Be sure to check out the new Wellness Wave website this month where you will find resources and fun challenges, including:
The Iowa AEA system 2020 Innovative Creator Award was recently presented to our own Shandra Meyer! Shandra serves as both the Lead Teacher for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing as well as the state leader for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing teachers. The Innovative Creator Award celebrates innovative and creative thinking and actions to enrich student learning.
Shandra was nominated by Anna Crenshaw and Melissa Schossow, who wrote:
“Shandra is a hard worker who supports so many different people and groups within and outside of Central Rivers AEA. She is the discipline lead for the Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing where she leads and supports her team with grace and dedication. Shandra directly serves students across multiple districts. She writes excellent IEPs and supports her team members in doing the same. Shandra also serves as the Co-Chair for Hearing State Leadership in Iowa. Even with all of these responsibilities, she always has time for a quick chat or problem solving session. Shandra goes above and beyond for everyone that she interacts with in all of her different roles and deserves recognition for this work.”
Congratulations, Shandra!
The Wellness reimbursement incentives for the second half of the year will be included on the regular June 20th payroll checks. While we would have liked to provide this in a separate check, we found that many employees have additional withholdings for state and federal taxes. This required us to make manual adjustments to each individual’s withholdings in order to process payroll checks, so we decided it would be best to avoid these manual adjustments. Thank you for your understanding.
Next year, the agency will discontinue using Navigate and be redesigning our Wellness platform to be more user friendly. More information to come!
Final reporting for the wellness challenges for the second half of 19-20 totaled $23,410 to be paid out in June. Central Rivers AEA paid employees a total of $70,975 in wellness challenges for the entire year. Well done!
In 2019, HF 731 modified the requirements for mandatory reporter training for child and dependent adult abuse. The Iowa Department of Human Services is now providing the training online for free. The AEA is providing the same training online for a fee. If it is time to update your training, be sure to complete both child and dependent adult abuse training. Mandatory reporter training completed prior to July 1, 2019, will still be valid for five years from the date of completion. Trainings after July 1, 2019 are valid for three years.
You may submit reimbursement for postage expenses during the office closure through My Toolbox > Expense Reimbursements on the portal. Please do not use the mileage/travel reimbursement spreadsheet, simply enter a separate request using the Postage Reimbursement expense type and attach all receipts documenting the requested amount. Submit one request per month and summarize the total amount on one line.
Although we will not be meeting as a large group on August 18, the agency plans to hold virtual meetings that day by region and department.
Each Regional Administrator or Director will be responsible for setting the schedule and agenda for the day and will be in touch soon with details. Essentially, each meeting will begin with some agency-wide updates with additional time being spent discussing regional protocols for returning to work safely (for those employees coming back on contract) as well as district “Return to Learn” plans. Time will also be devoted to discipline-level conversation.
Please put August 18 on your calendar with a plan to say “welcome back” to your colleagues virtually! We look forward to connecting with you.
Although the agency has a plan for phasing staff back to work (see “Returning” to Work – A message from the Chief) the Central Rivers AEA Board of Directors passed a Pandemic Pay Resolution during this week’s board meeting to acknowledge that some staff members on contract through the summer months may not be working a 40-hour work week due to uncontrollable circumstances related to the demand for service. We continue to extend our gratitude for the support and wisdom of the board in caring about our staff during these challenging times.
Please be sure you are in touch with your supervisor related to the work expectations and timelines during this time.
Please join us in welcoming Angie Sorenson to the Business Department as Accounts Payable Specialist, Angie is replacing Cindy Fry who is retiring at the end of June. Please direct all questions related to mileage, travel reimbursement, vendor invoices, and other bills to Angie for assistance.
Summer hours were set to begin on June 8 and end on August 10. Due to the office closure to the public through July 31, office hours will not change for the summer months.
