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 you know, Iowa’s AEA system (all nine of Iowa’s AEAs) recently announced the hiring of its third-ever executive director, Mr. David Ludwig. David has most recently been the executive director of the state network of educational service agencies in Nebraska. His hiring seemed like a great opportunity for me to provide you with a refresher on Iowa’s AEA system and how our agency fits into that system. Governance The Iowa AEA system, also known as the Iowa Association of Area Education Agencies (IAAEA), has its own nine-member governing board, consisting of one board member from each of the nine AEAs. That board meets four times a year and oversees a unified budget that is funded on a per-pupil basis by each individual AEA, as well as from revenue generated by the other members of our Iowa AEA family -- AEA Purchasing and AEA Learning Online. Chiefs and Directors Each month our Heartland AEA Johnston offices play host to the chief administrators and directors (educational services, special education and media/technology) from all nine AEAs, along with key leaders from the Iowa Department of Education, as we meet for two days to develop and coordinate statewide AEA work. Priorities are established and implementation strategies are developed in order to assure that certain core services are made available to all children, families and educators across the state. This time together is critical because the quality of Iowa’s AEAs is often judged as a whole, and it’s in the best interest of every AEA that all AEAs are providing consistent, high-quality services. This collaborative time also helps us to consistently scale new initiatives and capitalize on the unique strengths found across our system. Our intent is to increase quality, reduce fragmentation and create efficiency across our agencies. In recent years, these groups have developed foundational documents like the AEA Compact and a policy manual that standardizes the practices we use to collaborate across agencies. We also use this time for strategic planning and to establish common legislative advocacy priorities. Strategic Plan The AEA system’s most recent strategic plan is focusing statewide work in three areas:
Social Emotional Behavior Mental Health (SEBMH): These services encompass the areas of challenging behavior, mental health supports and social-emotional learning. Services in this area continue to be the most requested by school districts across the state.
College and Career Readiness (CCR): College and career readiness is still being defined, but it is a broad category that includes personalized learning, authentic (work-based) learning and the services provided by AEA PREP.
Statewide AEA Efficiency: This area focuses on finding opportunities to share services that might be otherwise redundant or inefficient. A great example of this recently has been the development of a common single sign-on for all students and educators in Iowa instead of having each AEA have its own system. We continue to look for new opportunities to share common functions across the system.
It’s important to note that having these current areas of focus does not mean we are abandoning long-valued, more traditional services. It simply means that we want to focus new work and service development on a limited number of things and that we want statewide service development to be cohesive and consistently prioritized. Over the coming months, each of these priority areas will be studied by a work team consisting of experts from across our AEAs, as well as from some school districts. These work teams will further define the scope of these priority areas and design statewide implementation plans when appropriate. “Loose-Tight” of Iowa’s AEAs I feel it’s important for all AEA staff across the state to be aware of state-level priorities because work in those areas will impact how each individual AEA approaches services within those areas. This is our mechanism for determining what we call the “loose-tight” of the AEA system. “Loose-tight” is a term we use to clarify how and in what areas our nine AEAs will be alike and in what areas we will see more individuality and customized services. We don’t want all nine AEAs to be exactly the same, but we do want to make sure that new services are scaled equitably and that we’re assuring a consistent level of quality within those service areas for all children, families and educators, regardless of where they live. There will be times when our system approaches state-level priorities in a way that might slightly deviate from how our agency would approach them if we were developing those services in isolation. We have agreed to accommodate the state system in these priority service areas in order to create higher levels of equity and efficiency. As I’ve said before, we are fortunate to have tremendous talent and expertise at Heartland AEA, and we will always need to have a passion for innovation. “Loose-tight” doesn’t mean that we relinquish our leadership role in providing quality services. It simply means that there will be some areas in which we need to think about those services in a broader context and consider how we can make our entire AEA system stronger. In the coming months, we will continue to keep you apprised of developments in state-level service planning. In the meantime, thank you for your expertise, your service to others and for your hard work. Have a great week! Jon
Did you know that every eight seconds, someone calls a poison center? The U.S. Congress established National Poison Prevention Week in September 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. Keep your pets safe from poison! The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has established a 24-hour hotline that you can 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.
