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

Let's See Your Smiling Faces! Submit Your Photos for the Annual Staff Photo Slideshow

We will again feature a photo slideshow at our annual All-Staff Meeting on Sept. 27 to showcase the people and places that are important to you outside of work. 

Please send in your special photos of your babies, pets, weddings, anniversaries, graduations, summer vacations, winning teams and overachievers!  

Email your photos -- no more than two photos per person with a short caption -- to the Communications Department by Sept 6.

Reminder: Coming Sept. 1: Expense Claims Will Be Checked Against Leave Requests

Beginning Sept. 1, 2019, the Business Office will begin checking employee expense claims against leave requests and calendars. If 7.5 hours of leave is requested on a day that expenses are submitted, the expense request will be rejected. Employees will receive an email stating the dates needing attention and will need to edit and resubmit the expense request. 

If employees submit expenses on an off-calendar date, a warning email will be sent to both the employee and their supervisor. The off-calendar dates will be listed in the email. The expense claim will proceed through the system without any further action taken by employees. The warnings will be sent so employees and supervisors can check to make sure work was performed on the date in question (addendum day). If the expenses were submitted in error, employees will need to work with their supervisor to have it rejected for corrections. 

The intent of this change is to tighten our internal controls and ensure that public funds are being spent appropriately. 

If you have questions, contact Mary Heaberlin, Accounts Payable Specialist, at ext. 14818 or Brian Whalen, Business Manager, at ext. 14005.

Annual Agency Publications Now Updated on the Intranet

With the new school year comes updated agency publications and resources (listed below), which are now available on the Intranet > Communications. If you have any questions about these publications, contact the Communications Department.  


Communications > Annual Publications 

• 2019-20 Staff & Schools Directory (to come) 
• 2019-20 Regional Map w/ Regional Directors 
• 2019-20 Regional Director Assignments 
• 2019-20 School Composite Calendar 
• 2019-20 Superintendent Directory 
•  2019-20 Van Route Schedule 

Communications > Resources 

• Agency Playbook (will be provided at All-Staff Meeting) 
• Agency Infographic 
• Planning Councils Structure & Membership Chart 
• Agency Blueprint

Administrator Connection Newsletter Up and Running

The Agency’s Administrator Connection began publishing for the 2019-20 school year on Aug. 9. The Administrator Connection newsletter is in a blog format just like the staff Connection and is published every Friday from August to June. It informs our school administrators (superintendents, principals, curriculum directors, etc.) of news and information important to them and is the primary communications tool the Agency uses to communicate directly with school administrators. Email any information you’d like to communicate to school administrators to the Communications Department.

Reminder: Polk County Reunification Response Team Pilot Launching; Staff Can Express Interest in Participating by Aug. 26

An essential component of school emergency response is the reunification of students with their parents or primary caregiver after an emergency has taken place. A well organized and timely reunification process is critical to reducing emergency-based trauma in children and is often the only mental health crisis intervention needed following an emergency. The sooner children are reunited with caregivers, the less likely they are to exhibit traumatic stress.    

As schools across Iowa begin to develop and exercise reunification plans, they are quickly discovering that most lack the resources to effectively and efficiently complete the associated tasks. This is especially true in instances involving significant trauma such as active shooter events. In this type of emergency, research indicates that children are best left under the supervision of their teacher, who they trust and seek for safety. This leaves very limited school and district staff available for carrying out the reunification plan. This also requires school personnel directly impacted by the emergency to carry out complex reunification tasks that they may not be able to emotionally manage.    

In partnership with Polk County Emergency Management and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Heartland AEA is in a unique position to assist schools in Polk County by establishing a response team to reunify children with caregivers in an emergency. Should an emergency requiring reunification of children occur, specially trained Heartland AEA staff would deploy to the identified reunification site and assure the school that families are quickly and accurately reunified. 

The Heartland AEA Reunification Response Team would assure three important aspects of response: 

1. Reunification is done as quickly as possible, limiting the amount of time children and caregivers spend in the process;  
2. Children are reunited with the appropriate caregiver by confirming the identity and matching children with their legal guardian; and  
3. Children and families are connected to critical services that may be needed in the days, weeks and months following a traumatic event, such as a school shooting.     

A variety of individual skills sets are needed to fill the roles and responsibilities associated with the reunification team:  

• Logistics staff is needed to see that the necessary equipment, signage and supplies are delivered and set up at a reunification site should the team be requested for deployment.   
• Administrative staff must carry out accurate record collection and verification of identification to assure students are safely reunified with the proper caregiver.  
• Mental health services and support staff is needed to assure that both children and adults receive assistance in a supportive and empathetic environment. 
• Security staff is needed to assist law enforcement by identifying potential areas of concern and assuring the safety of everyone seeking reunification services.   

