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

Thank You & Happy Holidays From Your Agency Board of Directors

Heartland AEA staff, 

In this holiday season, we want to take a minute to let you know we think of you often and continue to be impressed by the professionalism, flexibility and grace you’ve shown during this challenging and disruptive time in life and in our schools. 

You continue to keep those we serve as your top priority—changing the way you work, where you work, being innovative and spending more time on Zoom than anyone ever imagined (that's how we feel, too!). You’ve done all this while also making sure you support and uplift each other. We know it hasn’t been easy, but we are proud of the extra mile you have all gone this year to ensure Heartland AEA continues to be an essential partner to families, students and educators. 

We wish you a happy holiday season and a restful winter break. Our best wishes to you for 2021! 

Thank you for all you do, 

Heartland AEA Board of Directors 

Sheri Benson, Steve Rose, Margie Schwenk, Bruce Christensen, John Kinley, Pete Evans, Earl Bridgewater, Margaret Borgen and Liz Brennan

Happy Holidays to You and Yours!

I want to wish all of you a peaceful and joyous holiday season!

Heartland AEA is a special place because so many of you invest yourselves in your work so wholeheartedly. Please take time for yourself during this holiday break. Rest, relax, recharge and reflect on all you've done to make such a difference for so many this year.

 - Jon

Heartland AEA COVID-19 Dashboard for the Week Ending Dec. 18, 2020

We will provide you with COVID-19 case and quarantine data each Monday in The Connection. The numbers will fluctuate on a weekly basis, and our report will show what is current as of the previous Friday. If you have any questions, contact Nia Chiaramonte, Director of Human Resources.  Thank you for your continued cooperation and flexibility as we work together to support children, students, families, educators and each other throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Click the image to enlarge it. 

Payroll Dates for 2021 Announced

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 in your planning, a list of 2021 pay dates and corresponding due dates is available. This document is archived on the Intranet > Business Office > Payroll Forms & Information > 2021 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, please 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 sjordan@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14908. 

2021 Pay Dates & Due Dates 

Online Trainings Prompt Updates to Independent Contractor Agreement

Due to more agency trainings and professional learning being held online, the Independent Contractor Agreement for Professional Services form has been updated. It is archived on the Intranet > Business Office > Professional Services Contract. 

If you have any questions, contact Kurt Subra, Chief Financial Officer.

Reminder: Take a Look at This Refresher on How to Calculate Business Mileage

Calculating business mileage for reimbursement can be a little tricky, so please review this article with examples for a refresher. As always if you have questions or need assistance, contact Mary Heaberlin, Accounts Payable Specialist in the Business Office, at ext. 14818. 

• Remember the verbiage on your expenses should reflect where you are physically claiming business mileage to and from each day. If you are not physically going to the office and returning to the office each day, then your claim should not state that you are doing so. 
• “Business miles” are defined as the miles driven in the course of work, not including miles to and from work (commuting mileage). 
• “Work” is defined as the assigned office, the first official business stop or the last official business stop. 
• Miles driven between the home and first official stop or last official stop and home are not reimbursed with the one exception listed directly below. 
• The exception to “business miles:” if the distance to the first official stop from home is greater than the distance to the office from home and/or if the distance from the last official stop to home is greater than the distance from the office to home, the number of miles in excess of traveling to the office may be claimed as business miles. 

This document shows several examples/scenarios on how to claim business miles.

Reminder: Polk & Jasper County Reunification Response Teams Launching; Staff Can Express Interest in Participating by Jan. 15

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 develop and exercise reunification plans, they have discovered 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, weather, chemical and other emergencies. In these types of events, 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.     

