The Channel

The Channel

Year: 2011

  • Take part in “Start Somewhere Walk” on October 7

    Recently, Governor Terry Branstad announced a plan to make Iowa the Healthiest State within five years as measured by the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index®.  The Healthiest State Initiative is a community and business-led, government-endorsed statewide effort that will engage citizens throughout the state to improve their overall health and well-being.

    Iowa’s 2010 overall Well-Being Index rank is 19th compared to all other states. The goal is to become number one in five years. While Iowa scores well in many areas, there is a significant opportunity for improvement in healthy behavior and work environment. Branstad also noted that addressing comprehensive lifestyle changes could allow the State to redirect as much as $16 billion* over the next five years to grow the state economy [versus being consumed by health care ($11 billion) and lost productivity ($5 billion)]. The success of this initiative is critical to the economic viability of the State and translates to a healthier Iowa and better quality of life for all its residents.

    As a first step on the road to becoming the Healthiest State, all Iowans are encouraged to take part in a Start Somewhere Walk on Friday, October 7. At noon that day, communities, neighborhoods, schools, businesses, churches and other groups across the state will gather to walk one kilometer (0.62 miles, or about 7-8 blocks) as a way to demonstrate their support for the Healthiest State goal. AEA 267 staff members are encouraged to participate!

     

  • Join your colleagues at upcoming all-staff “welcome back” meetings

    By now, you should have received your invitation to the all-staff “welcome back” meeting to be held in your area. If not, just a reminder about the following dates:

    • Tuesday, August 16, Cedar Falls area staff (AEA 267 Cedar Falls Conference Center)
    • Friday, August 19, Marshalltown area staff (AEA 267 Marshalltown Office)
    • Monday, August 22, Clear Lake area staff (AEA 267 Clear Lake Office)

    Meetings begin with social time at 8:30 a.m. followed by greetings from leadership team members, including a budget update from Dr. Roark Horn, AEA 267 Chief Administrator. Meetings will conclude by 10:30 a.m. See you there!

  • Iowa Education Summit videos now available

    While you may not have been at the Iowa Education Summit held last month, you can still watch videos of the speakers involved! Visit the AEA 267 Eduvision site and search for “Iowa Ed Summit” to watch replays.

  • News media no longer used to announce agency office closings, professional development cancellations

    As of July 1, the agency will no longer use the news media as one of the channels for announcing office closings or professional development cancellations. Information will still be shared in the following ways:

    This change was made due to the frequent inconsistency in how the news media handled messages and the popularity of the more reliable forms of communication above. If you were a person who previously relied primarily on the news media for your announcement information, please make plans now to adjust to the change!

  • Enhancements added to searchable staff directory

    More accurate location information has been added to the searchable staff directory available on the agency’s website. (The classification information was removed since it often created confusion.) Please search for yourself in the directory and ensure that the information we have for you is accurate. Contact Roxanne Colling, AEA 267 Personnel Specialist, to report a discrepancy in your information. If you have not had a staff photo taken, please contact Beth Strike, AEA 267 Communication Specialist, so that your photo can be added as well.

  • New video highlights AEA 267 services for new teachers

    A new video has been produced to raise awareness among new teachers about the services AEA 267 can provide for them. While not every service is covered (that would be a nine-hour video instead of nine minutes!), the video highlights many of the basic services new teachers should know about. The video was posted to the AEA 267 Eduvision channel and was shared with all superintendents to use during new teacher orientations. New teachers also received a special publication to accompany the points in the video.

  • New site superintendents at your service

    The agency’s two new Site Superintendents have had a busy summer orienting to their new positions. Both Julie Davies, AEA 267 Site Superintendent for the Clear Lake Office, and Kim Neal, AEA 267 Site Superintendent for the Marshalltown Office, are working hard to get to know staff, the facilities they serve and be of service to both internal staff and external partners. Stop by and say hello if you have a chance! Formal introductions will take place at the all-staff meetings later this month. (See related article.)

    Profiles for both Julie and Kim are available on the staff website.

    (Login: aeastaff/Password: aea267ia)

  • August board recap

    The AEA 267 Board of Directors met August 10, 2011 at 4 p.m. in the AEA 267 Administrative Service Center for a closed session of the Annual Professional Growth Conference with the Chief Administrator. The Audit Committee met at 5:15 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 6 p.m. at the Conference Center.

    During the meeting, the board:

    • Viewed a video presented by Beth Strike, AEA 267 Communication Specialist, aimed at new teachers. The video was produced to raise the awareness among new teachers about AEA 267 services.
    • Motioned to accept a variety of resignations, retirements and hires.
    • Decided to keep the current mileage reimbursement rate of $.37/mile as it is competitive with other AEAs and public agencies.
    • Approved the Physical Therapy contract with Pruckler Physical Therapy.
    • Accepted the Excellence in Education Enrichment Grant of $25,730 from R.J. McElroy Trust.
    • Approved the transportation agreement between EPI, INRTC and AEA 267.
    • Reviewed Board Policy 405.8 – Personal Business Leave and heard Dr. Anne Sullivan’s presentation of recommended changes per master contract negotiations.
    • Heard a variety of reports from directors and fellow board members.

    An AEA 267 Foundation meeting was held immediately following the AEA 267 regular board meeting.

  • IVCCD Plant Levy renewal will be on Sept. 13 school election ballot

    Iowa Valley Community College District (IVCCD) will ask voters to renew its $.20¼ Plant Levy on the Sept. 13, 2011, school election ballot.  According to IVCCD Chancellor, Dr. Chris Duree, this is not a new tax but a 10-year levy, which has been in place for 32 of the last 35 years.  All of the 15 community colleges in Iowa currently have this levy, including Iowa Valley.

    “The Plant Levy provides funding primarily for utility costs and for maintaining, remodeling, improving and expanding community college facilities,” says Duree. “The levy is for 20¼ cents per $1,000 taxable assessed valuation. That means, for example, the owner of a home assessed at $100,000 would continue to pay about $20.25 per year, or about 5 cents per day if the levy is renewed.  The levy impacts property owners in all of the high school districts we serve.”

    Voters approve this levy for a 10-year period.  The levy is paid by property owners in Marshalltown, West Marshall, East Marshall, BCLUW, AGWSR, GMG, Iowa Falls-Alden, South Hardin, Hubbard-Radcliffe, Gladbrook, South Tama, Grinnell-Newburg, BGM, and Montezuma school districts.

    Iowa Valley Community College District operates Marshalltown Community College, Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa Valley Continuing Education, and Iowa Valley Grinnell.

    (This message published as a courtesy to Iowa Valley Community College Districts as a public information service.)