Are You Interested in Serving on a Reunification Response Team? 
At this time, a regional reunification response plan is being piloted in Polk County. If you have the desire to assist children and families in an emergency, complete this Google form by Aug. 26, 2019, to indicate your interest in serving on a reunification response team. It is recommended that reunification response team members be able to respond to the Polk County area within 30 minutes should the team need to be activated. Once volunteers are identified, we will be scheduling Reunification exercise(s) to train and practice the Reunification Response process.  

If you have questions or need additional information on how you might be of assistance, contact Jadie Boens, Special Programs Director, at ext. 14512. 

Are You Up to the Challenge of Improving Your Finances? Find Out on Sept. 10!

We're excited to announce the second year of Heartland AEA's participation in the State of Iowa Financial Fitness Challenge! This is a new and improved program with lots of financial classes and resources, and you no longer have to take a financial assessment!   

Heartland AEA has been selected to participate in the Iowa State Financial Fitness Challenge, a unique program created in conjunction with the Financial Fitness Group and the State of Iowa Insurance Division. This program begins on Sept. 10 and will run through Dec. 31, 2019. At that time, if the Iowa Insurance Division continues to fund the program for public entities, you’ll have access to the program through May 31, and we’ll communicate more in January.   

Why is the Agency participating in the program?  
Because we care about your financial future and want to extend to you every opportunity to be financially successful, we are rolling out this extended benefit to all employees. As an added bonus, you may also invite your family members and friends to participate, free of charge!



What exactly is the Financial Fitness Program? 
The platform, Financial Fitness Academy, is designed to assess, educate and empower individuals to improve their overall financial health. 

How do I get started?  
On Sept. 10, you will receive an invitation email from the system to get started. Simply click on the link in the email, and you'll be up and running in just a few minutes. If you don't receive an email, contact Nia Chiaramonte, Director of Human Resources, to provide you a link to the program site. If you want to opt-out of further emails, there will be an opt-out link on the first and any subsequent email you receive. 

What else should I know? 

• This year the Financial Fitness Challenge is not an activity option to complete as part of the Wellness Program. While financial wellness is still a component of our Wellness Program, Financial Fitness is an independent module. 
• All personally identifiable information provided is kept strictly confidential. 
• You are able to customize your learning experience with educational materials to help you increase your financial knowledge and improve your unique financial situation. 
• You may add as many courses as you wish, and you complete them in any order and at whatever pace is most convenient for you. 
• The program may be accessed anywhere, anytime, as long as there is an Internet connection. You can use Macs, PCs, tablets, smartphones, etc. 
• You can view and save certificates of completion as you pass courses. 
• Each course starts with a pre-test and ends with a post-test. There is no minimum passing score for course pre-tests. The passing score for each course post-test is 70%. Course post-tests may be re-taken as many times as necessary. 
• Each course takes up to 15 minutes to complete. We encourage you to take advantage of this amazing opportunity to strengthen your financial muscles!

Questions?

Contact Nia Chiaramonte, Director of Human Resources, at ext. 14534.

Reminder: You’re Going to Love Our Improved Wellness Program! Sign Up for an Account and for Health Screenings at the All-Staff Meeting Today!

Learning. Fun. Rewards. It’s Heartland AEA Wellness!  

Heartland AEA is teaming up with a new wellness vendor, Interactive Health, to provide you with the guidance you need to get on the right track with your wellness goals. We’re ready to help YOU be well!  The Wellness Program will essentially be the same as in prior years -- just bigger and better! It will be expanding with new healthy activities that have engaging programs to help you learn and earn rewards!  

Great Features! 
Activity Tracking  
Your Personal Health Action Plan helps you track your activities and health goals while accumulating points to earn up to $250.  

Wellness Challenges  
Fun and engaging competitions will be offered throughout the year, in addition to new “flash challenges” to help motivate you to reach your wellness goals.  

Online Workshops  
Workshops reinforce healthy lifestyles and are recommended based on your health risk and interests.  

Health Coaching  
Connect with Interactive Health coaches to get recommendations to help you improve your health. 

Program Overview & Incentives 
As always, all the information about this year’s Wellness Program can be found on the Intranet under the Wellness link.  

Create an Account on the Interactive Health Portal 
It’s easy! Go to the Interactive Health portal and enter the new user code: NVLC5. From there you can create your own username and password. Voila -- it’s done! Start exploring! You can also download the Interactive Health app from the App Store or Google Play. 

New! Register for On-site Health Screenings at the All-Staff Meeting 
The Agency is pleased to partner with Interactive Health and Hy-Vee to include health screenings as a part of the Wellness Program. New this year will be on-site screenings at the All-Staff Meeting on Sept. 27 at the Airport Holiday Inn in Des Moines. Two options will be available -- health evaluations and biometrics. 