Heartland AEA is in a unique position to assist schools in Jasper County (Baxter, Colfax-Mingo, Lynnville-Sully, Newton and PCM) and schools in Polk County (Bondurant-Farrar, Des Moines, Johnston, North Polk, Saydel, Southeast Polk, Urbandale, West Des Moines) 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 while they await reunification.  
• 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 organized in the counties of Jasper and Polk. If you have the desire to assist children and families in an emergency, complete this Google form by Jan. 15, 2021, to indicate your interest in serving on a reunification response team(s). It is recommended that reunification response team members be able to respond to the Newton or Johnston areas within one hour 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 previously indicated your interest in serving on a response team, please sign up again. 

Save Money This Holiday Season (and Every Day) with LifeWorks!

Discover exclusive employee offers from market-leading brands and save on gifts for all of your family and friends! Need a last-minute gift? LifeWorks has you covered with discounted digital gift cards, instantly delivered via email to your recipients. 

LifeWorks Perks Flyer

Winter Break Van Delivery Schedule

Dec. 22, 2020 – Last day for delivery 

Jan. 4, 2021 – Delivery resumes

Staff Offered Opportunity to Take Youth Mental Health First Aid Training in New Blended Format

Heartland AEA is pleased to announce it will be offering the Youth Mental Health First Aid training course in a new blended format. Heartland AEA staff will be able to experience this course in its new format on Jan. 28, 2021, from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The course will be limited to 20 participants and includes a two-hour online portion and a four-hour in-person portion. 

Information regarding the two-hour online portion will be sent to you by Jan. 14 and MUST be completed by Jan. 21 in order to participate in the in-person portion of the course. Please note that the in-person portion will adhere to COVID-19 physical distancing guidelines, and masks will be required. 

Read more about YMHFA and options available to districts, including YMHFA in blended, virtual and in-person formats. 

Youth Mental Health First Aid 

Blended Format 

Jan. 28, 2021 

8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 

Registration

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

Heartland AEA COVID-19 Dashboard for the Week Ending Dec. 11, 2020

We will provide you with COVID-19 case and quarantine data each Monday in The Connection. The numbers will fluctuate on a weekly basis, and our report will show what is current as of the previous Friday. If you have any questions, contact Nia Chiaramonte, Director of Human Resources.  

Thank you for your continued cooperation and flexibility as we work together to support children, students, families, educators and each other throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Click on the image to enlarge.

Take a Look at This Refresher on How to Calculate Business Mileage

Calculating business mileage for reimbursement can be a little tricky, so please review this article with examples for a refresher. As always if you have questions or need assistance, contact Mary Heaberlin, Accounts Payable Specialist in the Business Office, at ext. 14818. 

• Remember the verbiage on your expenses should reflect where you are physically claiming business mileage to and from each day. If you are not physically going to the office and returning to the office each day, then your claim should not state that you are doing so. 
• “Business miles” are defined as the miles driven in the course of work, not including miles to and from work (commuting mileage). 
• “Work” is defined as the assigned office, the first official business stop or the last official business stop. 
• Miles driven between the home and first official stop or last official stop and home are not reimbursed with the one exception listed directly below. 
• The exception to “business miles:” if the distance to the first official stop from home is greater than the distance to the office from home and/or if the distance from the last official stop to home is greater than the distance from the office to home, the number of miles in excess of traveling to the office may be claimed as business miles. 

This document shows several examples/scenarios on how to claim business miles.

Reminder: Upcoming December Payroll Timelines Due to Holiday Schedule

Due to the upcoming agency holiday schedule, staff members paid from a timesheet must have their Dec. 1-15 timesheets completed, approved by their supervisor and submitted to the Payroll Department by the end of the day on Friday, Dec. 18 in order to ensure they receive pay at the end-of-month. The December end of month payday will be Dec. 30. 

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

Polk & Jasper County Reunification Response Teams Launching; Staff Can Express Interest in Participating by Dec. 23

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 develop and exercise reunification plans, they have discovered 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, weather, chemical and other emergencies. In these types of events, 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.     

