The Channel - a blog for Central Rivers AEA staff and board members Our Mission: To Deliver High-quality, evidence-based, and strategic services to our education partners that meet the diverse needs of iowa's learners (birth-21_), educators, and school Communities.

Month: June 2011

  • What’s happening with our budget?

    While we wish we had more to report to you regarding legislative action and education funding, there still has been little progress down at the state capitol. The following report from Wayne Haddy, Iowa AEA Government Relations Specialist, provides the latest:

    “It has been awhile since a report was sent out and in reality there has been very little to report.  I’d like to say there is an end in sight, but unless something changes quickly it does not appear that there is.

    On June 8, House Republicans are bringing forward an omnibus bill that includes all legislative determined budgets and language dealing with what would be considered “social issues.”  The bill will provide for a two-year budget and included in that budget is a growth factor of 0% for the next fiscal year and 2% for FY 2012-13. Unfortunately, the bill also includes a $20 million cut to AEAs for each of the next two years. Unless something unexpected occurs over the next day or so, we fully expect the bill to pass.

    We have met with legislative leaders and have prepared a great deal of information detailing the impact of such cuts.  It does not seem to have made any difference on the House side as they continue to pursue the Governor’s recommendation of $20 million.

    We are also assuming at this point that the Senate will either refuse to consider this bill or will take it up, reject many parts of it and send back to the House.

    Also, on Monday, Brent Siegrist made a presentation on the impact of the cuts to the Senate Education Appropriations sub-committee.”

    Wayne Haddy, AEA Government Relations, 515-249-0740, whaddy@gwaea.org

     

  • Are you moving?

    The AEA 267 Personnel Office appreciates any updates from you regarding home address, phone number, etc. so that the staff database remains current. Please contact Shirley Horak at 319-273-8245.

  • Keep up with AEA 267 news on Facebook and Twitter

    Although this is the last official Intersections until August, you can keep up with AEA 267 news by following us on Twitter and liking us on Facebook! (Please remember that when you “Like” AEA 267 on Facebook, it does not mean that the agency Facebook page manager can view your Facebook site, thus your summer vacation pictures are completely private!)

  • Summer hours are here!

    The sunshine and warmer weather have arrived and so have summer hours. As of Monday, June 6 AEA 267 will observe summer hours in all agency offices. Hours will be 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. until August 12.

    Please keep in mind that the office will be closed on July 4th in observance of the July 4th holiday.

    If you are going off contract for a length of time this summer, please be sure that your voice mail telephone greeting and email account vacation message indicates to callers and senders when they can expect to hear back from you and who to go to for immediate assistance.

  • Board of Directors recap for June

    The AEA 267 Board of Directors met June 1, 2011 at 6 p.m. in the AEA 267 Conference Center for their regular meeting. Prior to the meeting, the board met for a work session to learn more about the school visits made by Dr. Roark Horn during the 2010-11 school year as well as the 2011 AEA/DE Customer Feedback Survey results.

    During the meeting, the board:

    • Heard a presentation from Dennis Sinclair and Dr. Carol Sensor on the process used to assist our LEA Partners during their special education compliance review.
    • Accepted with regret the retirements of Dr. Sara McInerny, Service Area Director Educational Services, effective December 31, 2011; and Christy Schmitt, Teacher of Multi Disabilities/Resource (Hudson), retiring December 20, 2011.
    • The board accepted the resignations of Nancy Appletoft, Speech-Language Pathologist (Clear Lake); Andrea Skopec, Teacher of Mental Disabilities/S&P (AEA 267 River Hills School); and Amanda Backstrom, Teacher of Multi-Disabilities/Resource (Reinbeck). All resigned at the end of the 2010-11 school year.
    • Motioned to hire Tyna Andorf, Teacher of Early Childhood Special Education (AEA 267 Castle Hill School); Samantha Brandel, Teacher of Mental Disabilities (Waverly); Abigail Flieher, Teacher of Art (Bremwood); and Stephanie Zeschke, Teacher of Early Childhood Special Education (AEA 267 Castle Hill School).
    • Approved the Professional Development agreement with Morningside College.
    • Approved the Professional Development agreement with Viterbo University.
    • Renewed the agreement with Iowa Falls CSD for Sector Office lease.
    • Renewed the agreement with Eldora-New Providence Schools for rental space.
    • Approved the Ladders to Learning Agreement with Marshalltown Community Schools.
    • Approved the 28E agreement with IAEP for food services at River Hills School.
    • Changed the date of the August board meeting from August 3 to August 10, 2011.
    • Approved a Lease/Purchase agreement for construction projects for 2011-12.
    • Heard a variety of reports from directors and fellow board members.
    • Ratified the Collective Bargaining Contract for 2011-2012 with CWA.
    • Ratified the Collective Bargaining Contract for 2011-2012 with AEA 267 Education Association.
    • Held an exempt session to discuss non-union support staff salaries for 2011-2012.
    • Set non-union support staff salaries for 2011-2012 as recommended.

    (See related story in the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier.)