The Channel

The Channel - a blog for Central Rivers AEA staff and board members blog site header

Month: May 2013

  • Employee self-service portal taking shape

    AEA 267 Human Resources and Business Office staff are working hard to complete the construction of the new employee self-service portal known as iVisions. The portal will give staff members “24/7” access to personal benefit, compensation and leave information in addition to all business and human resources forms previously found on the AEA 267 staff website.

    In the coming weeks, AEA 267 staff members will receive a letter with instructions for registering and logging into the iVisions system along with the mandatory completion of benefits enrollment. Annual benefit enrollment for insurance and flexible spending opens May 13 and ends June 13, 2013.  Please look for an email on May 13, 2013 regarding the online enrollment process.  Personal benefit information will be mailed to your home address later this week.  Please hang on to this information as you may need it when enrolling online.  Stay tuned!

    In conjunction with unveiling the new iVisions portal, the AEA 267 staff website has received a facelift and will feature a more visually appealing format as well as some changes in content. Watch for changes in the coming weeks.

     

  • Customer Satisfaction Survey results are in

    The results of the annual AEA/DE Customer Satisfaction Survey are in. While we saw some decreases in favorable responses in a handful of categories, we also saw some increases. Agency Leadership Teams will be studying the data (along with the comments provided by respondents) and forming action plans as needed. Stay tuned for more information!

    Iowa Department of Education Customer Satisfaction Survey
    AEA 267 Percent of Respondents who “Strongly Agreed” or “Agreed
    Survey Questions
    Academic Year
    2008-2009
    N=2,118
    2009-2010
    N=1,880
    2010-2011
    N=1,679
    2011-2012
    N=1,288
    2012-2013
    N=1,359
    Generally, the services that I receive have received or participated in met my professional needs.
    91.5
    91.2
    94.1
    92.7
    89.8
    The AEA is responsive to my school’s student learning needs.
    80.4
    79.6
    82.2
    81.4
    79.8
    The AEA provides leadership to meet my emerging educational needs.
    76.3
    75.0
    78.8
    76.7
    68.5
    The AEA delivers current and timely services to meet my district or school’s needs.
    80.6
    80.4
    83.8
    82.7
    81.1
    The AEA delivers cost-efficient services to meet my district or school’s needs.
    70
    68.9
    70.9
    69.8
    70.1
    The AEA delivers services that assist our district in meeting federal and state mandates (NCLB, IDEA, ect.).
    73.8
    71.4
    73.8
    72.6
    75.0
    The AEA services that I have received assisted in improving my students’ achievement.
    77.7
    76.3
    79.0
    77.3
    77.3
    The AEA services that I have received have assisted in improving my instructional or job-related practices.
    84
    84.5
    85.7
    84.9
    82.2
    The AEA staff I have contact with have the knowledge and skills needed to have a positive impact on our school(s).
    85.7
    85.3
    88.3
    87.4
    85.7
    The AEA staff I have contact with create and maintain good working relationships with people in my school and/or district.
    86.4
    85.4
    88.2
    87.2
    87.2
    The AEA staff I have contact with have the data-driven decision-making abilities to positively impact my job related practices.
    74.4
    72.7
    75.8
    73.8
    76.1
    The AEA services I have used have increased my administrative efficiency (efficiency is defined as productive of desired effects, especially productive without waste).
    79.9
    86.6
    84.8
    The AEA services I have used have increased my administrative effectiveness (effectiveness is defined as producing a decided, or desired result).
    84.4
    88.2
    The AEA services I have used have increased my instructional capacity.
    86.6
    86.7

  • Budget conversations to take place this month

    Dr. Roark Horn
    Dr. Roark Horn

    Dr. Roark Horn will visit the Clear Lake, Cedar Falls and Marshalltown offices this month to facilitate a conversation regarding the status of the agency’s budget including future projections. All interested staff are welcome to attend. This meeting will run before the retirement celebrations beginning at 2:30 p.m. and ending by 3:15 p.m.

    • Cedar Falls: Tuesday, May 14 (Rooms A, B & C)

    • Clear Lake: Wednesday, May 15 (Rooms A, B & C)

    • Marshalltown: Thursday, May 16 (Rooms A, B & C)

       

     

  • Join us in honoring our retiring colleagues

    Picture 12

    Please plan to attend the open house retirement celebrations honoring our AEA 267 colleagues.  This is a wonderful opportunity to congratulate our retiring honorees and recognize them for their dedication and years of service.

    Those being honored at each of our office locations include:

    Cedar Falls: Tuesday, May 14

    Clear Lake: Wednesday, May 15

    Marshalltown: Thursday, May 16

    All three celebrations will be held 3:30-5:00 p.m.

     

  • AEA 267 staff member named “Volunteer of the Year”

    Sandy Lawry
    Sandy Lawry

    Congratulations to Sandy Lawry who was recently named “Volunteer of the Year” for the Waterloo International Quota Club. Sandy received the award, along with another member of the club, for her contributions and leadership within the organization. Quota International, founded in 1919, is an international service organization that links members of all ages, occupations, and nationalities in a worldwide network of service and friendship.  ”Quotarians” are especially known for their service to deaf, hard-of-hearing, and speech-impaired individuals and disadvantaged women and children.

    Sandy was also featured in a segment on KWWL-TV in recognition of her award. Congratulations!

     

  • Tornado/fire drills to take place sometime in May

    Mother Nature has proven to us once again who is really in charge of the weather! So far this month we have had a mixture of both winter and spring reminding us that we need to be prepared for anything. Please be aware that at some point later this month, the agency will conduct both tornado and fire drills. Drills will run in all three main offices and be similar to those that took place last fall.

     

  • May Board Recap

    The AEA 267 Board of Directors met May 1 at 6 p.m. in the AEA 267 Conference Center for their regular meeting. During the meeting, the board:

  • A message from the United Way

    United Way’s focus is on education, income and health—the building blocks for a good quality of life. We recruit people and organizations who bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done in our community. It takes a village to strengthen a community—to make sure everyone receives a quality education, can meet their basic needs and has the tools needed to build a financially stable future. One person or agency can’t do it alone.

    Your gifts, along with your friends and neighbors’ gifts, are making a real impact. In the last six months, you helped a child with previously undiagnosed heart problems get care. You provided a pregnant teenager counseling and support as she placed her newborn baby up for adoption. You helped first grade students read better. You provided nutritious meals for thousands in the Cedar Valley. You helped a young man stay clean and sober, get a part-time job and enroll in college. You helped a family overcome the loss of their home by fire. You helped moms and dads become better, more engaged parents. You provided transportation to doctors’ appointments. You gave a second grade girl the strength to speak up and tell someone she and her sister were sexually abused. You fixed a senior citizen’s wheelchair. These are just a few of the people YOU helped in the last six months.

    Please help by giving to United Way. You can do so online with your local United Way. There you will also be able to find information on your local United Way and its funded partners and programs, as well as other ways you can be involved in making your community stronger.

    Cedar Valley United Way: www.cedarvalleyunitedway.org
    Marshalltown United Way: www.unitedwaymarshalltown.org
    United Way of North Central Iowa (Mason City): www.unitedwaynci.org
    Waverly-Shell Rock Area United Way: www.wsrunitedway.org