Early this week we will be sending the annual Iowa AEA Customer Satisfaction Survey to our schools. We need you to encourage those individuals that you come in contact with to fill out the survey. Our goal is to double our response rate from 18% to 36%.
The survey provides us with opportunities to improve our service to the schools and their students. This is part of Heartland’s continuous improvement efforts. The information is used to evaluate the quality of our programs and services and to ultimately improve these services.
The survey will be available from March 9 to April 9. The Subject line will read “AEA Customer Satisfaction Survey.” If you encounter LEA staff who have not received the e-mail, you can provide them with the survey link in the letter from the Department of Education by clicking here. The survey link is also printed on bookmarks that will be distributed through professional development and media library services. If you would like a copy of the bookmark, please contact your Partnership Director as they also received copies to distribute.
Here is an FAQ to use with LEA staff.
Q: I’m really busy. Why should I take the time to do this since it doesn’t affect me? A: As an Agency we use data to make decisions that affect every LEA and its staff. Your voice needs to be heard.
Q: Lots of people will be filling this out, one person won’t make a difference.
A: Only 18% of our LEA staff filled out the survey last year. That means approximately 2 out of every 10 individuals’ thoughts were used to make decisions for everyone. We know that having more individuals filling out the survey gives us more representative data to make better decisions.
Q: Will I be able to see the information gathered?
A: Yes. Each year we report information from this survey in our annual progress report. In addition, we share specific findings at various stakeholder meetings throughout the year. You can also contact your Partnership Director to request summary information.
Your help in encouraging LEA staff to take the survey is greatly appreciated.
Monday, March 9, 2009
"Chats with Management" Audio Now Available on the Intranet
Recently a chat was held with Chief Administrator Maxine Kilcrease about the Agency's facilities, staff allocation and the changes that the Agency has been undergoing. Director of Communications Brenda Gustafson asked questions of Dr. Kilcrease, and the audio of their conversation can be found on the Intranet under the Critical Communication tab or by clicking here. More chats like this will be held as the need arises.
Federal Tax Withholding Changes to Begin with March 13 Paycheck
In late February, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, sometimes referred to as the stimulus plan. One of the key provisions of the Act is a change in the federal income tax withholding tables. For most taxpayers, the change in the withholding tables will result in less federal income tax withholding from their paycheck, resulting in more take-home pay each pay period.
Heartland will implement this change in the federal income tax withholding tables with the March 13, 2009 paycheck. This change is automatic and no action is required on your part. The increase in your take-home pay will depend on your individual circumstances, e.g., your pay, your marital status and the number of withholding allowances you are claiming. Higher-income taxpayers will see little or no change in their take-home pay.
If for any reason you do not want to have your federal income tax withholding reduced (e.g., you are married and your combined income places you in a higher tax bracket), you may want to complete a new Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate. You may claim fewer withholding allowances on line 5 or request additional amounts to be withheld on line 6. Please consult your tax advisor regarding your personal situation. If you have any questions, contact Jami Johnson at ext. 14311 or Steve Jordan at ext. 14908.
Heartland will implement this change in the federal income tax withholding tables with the March 13, 2009 paycheck. This change is automatic and no action is required on your part. The increase in your take-home pay will depend on your individual circumstances, e.g., your pay, your marital status and the number of withholding allowances you are claiming. Higher-income taxpayers will see little or no change in their take-home pay.
If for any reason you do not want to have your federal income tax withholding reduced (e.g., you are married and your combined income places you in a higher tax bracket), you may want to complete a new Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate. You may claim fewer withholding allowances on line 5 or request additional amounts to be withheld on line 6. Please consult your tax advisor regarding your personal situation. If you have any questions, contact Jami Johnson at ext. 14311 or Steve Jordan at ext. 14908.
March Board of Directors Meeting Agenda
Click here for the March Heartland Board of Directors meeting agenda.
Human Resources E-mail Reminders
Today the Human Resources Department will begin using automated reminder e-mails for required trainings, including bloodborne pathogen and mandatory child/dependent adult abuse training, in addition to licensure renewal. These e-mails are intended to remind Heartland staff members of training and licensure requirements with instructions needed to complete the trainings.
If you receive one of these e-mails, please read it carefully and complete the training or renew your license before the expiration date. Staff members who do not meet training requirements or license renewal requirements prior to the expiration date may be put on unpaid administrative leave until their training requirements or license renewal requirements are met.