Heartland AEA is in a unique position to assist schools in Jasper County (Baxter, Colfax-Mingo, Lynnville-Sully, Newton and PCM) and schools in Polk County (Bondurant-Farrar, Des Moines, Johnston, North Polk, Saydel, Southeast Polk, Urbandale, West Des Moines) 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 while they await reunification.  
• 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 organized in the counties of Jasper and Polk. If you have the desire to assist children and families in an emergency, complete this Google form by Dec. 23, 2020, to indicate your interest in serving on a reunification response team(s). It is recommended that reunification response team members be able to respond to the Newton or Johnston areas within one hour 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 previously indicated your interest in serving on a response team, please sign up again. 

Fall Enrollment Drops in Most Iowa School Districts

Last week the Iowa Department of Education released new 2020 fall enrollment statistics for Iowa’s 327 school districts, showing a decrease of nearly 5,935 students from last year. Overall, this decrease represents a 1.21 percent decline in certified enrollment this fall, 484,159 compared to 490,094 last year. 

Certified enrollment is used to determine funding for schools and differs slightly from the actual headcount of students enrolled. For the first time in ten years, certified enrollment decreased from the previous year. The Department of Education will be meeting with the Iowa Legislature and the governor’s office to discuss the potential impact of declining enrollment.   

Certified enrollment decreased at 215 school districts representing 66 percent of all public school districts in the state. Des Moines Public Schools had the largest decrease followed by Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Iowa City, Council Bluffs, Waterloo, Sioux City, Dubuque, Burlington and West Des Moines.  

More students enrolled in home school assistance programs this school year. A total of 8,735 students were enrolled in fall 2020 compared to 7,103 in fall 2019. In a home school assistance program, students receive some services through their local school district. Iowa also allows for homeschooling through competent private instruction and independent private instruction, so not all families use the home school assistance program. 

More details on certified enrollment and fall 2020 headcounts are available on the Education Statistics web page on the Iowa Department of Education’s website.

Updates Made to 2020-21 Van Route Schedule

A pair of updates have been made to the van route schedule: 

• The S.E. Polk Administration building is now Route 6.295
• The Dallas Center-Grimes Administration building is now Route 1.01

2020-21 Van Route Schedule

Coming Soon: Professional Learning Opportunities Around Safe Classroom Environments & Revised Chapter 103 Rules

If the districts you serve are beginning to ask, asynchronous professional learning opportunities in 15-, 30- and 60-minute sessions to support the training requirements for staff associated with Senate File 2360 - Guidance for Safe Classroom Environments and the revised Chapter 103 rules are coming soon. Professional learning will address the following topics: 

• foundational behavior principles, 
• de-escalation, 
• prevention strategies, 
• supporting communication and 
• response strategies. 

If you have any questions, contact Jadie Boens, Director of Special Programs.

Educators Take Note: Free Online Access to Education Leadership’s December Mental Health Issue




Education Leadership, ASCD’s publication, is providing the December/January issue on educator mental health free to all users through the month of December. Take some time to check it out and share it with educators you serve.

Mental Health for Educators

Nov. 2020 Updates Made to Iowa IDEA Information (i3) Website

Edits and updates are made to the i3 website on a monthly basis. The edits for November 2020 can be found on the Special Education Updates for November 2020 page of the website.

Tech Tip of the Week: Zoom Meeting Co-hosts Can Now Facilitate Breakout Rooms

Zoom has made an update to its meeting breakout rooms. Now, co-hosts in a meeting are able to create, assign, launch and join breakout rooms during a meeting, giving them the same management control over breakout rooms as the meeting host has. 

This is welcome news to our staff who would like to facilitate a meeting as the host but also delegate the breakout room duties to a co-host. This feature launched in Zoom version 5.4.6, so be sure to update your Zoom software through the Zoom app or the Self Service app on your computer. If you have any questions, contact David Hammer, Multimedia Specialist.

