Author: Beth Strike

The August 14 all-staff meeting is quickly approaching and represents a great opportunity for us to learn, connect, and explore our new facility in Cedar Falls. Click here to see the schedule for the day as well as details for the afternoon team meeting. As in past years, we ask that you please carpool with other employees to defray mileage expense and help to ease parking concerns. If you are in the Clear Lake or Marshalltown Office, carpooling arrangements are being organized by either Chad Pinkston (Marshalltown) or Dr. Carol Sensor (Clear Lake). Please reach out to one of these individuals to sign-up for ride sharing if you have not already received information.

We are excited to be bringing back last year’s planned main speaker, Monte Selby. If you remember, a plane issue kept Monte from presenting last year. We were fortunate to have a back-up plan last year and more fortunate that Monte was available this year!

Dress for the day is casual. Flips flops, shorts, polos, etc. are all fair game! If you would like, bring a pair of walking shoes to enjoy the trail outside our new Cedar Falls office. We hope you will look forward to learning, great food, team building, and door prizes. It’s going to be a great day!

 

 

 

On July 5, many of the year-round Cedar Falls-based staff began moving into our new digs at 1521 Technology Place. While the majority of staff are settling in, the print room will not be completed and ready until closer to August 1. In addition, professional learning classes and workshops are still being held at our former location at 3712 Cedar Heights Drive until August 14.

In addition, renovation work in the Marshalltown office as well as the installation of new furniture and other touch ups in the Clear Lake office are nearing completion.

Here are a few photos from this summer’s work! A huge thank you to everyone involved.

Did you miss Chief Administrator Sam Miller’s update in April? Watch this six-minute video that hits the highlights of the presentation. Questions about any of the updates? Feel free to contact Sam Miller.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In response to an increasing need for Regional Administrator support for Waterloo Community Schools, Jody Albertson will become a halftime Regional Administrator in partnership with Melissa Hesner beginning next year. Congratulations, Jody!

Given the upcoming retirement of Jerry Schnabel, who currently serves as Site Superintendent (and Executive Director of Media Services), Carol Sensor will assume the role of Site Superintendent for the Clear Lake Office beginning July 1. Carol will take on the new role alongside her other responsibilities as Regional Administrator. Thanks for your service, Carol!

The Gmail Transition Team is excited to share that the transition date for Gmail / Google Calendar has been moved from May 15th to May 12th. This change is in response to requests to align the transition with the already scheduled regional meetings on May 12th.  Therefore, starting Friday May 12th, staff will no longer receive new emails through either Microsoft Outlook, or Outlook Web Access (OWA).  The old email system will remain online temporarily, providing staff the ability to verify that their emails, calendars, and contacts have been transferred to Gmail.

What does this mean for you?

Starting on May 12th, access your AEA 267 Gmail by going to www.google.com and signing in (if you are not already signed in).  In the upper right hand corner click on the text- Mail

 

 

 

Or alternatively, the Gmail icon may appear under the “cube” icon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To access your AEA 267 Calendar, click on the “cube” icon and then click on the Calendar Icon.

In addition to the already scheduled trainings, the Technology Team & Early Adopters will be offering additional support during the regional meetings on the 12th. If you have already signed up for the trainings that were scheduled after May 15th, you can choose to attend as planned or withdraw and attend during one of the regional meetings.  

The trainings on the 12th will be required for staff that are already required to attend regional meetings. Staff that typically don’t attend regional meetings are invited to attend on the 12th.  View the schedule and locations via this document and complete the RSVP form if you plan on attending.

Thank you to everyone who has made this transition possible! The team is excited about the possibilities and looking forward to supporting staff.

Your Gmail Transition Team

Kay Schmalen, Cari Teske, Sarah Lalk, Bryan Knecht, Karl Langenwalter, Karl Kurt, and Beth Strike

Renovation work is occurring at a rapid pace at our new Cedar Falls-based Central Rivers AEA home at 1521 Technology Parkway. The estimated deadline for substantial completion of both the upstairs and downstairs is June 19. Based on this information, we are tentatively scheduling the move for the majority of Cedar Falls-based staff to begin on June 26. Creative Services and Professional Learning departments will move in August as the print room, garage and elevator areas will take longer to complete. Please note that professional learning classes will be held at our current location at 3712 Cedar Heights Drive through July.