Iowa’s high school graduation rate edged up in 2018 to an all-time high of 91.4 percent, underscoring long-term progress, according to figures released last week by the Iowa Department of Education. “This latest success is directly tied to our strong K-12 education system and Iowa’s innovative, engaging approach to education, which shapes the lives of our young people as well as the economic vitality of our state,” said Gov. Reynolds. “We’re transforming how students learn by connecting what they’re taught in the classroom to the career opportunities that a 21st century economy demands.” “High school graduation is a critical step for all students because it opens the door to post-secondary education and training opportunities,” Iowa Department of Education Director Ryan Wise said. “I’m pleased to see our graduation rates are up, reinforcing that our long-term trend is on the rise. This is a testament to the state’s committed educators and the roadmap we have in place for education.” State data show 91.4 percent of students in Iowa’s Class of 2018 graduated within four years, up from 91 percent for the Class of 2017. Since 2011, Iowa’s four-year graduation rate has climbed 3.1 percentage points overall, with significant long-term gains in nearly every student demographic subgroup (see chart below). For example, graduation rates for Hispanic students have increased 8.7 percentage points and African American students have increased 8.1 percentage points since 2011. The State Board of Education has set a 95 percent goal for the statewide graduation rate. This graduation rate data should not be confused with data released in January by the National Center for Education Statistics, which showed that Iowa leads the nation in graduation rates for the 2016-17 school year. Iowa graduation rates are calculated with a formula established by the U.S. Department of Education. Unique student identification numbers allow school districts to account for all ninth-grade students as they move through high school. At the state level, the method helps determine when a student graduates, even if the student has switched districts in Iowa during high school. Iowa’s five-year graduation rate – which reflects students who were part of a graduating class but took an extra year to finish high school – was 93.3 percent for the Class of 2017, down slightly from 93.4 percent for the Class of 2016. Iowa’s annual dropout rate reflects the percentage of students in grades 9-12 who drop out of school during a single year. The annual dropout rate edged down to 2.67 percent during the 2017-18 school year from 2.83 percent for the previous school year. Visit the Graduation Rates and Dropout Rates webpage for more information on Iowa's graduation rates and dropout rates, including rates by school district and student subgroup.
Heartland AEA offers employees the opportunity to voluntarily save for retirement by participating in the Iowa Department of Administrative Services’ Retirement Investors’ Club (RIC) 403(b) and/or 457 plans. You are eligible to participate in these plans whether or not you are actively contributing to them. Some highlights of the RIC plans are:
The minimum contribution is $12.50 per pay period.
You have the option of pre-tax contributions (before state and federal income taxes are computed) and/or post-tax Roth contributions. You should work with your financial advisor to determine what is best for your retirement planning. If you want to model the effect of the tax savings from a pre-tax investment, go to the Employee Online tab on your Employee Dashboard and click on the “What If” calculator and enter the amount of your pre-tax contribution. This will show you how making the contribution on a pre-tax basis will affect your paycheck. The post-tax Roth investment is designed to offer tax savings at the time of withdrawal and not at the time of investment.
The Agency does not offer matching funds, but it is still very beneficial for you to start saving for retirement, even if you are only able to start with a small amount.
For 2019, the maximum amount you may contribute per year is 100% of your compensation up to $19,000. Also, if you are 50 or older, you may contribute an additional $6,000. In some cases, you may also be able to make additional catch-up contributions. A calculation is required to determine if you’re eligible for this special provision.
There are three basic steps to start participating in the RIC plans:
Create an account with one of the plan investment providers.
Make your investment election (how you want your money invested).
Complete Heartland AEA’s Election Form to start your payroll deduction (forms can be found under the 403(b)/457 section of the Employee Online tab of your Dashboard).
To learn more about the 403(b) plan, visit this Retirement Investors’ Club webpage, and to learn more about the 457 plan, visit this Retirement Investors’ Club webpage. Use the left-hand navigation to find more information about these plans.
This Notice is not intended as tax or legal advice. Employees are encouraged to contact their financial advisor or tax professional with any tax or legal questions. If you have any questions about participating in these retirement plans, contact Steve Jordan, Senior Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14908.
As annual enrollment nears (April 1 - 30), it's time to start reflecting on the different deductible plans offered through Heartland's AEA’s health insurance coverage. Consider the following:
When considering which deductible plan you want to participate in, you should consider the deductible amount, premium costs and if you have any expected medical expenses (e.g., having a baby or major surgery). No matter which deductible you choose, there is absolutely NO difference in the actual coverage(s) provided by the Blue Choice plans offered to you.
If you pay $617.57 per month for the $750 deductible family plan vs. $540.28 per month for the $1,500 family deductible plan, you would want to consider the cost savings towards your premium. But you would also want to consider that on the $750 deductible family plan, it is $750 per person or $1,500 per family towards the deductible, and on the $1,500 deductible plan, it is $1,500 per person or $3,000 towards the deductible. If you don't have any major medical procedures planned, and everyone covered under your plan is in reasonably good health, then you might consider the $1,500 plan because you would save premium dollars, and you would also receive a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA).
If anyone covered under your plan needs to have any major medical procedures or regularly meets your deductible under the $750 deductible plan, then you might consider the savings provided by the lower deductible yet at a higher cost to you.
If you are considering the single health plans (which are provided by the Agency at no cost to you), which both provide the same coverage, you would want to consider the deductible of $750 ($1,500 out-of-pocket maximum) vs. $1,500 deductible ($3,000 out-of-pocket maximum) and that you would receive an annual HRA with the $1,500 deductible plan only in the annual amount of $681.96.