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

Heartland AEA COVID-19 Dashboard for the Week Ending Dec. 4, 2020

We will provide you with COVID-19 case and quarantine data each Monday in The Connection. The numbers will fluctuate on a weekly basis, and our report will show what is current as of the previous Friday. If you have any questions, contact Nia Chiaramonte, Director of Human Resources. Thank you for your continued cooperation and flexibility as we work together to support children, students, families, educators and each other throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Click on the image to enlarge it.

Upcoming December Payroll Timelines Due to Holiday Schedule

Due to the upcoming agency holiday schedule, staff members paid from a timesheet must have their Dec. 1-15 timesheets completed, approved by their supervisor and submitted to the Payroll Department by the end of the day on Friday, Dec. 18 in order to ensure they receive pay at the end-of-month. The December end of month payday will be Dec. 30. 

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

Federally-funded Staff: A-87 Certification Notification Coming Dec. 9

Semi-annually, Heartland AEA must comply with the Federal Grant rules identified in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-87, pertaining to documentation needed for federal expenditures. For employees who are funded 100% with federal funding, there are Circular A-87 audit requirements we need to meet in order to document appropriate expenditures.    


If you are in the fully-funded group, on Dec. 9, 2020, you will receive an email from heartlandworkflow with the subject A87 Certification Notice - Action Required with a link to the certification page. The process is very simple and the same as in previous years.  



If you are new to this process or need a refresher, you can view this presentation, which explains the background for Circular A-87 and the steps Heartland AEA is taking to meet the A-87 requirements. (Keep in mind the video was created in March 2011. Although some of the dates and timelines in the video are old, the process and the purpose of the A-87 certification are still the same.) The video will explain that employees who are fully-funded from one grant will need to certify every six months that they are performing duties allowed under the federal grant.  



If you have any questions, contact Brian Whalen, Business Manager, at ext. 14005. The Business Office appreciates your prompt completion of the certifications and your assistance in helping us comply with this reporting requirement.

State Board of Education Adopts Revisions to Rules on Seclusion and Restraint (Chapter 103)

The State Board of Education recently adopted revisions to Iowa administrative rules on seclusion and restraint (Chapter 103). The revised rules will go into effect on Jan. 20, 2021. 

In the December 2020 SAI Report, Matt Carver, School Administrators of Iowa (SAI) Legal Services Director, addresses the seclusion and restraint rules change on pages 4-5 (the revised Chapter 103 rules are linked in the first line of his article).

Dec. 2020 School Leader Update Available

The Dec. 2020 School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education is available. 

In this issue: 

• Dr. Ann Lebo: Reaching the halfway point 
• More equity webinars announced; get them on your calendar 
• There's still time to register for the Dec. 5 Emerging Educators Academy 
• myIGDIs Early Literacy Assessment 
• Preschool updates 
• Important dates for Student Reporting in Iowa (SRI) 
• Student culinary competition • Computer Science legislation: House File 2629 
• Clearinghouse for Work-based Learning mini-grant opportunities

Look No Further for Guidance About Copyright in the Classroom!

Iowa’s AEAs have created an extensive, easy-to-use resource to help students and teachers understand copyright laws and the associated rights and responsibilities as users of copyrighted information.   

Two versions of Copyright BriefNotes are available to support students and teachers in virtual and physical classrooms: Copyright BriefNotes for Students and Copyright BriefNotes for Students and Teachers. Both are available as a flipbook, PDF and printed version. Teachers are welcome to link the flipbooks and PDFs to their school websites or LMSs.  

• Copyright BriefNotes for Students has been updated for 2021. 
• Copyright BriefNotes for Students and Teachers includes the same content from the student version plus information that helps address copyright questions related to online and virtual learning environments, digital content, copyright permissions and more. 

Visit the Copyright Information page of the Heartland AEA website to learn more.

Dec. 2020 Board of Directors Meeting Agenda Available

The agenda for the Dec. 8, 2020, Heartland AEA Board of Directors meeting is available.