Please contact Steve Zimmerman, ext. 14534 or szimmerman@aea11.k12.ia.us with any questions regarding bloodborne pathogen training or problems with completing mandatory training. If you have questions about licensure requirements or child/adult abuse training, please contact Chrissy Bradley, ext. 14432 or cbradley@aea11.k12.ia.us.
If you receive one of these e-mails, please read it carefully and complete the training or renew your license before the expiration date. Staff members who do not meet training requirements or license renewal requirements prior to the expiration date may be put on unpaid administrative leave until their training requirements or license renewal requirements are met.
Please contact Steve Zimmerman, ext. 14534 or szimmerman@aea11.k12.ia.us with any questions regarding bloodborne pathogen training or problems with completing mandatory training. If you have questions about licensure requirements or child/adult abuse training, please contact Chrissy Bradley, ext. 14432 or cbradley@aea11.k12.ia.us.
SSLog Training/Tests Coming Soon
On-line training is now available for new staff to learn how to use the School Services Log (SSLog) system. New and veteran staff members are required to take a brief online test to check for understanding of the rules for logging data. We are asking that the training and test be completed by new staff and the test only by veteran staff by the end of March. The training will probably take about an hour, and the test will probably take less than five minutes. Within the next few days, specific directions including links to the training and test will be e-mailed to those who need to take care of these tasks.
All certified staff who provide services to schools must document those services using SSLog. We use the data from this system to answer questions about our services to schools. Heartland is beginning to prepare for a State Accreditation site visit in 2010. It is critical that we have this year’s information as complete and accurate as possible in order to prepare reports for this visit. Data from SSLog will also be used as a part of service reports to individual districts. These reports are under development by the District Services Committee. There will soon be a link on the SSLog login page that will give you quick access to guidance on loggable/non-loggable entries and other common questions.
As always, if you have questions about SSLog, feel free to contact Connor Hood at chood@aea11.k12.ia.us.
All certified staff who provide services to schools must document those services using SSLog. We use the data from this system to answer questions about our services to schools. Heartland is beginning to prepare for a State Accreditation site visit in 2010. It is critical that we have this year’s information as complete and accurate as possible in order to prepare reports for this visit. Data from SSLog will also be used as a part of service reports to individual districts. These reports are under development by the District Services Committee. There will soon be a link on the SSLog login page that will give you quick access to guidance on loggable/non-loggable entries and other common questions.
As always, if you have questions about SSLog, feel free to contact Connor Hood at chood@aea11.k12.ia.us.
New Distributing/Receiving Procedure Update
Heartland recently rolled out a new procedure to get supplies and materials to branch offices faster and more efficiently. Instead of having all products shipped to the central warehouse, checked in and then redistributed to the branch offices, the materials are now being shipped directly to the branch offices.
Select personnel in each office have been trained to receive the materials into Heartland’s financial accounting software. For example, previously when a social worker in the Adel office needed a reference book, the item would be shipped to the Dixon warehouse. The item would be checked in and then transported to the Johnston office where it would be put onto a van to be delivered to Adel. This often took up to four or more days. Now, the branch offices have the option of having the items shipped directly to them, cutting out the cost for Heartland to transport and handle the item and drastically reducing the time involved in getting the product to the end user.
If you have any questions, contact Dustin Gean at ext. 14460 or Rebecca McCreary at ext. 14325.
Select personnel in each office have been trained to receive the materials into Heartland’s financial accounting software. For example, previously when a social worker in the Adel office needed a reference book, the item would be shipped to the Dixon warehouse. The item would be checked in and then transported to the Johnston office where it would be put onto a van to be delivered to Adel. This often took up to four or more days. Now, the branch offices have the option of having the items shipped directly to them, cutting out the cost for Heartland to transport and handle the item and drastically reducing the time involved in getting the product to the end user.
If you have any questions, contact Dustin Gean at ext. 14460 or Rebecca McCreary at ext. 14325.
New Large Conference Room in the 6500 Johnston Office Building
Conference Rooms 17 & 18 in the 6500 building at the Johnston campus are now one large room. They are now listed as Room 17/18 on the Resource Scheduler. The room will hold 15 people, possibly 20. Contact Anita Davids at adavids@aea11.k12.ia.us if you have any questions.
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