For employees whose contract work will be completed prior to the start of the move-in timeline, please make the following preparations:

• Try and secure boxes to help facilitate the move.  If you need boxes please contact Gus Delamore as he may have a few available.
• Please determine what will be making the move with you. (A reminder for those without designated space, your personal items will need to be taken home.)
• Box up those items and label with your full name (last name, first name). Leave your boxes in your work area.
• Our custodial crew will move the boxes to an unfinished area at 1521 Technology Parkway and sort them so that when you return for the new school year, you can access your materials.
• For those employees who work year around, we will provide details and a schedule closer to the actual completion date, once the move can be officially scheduled.

Questions? Contact Gus Delamore or Karl Kurt.

The branding work team continues to work diligently on the list of tasks associated with rebranding our agency. We are excited to announce that our new email addresses (first initial last name@centralriversaea.org) and website (www.centralriversaea.org) will be rolled out between June 16-19. Signage will begin being installed at all three of our locations in mid to late June.

Several staff members have asked about gaining access to our new logos so that they can begin adding them to 2017-18 forms and documents. This Google folder contains several variations of the agency logo for staff member use. However, please do not begin using the new logo on documents to be distributed before July 1. Also, please reference the Central Rivers AEA Imaging Standards when using our new brand and leave the heavier design work to our graphic artists in Creative Services. Letterhead, envelopes, business cards, etc. are all being created and will be ready for use after July 1.

Questions? Contact Beth Strike.

Please plan to attend one or more of the upcoming retirement open houses honoring AEA 267’s 2017 retirees. The celebrations will be held on Tuesday, May 16 in the Cedar Falls Conference Center; Wednesday, May 17 in the Clear Lake Office; and Thursday, May 18 in the Marshalltown Office from 3:30-5 p.m. at all locations.

These celebrations present a wonderful opportunity to congratulate our honorees and recognize them for their dedication and years of service. Those being honored this year include:

Cedar Falls

• Judy Bodecker, Educational Assistant at River Hills School
• Ronald Danielson, Educational Assistant at Woodhaven Youth Shelter
• Donita Dust, Speech Language Pathologist
• Janice Dykstra, Consultant
• Carol Earles, Special Education Consultant
• Mary Hanneman, Special Education Consultant
• Kim King, School Psychologist
• Sandy Lichty, Sp Ed Consultant
• Chris Merkel, School Social Worker
• Cindy Millett, Early Childhood Special Educator
• Connie Olsson, Educational Assistant at River Hills School
• Brenda Reiher, Detention Center Teacher, N IA Juv Detention Center
• Dennis Sinclair, Area Director of Special Education
• Vicki Uhlenhopp, Special Education Nurse-Instruction, River Hills

Clear Lake

• Shirley Crippin, Speech Language Pathologist
• Dennis Molln, School Social Worker
• Mary Moritz, Itinerant Teacher of Vision Impaired
• Barb Oelberg, Print Technician
• Nancy Prins, Speech Language Pathologist
• Jill Schager, School Social Worker

Marshalltown

• Donita Anders, Early Childhood Educator
• Mary Jo Bailey, Audiologist
• Carol Bottom, School Psychologist
• Jane Boyle, Service Area Secretary
• Stan Ernster, Speech Language Pathologist
• Chris Hull, Audiologist
• Linda Langland, School Social Worker
• Mark Proescholdt, Van Driver
• Carol Sandholm, Special Education Consultant

 

Mark your calendars! Our first all-staff meeting as Central Rivers Area Education Agency will be held on August 14 at our new headquarters at 1521 Technology Parkway in Cedar Falls! We will start the day with social time and registration from 8:30-9 a.m. and are are planning a fun day complete with recognitions, inspiration and “edutainment” by Monte Selby. A detailed agenda will be sent out closer to the actual date. Plan to end the day by 3:30 pm or before depending on work group.