Health Evaluations 
ALL SLOTS HAVE BEEN FILLED! 7 - 9:30 a.m., prior to the start of the All-Staff Meeting. Please fast before this test. (More information is available when you sign up.) 

This type of screening will include: 

• Venipuncture blood draw
 
• Total cholesterol, HDL and LDL
 
• Triglycerides and fasting glucose
 
•  Blood pressure
 

If you’re unable to participate during the All-Staff meeting: you have the opportunity to test using a physician verification form provided by Interactive Health. Bring this form to a physician appointment. Call (800) 840-6100 and request a Physician Verification Form. Return the completed paperwork to Interactive Health no later than April 17, 2020. 

Biometric Screenings 
7-9 a.m., prior to the start of the All-Staff Meeting. Please fast before this test. (More information is available when you sign up.) 

Hy-Vee will again conduct biometric screenings, as they have for many of you in the past. A biometric screening is a combination of measurements and readings about certain health factors that may be helpful in identifying potential risk factors for chronic diseases or conditions, like heart disease, hypertension or diabetes. This also includes a finger prick to gather blood, not a traditional blood draw (venipuncture). 

APPOINTMENTS ARE LIMITED: SLOTS STILL AVAILABLE! So if you are interested, sign up is recommended ASAP.  

•  Go to https://www.hy-vee.com/health/screenings/group.aspx.
 
•  Choose Heartland AEA in the drop-down at the bottom of the page.
 
•  There will be four different events listed, all with a "details" link to the right that should be clicked on to find a time.
 
•  All four events are for the All-staff Meeting, so if you don’t find a time you’re looking right away, check the other events listed. 
 

Biometric Screenings Offered at Other Times
The Agency will also offer biometric screenings at our offices as we've done in the past. 
And remember, you can always go to a Hy-Vee store that has a dietician or to your primary care physician to have your biometric screening done. You will need to make an appointment with a Hy-Vee dietitian if you do a screening on your own. 

Questions?
If you have any questions about this year’s Wellness Program or screenings taking place the day of the All-Staff Meeting, contact Carol McDaniel, Human Resources Assistant, at ext. 14002.

Note: Personal information that you provide, and health data obtained through your Health Evaluation will only be used by Interactive Health to provide you with personally relevant information. Interactive Health will not, under any circumstances, share this information with your employer. In addition, Interactive Health will not sell or rent information to any outside third party. We respect the privacy of all our members.  Reasonable alternative standard information.  

If you are unable to participate which is required for you to earn an incentive under this wellness program, you may qualify for an opportunity to earn the same incentive through an alternative course of action. This alternative course of action must be completed by May 15, 2020. Please contact Interactive Health at least two weeks prior to this date at (800) 840-6100 or rasrequest@interactivehealthinc.com to ask about a reasonable alternative standard to qualify for the incentive.  

Ankeny Christian Academy Has New Email Addresses

Ankeny Christian Academy has changed its email addresses to firstname.lastname@acaeagles.net. 

Please update your records accordingly.

Additional Information About New Consent to Receive Electronic Communication Procedures

With the new special education procedures for Consent to Receive Electronic Communication, many questions have surfaced from both staff and districts. In addition to the information on pages 30-32 in the Area Education Agency Special Education Procedures, the statewide Procedural Governance Group (PGC) has created a Q & A document and an At-a-Glance document as a resource for AEA and district staff. 

These tools were referenced in the August regional meetings, but if you have not yet had a chance to read them, please do.

Reminder: Action Needed: Update the Anti-Virus Software on Your Agency Computer by Sept. 10

In an ongoing effort to keep our agency software up-to-date, an updated version of Symantec Anti-Virus software will be available this week to install on agency computers.



Beginning Aug. 20, 2019, the update for Symantec Anti-Virus will be available via the Self Service app on all agency computers needing the update. Staff may install this update at their convenience during a three-week window. If the update has not been performed by staff at the end of the three weeks (ending Sept. 10, 2019), the update will be applied to your computer automatically (beginning Sept. 11, 2019). It is important you perform this update to ensure the update is not automatically applied at an inopportune time.



To install this update, follow the instructions below: 

• Locate and open the Self Service app. You will find it in the Applications folder, or you may have a shortcut on your Dock. 
• Click the "Utilities" category on the left-hand side of Self Service and locate the Symantec Endpoint Protection 14.2.4811.1100 policy. 
• Click the "Install" button and read the brief description. Then click the "Install" button to start the installation process. 
• A message will appear when Symantec Endpoint Protection 14.2.4811.1100 has been installed, reminding you your computer will need to be restarted. Your computer will restart 1 minute after you click the OK button.