Child newsletter from the Iowa Department of Education is now available.

Human Resources: Medical Flex Accounts - Did You Know?

With annual benefit enrollment getting started, did you know these things about Medical Flex Accounts?  

• Even if you only participate in single coverage health and/or dental benefits, you can still submit claims for any out of pocket medical, dental, vision and/or prescription expenses for your spouse and/or dependents against your Medical Flex Account. 
• Your Medical Flex Account is for expenses incurred during the benefit plan year (July 1 through June 30), but you can roll over up to $500 per year into the following benefit plan year. (It is not cumulative, and it is maxed at $500 annually per IRS regulations.) 
• If you enroll into the Medical Flex Account, you will be issued a “Benny card,” which is a debit card you can use with providers who except it, and then you don’t have to manually input your request(s). Although depending on the provider/service, 121 Benefits may require a receipt to confirm your debit transaction. 
• You can be reimbursed for allergy medicine through your Medical Flex Account, but you will have to have a prescription for it since most allergy medications are now over the counter and not eligible for reimbursement. However, most doctors will write you a prescription for your allergy medicine if you have been diagnosed with allergies and continually use allergy medication. 
• HR has updated its “Contact Us” page on the Intranet under the Human Resources link. The page has been laid out differently in order to make it easier for you to search for the topic you need assistance with. Check it out by going to the Intranet > Human Resources > Contact Guide.   

To Do: Enroll in Benefits for Next Year -- Today Through April 30!

Our annual benefit enrollment is open to all full-time and 96-day employees from April 1 through April 30, 2018 at 4 p.m. for the 2018-19 year benefit year, which begins July 1, 2018. Full-time employees may enroll in health and dental insurance and medical flex spending plans, while part-time staff (96-day) may enroll in the medical flex spending plan. (Note: This enrollment period is not for enrollment in the dependent care plan, which is done in November.) You will need to make 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. Annual enrollment time is also the only time during the year you can change your deductible -- you aren't able to do that during the year, even with a life event or change of status. 



Enrollment can be completed through the Employee Online tab on the Employee Dashboard. If you are having trouble enrolling, log out of the Dashboard and then log in before you start the enrollment process. You can also use these enrollment instructions, which includes instructions for how to print your benefit statement.



Health Insurance
Health insurance premiums will remain unchanged for 2018-19. 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 $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 $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 plan - $1,794.96 ($448.74/quarter)
 


Dental Insurance


Dental rates will remain the same for 2018-19.

• Single rate is $34.54 monthly. (Paid in full by the Agency)

• Family rate is $108.48 per month. (Agency pays single rate of $34.54 for Classified and Certified Union employees towards the premium, so you owe $36.97 per pay period)
 


Medical Flex Spending Plan 


Each employee may choose to deduct from his/her paycheck an annual maximum of $2,650 ($110.41/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 spouses work at Heartland AEA, each spouse may elect up to $2,650 for the plan year. Reminder: If you enroll in medical flex spending plan, and you can’t get all of your money spent in your account, you will be able to rollover up to $500 from the 2017-18 plan into the 2018-19 plan.



VOYA Life Insurance Enrollment

During our annual benefit enrollment, employees who didn’t opt for additional life insurance coverage through VOYA can also enroll. Complete the enrollment form and submit it to Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist. Existing employees who are enrolling for the first time will be required to fill out an Evidence of Insurability form. Existing employees who are already enrolled but who want to increase their coverage may also do so at this time. Existing employees may increase their coverage, but if they choose to increase it over $10,000, they will be required to fill out an Evidence of Insurability form. Enrollment will be during April but will be effective on July 1, 2018.

It’s That Time of Year Again—Time to Sign Up to be a Mentor for the 2018-19 School Year!

As a mentor, you share your time, welcome new staff and​ support new staff by building their capacity as they join our Heartland AEA team. Mentoring is a personally and professionally fulfilling experience that also helps our agency retain great employees. Note that this program is for mentors and mentees who are Certified Union staff members.  


New this year!  

• Mentors of first year staff provide 20 hours of one-on-one coaching and support for their mentee, are provided with mentorship training and in return will receive a $1,300 (gross) payment and the personal satisfaction of knowing that they’ve made a difference in the career of the mentee.  
• Mentors of second year staff provide 15 hours of one-on-one coaching and support for their mentee, are provided with mentorship training and in return will receive a $1,000 (gross) payment and the personal satisfaction of knowing that they’ve made a difference in the career of the mentee. 


 

It’s easy to sign up! Complete the online Mentor Application by April 16, 2018. If you are a mentor this year and are interested in mentoring again, you need to apply to mentor again in 2018-19. After receiving applications, more information will be provided to mentors in the near future for next year’s mentoring and induction program. A Mentor Program Guide is available on the Employee Dashboard > Intranet > Human Resources > Mentoring Program Guide. 

If you have any questions, contact Martha Condon, Director of Professional Learning.

First Teacher Quality Opportunity for 2018-19: DMPS Summit on School Climate & Culture

The Des Moines Public Schools’ Summit on School Climate and Culture will be offered as a Teacher Quality (TQ) opportunity for the 2018-19 school year for interested Heartland AEA Certified staff who qualify for TQ funds. Heartland AEA has worked with DMPS for agency staff to receive a reduced registration fee since the areas covered are relevant to the work we at Heartland AEA. TQ funds will cover registration costs, but only the first 50 registrants will be eligible to participate. If there are more than 50 staff register, it will be determined if more can be accommodated. We anticipate the TQ stipend for 2018-19 will be around $655. The rest of the TQ opportunities for 2018-19 have not been set and won't be until this summer.  

The Summit is designed help educators improve school climate and culture through professional development, skill building and application of best practices and research. This event will allow you to engage with leading experts in education and school improvement on how a positive school climate and culture is key to student, school and district improvements. Keynote speakers include Brian Mendler, Olga Acosta Price, W. Kamau Bell and Christopher Emdin. 

The Summit is defined by 6 major strands: Best Practices in Improving School Climate, Multi-Tiered System of Supports, Equity, Whole Child Health, Stakeholder Engagement and Leadership. ​ 

TQ Summit on Climate and Culture​ 
Aug. 13-14, 2018 
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 
Community Choice Convention Center, Des Moines 
Registration 
Registration Deadline: April 25, 2018 

Requirement: Participants will submit a written reflection including new learning and plan for implementation. Reflection may be submitted individually or with a group.

If you have any questions, contact Cheryl Risen.