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

Heartland AEA COVID-19 Dashboard for the Week Ending Nov. 27, 2020

We will provide you with COVID-19 case and quarantine data each Monday in The Connection. The numbers will fluctuate on a weekly basis, and our report will show what is current as of the previous Friday. If you have any questions, contact Nia Chiaramonte, Director of Human Resources. Thank you for your continued cooperation and flexibility as we work together to support children, students, families, educators and each other throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Click on the image to enlarge it.

Clarification on PlanWithEase 403(b) Letter

Heartland AEA is part of the State of Iowa’s 403(b) plan, aka the Retirement Investors’ Club (RIC). The State has overall responsibility for the administration of the 403() plan, but for several years, RIC has used PlanWithEase (PWE) as its third-party administrator for 403(b) plan transactions. 

Recently, in an effort to increase the security of participant information, PWE has changed how participants log into their website for the first time. To log in, participants will still use their Social Security Number as their User ID, but they will now use a password that PWE creates for them. 

Participants who have never logged into the PWE website will receive a unique password from PWE in a letter via U.S. mail to their home mailing address. Participants who are already registered on the PWE website will continue to use the password they previously established. 

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

Reminder: New Agency Website Debuts Tomorrow

We are very excited to announce the launch of the Agency’s redesigned website on Dec. 1, 2020. The new site will be easier to navigate, more user-friendly and quite graphically pleasing!

As a partner in education, it’s important for us to make information regarding our services and supports easily accessible for educators, students and families. We strive to provide our partners with the most accurate, up-to-date information and share our knowledge and expertise in education. Our goal with the redesigned website is to provide visitors an easier way to learn about Heartland AEA’s services and to browse information based on their own choices. 

The new website gives better access to: 

• Professional Learning opportunities
 
• Library & Digital resources 
 
• Creative Services materials and online ordering
 
• Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment supports
 
• Special Education services
 
• Family supports
 

The website also features:

• Enhanced web accessibility for those who use screen readers
• A responsive design that allows the site to be accessible on mobile devices
• Integrated social media buttons for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn 

If you have any questions about the launch of the new site or would like to know more information, contact the Communications Department.

Reminder: Process for Communicating Inclement Weather Office Closings & Course Cancellations; Ensure Your Phone Number is Current in Employee Online

As we approach winter, we want to remind you of how our agency communicates about inclement weather office closings and course cancellations (in addition to any other type of emergency situation).





Inclement Weather 


Heartland AEA offices will typically remain open unless all schools in a region are closed and travel is not recommended—which we know does happen. In preparation for the possibility of office closings and professional learning course cancellations, read below for the process the Agency uses to communicate about closings, cancellations and delays.



  

• First, read the Agency’s Inclement Weather Policy, which can be found in the Staff Handbook in Section 11:16. If you have any questions about the Inclement Weather policy, contact Nia Chiaramonte, Director of Human Resources.



  
• Second, remember that the Temporary Remote Workplace Program can be used in extraordinary circumstances with supervisor approval. More information about the program can be found in the Staff Handbook in Section 3:4. In an inclement weather circumstance, staff members who complete timesheets have the option of taking unpaid leave, even if they have other leaves available.  

  
• Third, make sure your phone information is up-to-date in Employee Online, so you will be notified of office closings. If you are a new staff member or have a new phone number, you will receive a message from the short code 67587 asking if you’d like to opt-in to receive messages from SchoolMessenger. Reply “Yes” to receive those messages.  


Communicating Office Closures 





The Agency uses the following methods to notify staff members of office closures due to inclement weather or another emergency.   
 

• SchoolMessenger: We will send text and email messages through SchoolMessenger (an online notification system) to only those staff members who are assigned to offices that close.
• Website: We will post closing information on the front page of the Agency’s website.    
• Social Media: We will post closing information on the Agency's Facebook and Twitter accounts.  


Communicating Professional Learning Class Cancellations  



If a professional learning class or activity is canceled, the cancellation will be communicated via the agency website and social media.  





