Month: February 2010

The AEA 267 Board of Directors met February 10, 2010 at 4 p.m. in the AEA 267 Conference Center for a board work session with G. Tryon and Associates.

After the work session, the board met at 6 p.m. for a Public Hearing on the 2010-11 AEA 267 proposed budget where they heard comments for or against the proposed budget. After adjourning the Public Hearing they returned to the regular board meeting agenda.

During the meeting, the board:

• Heard a report from Dr. Sara McInerny, Service Area Director of Educational Services, and Linda Martin, Consultant for Curriculum Development, on their recent Educational Exchange trip to Estonia.
• Accepted with regret the retirement of Brenda McKee, Speech-Language Pathologist (Osage), and Cindy Brown, Physical Therapist (Cedar Falls) effective at the end of the 2009-10 school year.
• Motioned to hire Michelle Keough, 1.0 FTE Teacher of Multi Disab/SCI (Union Middle School).
• Approved the 2010-2011 office calendar.
• Approved renewal of the Professional Development agreement with Drake University.
• Approved the 2010-11 AEA 267 Budget.
• Reviewed and approved the ICN Service Agreement for Clear Lake.
• Reviewed and approved the AEA 267 2009-10 Annual Progress Report.
• Heard updates and approved action necessary to continue the recruitment and selection process for Chief Administrator and Assistant Chief Administrator/Director of Personnel.
• Approved a motion not to approve the lease on the Osage sector office.
• Heard a variety of reports from directors and fellow board members.

For many people, this time of the year can be a bit of a drag with winter showing no sign of letting up. This video, which tells the story of Patrick Henry Hughes, a remarkable man with special needs, is just what we need to stay focused on why we are here. Enjoy!

The current Annual Progress Report (APR) is now available online for staff  and the public to view. The Annual Progress report provides detailed data that show how well the agency is doing in meeting a variety of improvement goals. For more information, contact Dr. Jon McKenzie, Director of Assessment and Comprehensive Improvement.

You have seen Picasso. You’ve seen Munch and VanGogh. Come join budding artists from the AEA 267 Bremwood School as they present “Understanding Modern Art”, the third annual AEA 267 Bremwood Art Show to be held on Wednesday, March 24^th, from 12:30-2:15 at the Lied Education Center on the AEA 267 Bremwood Campus.  The show will be held in the multi-purpose room. Refreshments will be served.

Planning to retire at the end of this year? Please let the Personnel office know as soon as possible so that we can celebrate with you and make decisions about staffing for the future. Contact Shirley Horak, Personnel Coordinator, at 319-273-8245.

The AEA 267 Board of Directors voted not to renew the lease on the AEA 267 Osage sector office citing budget restraints. Approximately 10 special education staff members are housed in the office which also serves as a daycare site for the community. Staff members will be provided office space in other locations in the area beginning July 1, 2010.

The move will save the agency approximately $35,000 including secretarial staff time and equipment related services.

After selecting G. Tryon and Associates as the firm to conduct the search for a new Chief Administrator and Assistant Chief Administrator/Director of Personnel, the AEA 267 Board of Directors is moving forward with assembling focus groups to assist with the process.

Five focus groups have been identified including the following:  Classified/Non-Union Support staff, Licensed Staff, AEA Administrative Staff, Superintendents, and K-12 Administrative staff. Each focus group will be comprised of 12 to 15 people and meet six times in order to discuss desired leadership characteristics, current issues impacting the agency, and participate in candidate interviews.

An advertisement for the Chief Administrator position has been published in the Des Moines Register and other pertinent sources. It is believed that the new Chief Administrator will be secured by April 2 and the Assistant Chief Administrator/Director of Personnel by April 20.

School districts and other educational agencies are encouraged to recognize the contributions of paraeducators during the month of February in observance of Paraeducator Recognition Month. The original proclamation recognizing paraeducators was issued by Iowa’s governor in 2006.  Governor Chet Culver in January of 2008 extended and expanded the proclamation to be observed throughout the entire month of February.

According to the Iowa Department of Education 2009 Condition of Education Report, some 10,270 paraeducators (“aides”) were employed in Iowa public schools in the 2008-09 school year. That number, reported in full-time equivalencies (FTEs), reflects an increase of 62 percent over the 6,341 FTEs reported by public schools in the 1997-98 school year. “As the educational system in Iowa evolves to face the challenges of the 21st century, paraeducators will continue to play a critical role in helping to meet those challenges,” says Norma Lynch, Iowa DE consultant for paraeducators.

A resource designed to assist schools in implementing effective paraeducator practices can be found at http://www.iowa.gov/educate/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=773&Itemid=1297 <http://www.iowa.gov/educate/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=773&amp;Itemid=1297> . Entitled Guide to Effective Paraeducator Practices, Edition II, the document can be reproduced in unlimited numbers. Contact: Norma Lynch, Norma.Lynch@iowa.gov <mailto:Norma.Lynch@iowa.gov> , 515-281-6038.