The HRA is a 100% contribution by Heartland AEA into an HRA account for you if you choose a $1,500 deductible health plan. Contributions are made in quarterly deposits, you can use this money to be reimbursed for your and/or your spouse and/or dependents’ out-of-pocket vision, medical, dental and/or prescription expenses, regardless of whether you have single or family coverage. Since it is a Health Reimbursement Arrangement, you are unable to take the funds with you when you terminate your employment with Heartland AEA, unless you take a bona fide retirement from the Agency (which basically means receiving IPERs). Quarterly deposits will be made into an account with 121 Benefits, the Agency’s HRA administrator. When you submit your claims, if there is money available in your account, you are reimbursed. If you submit more than is in your account, then every quarter when a deposit is made, you are reimbursed until the claim has been paid in full. The balance rolls over annually, as there is no longer a cap on the maximum rollover amount, effective Jan. 1, 2019.
As always, contact Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist, if you have any questions.
Watch this recorded webinar from our friends at LifeWorks as a Lunch and Learn and earn credit towards any Lunch and Learn in the Wellness Program AND learn more about what’s available through LifeWorks, our EAP provider! Get some tips on their new Perks platform and see that they offer more than you thought!
Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist, continues to address some of the questions being submitted via the staff Benefits Survey. Qs/Comments:
I would like the option of opting out of insurance since my husband covers us all through his plan.
I would like to opt out and have the money put toward a retirement account as I am double covered and my family insurance plan is far more comprehensive in what it covers.
I wish there was a way to opt out of single coverage and instead be given cash or additional HRA monies. My spouse has full family medical and dental insurance through their employer.
I would offer family for a less expensive amount. I would offer money back if a person chooses to not get insurance through Heartland.
A: Heartland AEA’s benefits philosophy is to provide single medical plan coverage and subsidized family coverage for all full-time employees to encourage enrollment in our medical plan – we want our employees to be enrolled in our medical plan! To maintain the financial health of our medical plan and to have more stable medical plan premiums, it is important to maximize enrollment in the plan. With this in mind, Heartland AEA does not provide incentives to opt out of our medical plan.
As you know, LifeWorks is our agency’s confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and innovative well-being resource offering support and guidance for you and your colleagues. Their services are available any time by phone, online or by mobile app – all at no cost to you. LifeWorks provides support and services for your mental, physical, social and financial well-being, and Heartland AEA is pleased to announce that as of March 1, 2019, you have access to enhanced services through LifeWorks. What's changed? You should have received an email invitation from LifeWorks on March 12 that prompted you to create your own personal username and password to access the LifeWorks platform. (This will replace the current username and password that is the same for all Heartland AEA employees.) The enhanced “Life” section will appear the same with tools, podcasts and articles for Family, Health, Life, Money and Work, but now there will also be a “Perks” tab that has exclusive offers, cashback rewards and discounted gift cards. Perks Perks is the place to help you save and earn cash back when shopping. With a huge range of retailers, there’s something for everyone.
Shop Online & Gift Cards - Browse hundreds of retailers and follow LifeWorks’ special link to earn cash back on your purchase. Watch your cashback grow or transfer it into your PayPal account. You can also purchase discounted digital gift cards right from the platform!
In-Store and Exclusive Offers - Gives you great deals and discounts on in-store and online purchases all in one place. You can browse offers in the In-Store and Exclusive Offers tabs. Simply click on the offer you are interested in for details of how to redeem it.
User Guide Read more about LifeWorks in the LifeWorks User Guide. Email Invitation Reminder: You should have received an email invitation from LifeWorks on March 12. Follow the instructions by selecting the link in the email, enter your Heartland AEA email as your username and set a password of your choice. Then rediscover the enhanced LifeWorks platform! LifeWorks is here for you, whenever you need them, day or night. Online:login.lifeworks.com Toll-free: 1-888-456-1324 Service in Spanish: 1-888-732-9020 TTY: 1-800-999-3004 App: Download the free “LifeWorks” app If you have any questions, contact Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist.
Each week during the Iowa legislative session, we will bring you an AEA Legislative Update from the Iowa’s AEAs legislative advocacy team. March 15, 2019 Legislative Update
In April, we will again be asking you to upgrade the operating system on your computer to macOS Mojave. In preparation for that upgrade, the Internal Technology Department would like to remind you to perform regular Time Machine backups of your computer. Here are the steps for performing a backup in case you need a refresher:
Connect your power cord to your computer if you have a laptop.
Plug in your external hard drive to your computer and wait for the icon to appear on the desktop.
Click the Time Machine menu item on the menu bar at the top and choose Back Up Now to start your backup.
If you want to monitor the progress of the backup, you can choose Open Time Machine Preferences from the Time Machine menu item to see more details. You can also click the Time Machine menu item and it will detail what’s happening at the top of the menu.
Once the backup process has completed, you can drag the hard drive icon on your desktop to the Trash to safely eject the disk.
If you have any questions or need assistance, contact Mike Permann at ext. 14767 or Marquis Jones at ext. 14618.