If you have any questions about inclement weather communications, contact Courtney Croatt, Communications Specialist, at ext. 14474.

Reminder: Have You Completed Your Online ALICE Training for 2020-21?

 As Heartland AEA continues to make improvements in our agency’s safety and security, all staff are required to complete the online ALICE training once each school year. By the end of the 2020-21 school year (June 30, 2021), all Heartland AEA staff members should take the hour-long online training to become familiar with the ALICE program and the techniques it teaches in response to an armed intruder event.  







ALICE stands for:    

• Alert: Get the word out! “Armed Intruder in building” instead of “Code Red,” or “Bring the purple folder to the office.” Use clear, concise language to convey the type and location of the event.    
• Lockdown: Good starting point. We will continue to lockdown in secure areas.    
• Inform: Communication keeps the intruder off balance and allows for good decision-making. 
• Counter: Apply skills to distract, confuse and gain control.    
• Evacuate: Reduce the number of potential targets for the intruder and reduce chances of victims resulting from friendly fire when help arrives.    

In short, using the ALICE method will give you more tools to use in the event of an armed intruder/active shooter. We want to provide you with the knowledge that if faced with a life or death situation there are methods that can be applied to enhance your chance of survival. 

 

 



Again, you are expected to complete the ALICE online training by the end of June 2021.   



The training has been assigned to all Heartland AEA employees in the AEA Learning Online Learning System. 

To access the training:  

• Visit the AEA Learning Online training site. 
• Enter the email and password used for your AEA Login and click log in. 

Assistance 

If you need assistance accessing the site, contact: 

Carol Naylor, Professional Learning Registrar


If you have any questions about the training or the ALICE program in general, contact 

Dustin Gean, Operations Manager

Emergency Response & Safety Team Lead and Certified ALICE Trainer

Clarification About Dec. 24 on Working Days Calendars

In celebration of Winter Break:   

• Dec. 23, 2020: Agency offices will be closed to the public, but the day will be considered a normal calendar/workday.  
• Dec. 24, 2020 - Jan. 3, 2021: Offices will be closed to staff and the public.  
• Jan. 4, 2021: Offices reopen to staff and the public. 

Please note that for staff with working days calendars, Dec. 24 is showing up as a workday. Please disregard this as it is an agency holiday. 

Last Call: Early Notification Letters Due to HR on Dec. 4

Last year, Heartland AEA filled 45+ 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 2020-21, the Heartland AEA Board of Directors has again approved an Early Notification Incentive for staff who have a signed contract and who notify Heartland AEA of their intent to not renew their contract for the 2021-22 school year by Dec. 4, 2020. 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 2021-22 school year must submit early notification letters of resignation that are effective at the end of the 2020-21 work year.   
• Early notification letters must be received in the Human Resources Department by 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 4, 2020.   
• Heartland AEA’s Board of Directors acts on early notification letters no later than the regular meeting on Dec. 8, 2020.   
• Departing staff must fulfill their individual employment contract obligations for the 2020-21 work year.   


Early Notification Incentive   

• A $1,500 early notification incentive will be paid on June 30, 2021, to employees fulfilling these requirements.

If you have any questions about the early notification incentive, contact Nia Chiaramonte, Director of Human Resources, at ext. 14534.

Want to Learn More About What "Future Ready" Really Means for Students & Educators?

Future Ready is part of the AEA System’s Strategic Plan. But what does “Future Ready” really mean and what does it mean at Heartland AEA? Did you know we have a Future Ready team? What metrics are we using? All of these questions will be covered in the one-credit course “Introduction to Future Ready at Heartland AEA.” 

The course was set up as a TQ course but is open to anyone who wants to participate and learn. The course begins the week of Dec. 8 with one Zoom meeting, and the remainder of the course will be asynchronous. If you have any questions, contact Sue Schirmer, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant.

Course #: 190560 HL - TQ: Introduction to Future Ready at Heartland AEA (Graduate Level)

Section # 295199

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