Category: Uncategorized

Please join us for an all staff Zoom on Wednesday, November 11. We will discuss some agency updates, legacy and impact stories and more. Details can be found on the Google “CRAEA Master Calendar” or linked below.

Meeting Info:

• https://centralriversaea.zoom.us/j/98903811226 
• Meeting ID: 989 0381 1226
• One tap mobile:
• +13092053325,,98903811226# US
• +13126266799,,98903811226# US
• Slides for the meeting.

The next scheduled update will be held on Wednesday, April 14, 2027, at 4:00 pm.

Finding everyday forms, contacts, and resources just got easier. We have reorganized the staff intranet (website) to serve as the true central hub for everything you need, bringing all our essential links, tools and information together into one simple, organized space.

Two easy ways to search

Need to find something in a hurry? You now have two quick options:

1. New AI Chatbot: Click the new chatbot assistant on the page to ask questions in plain language and get pointed directly to the right form, policy or resource. (Please note that we are continually refining this tool as we go. It will improve as staff use it. Please report examples of insufficient search results to Beth Strike.)
2. Top Search Bar: Prefer a classic keyword search? The standard search bar at the top of the site is still right where you expect it.

What you’ll find under each section

• About Central Rivers AEA: Who to reach out to across the agency. This includes leadership rosters (Administrative Cabinet, Regional Administrators, River Hills School Principal and Agency Directors), the Educational Directory and the “Who Do I Ask?” directory to help point you in the right direction.
• Business, Travel & Operations: Logistics and daily business tasks. Head here for cell phone and expense reimbursement forms, professional learning and travel approval requests, inclement weather and building closing updates, emergency crisis response manuals, equity policies and Educator Quality Committee info.
• Communications, Print & Media: Branding and storytelling tools. Access the branded clothing storefront, order business cards, download official agency presentation templates, submit media release forms, share success stories and review website accessibility modules.
• Educational Services Hub: Instructional materials, curriculum resources and training tools designed to support your work with local schools, teachers and students.
• My Employment & Benefits: Everything related to your job and benefits. Log into TimeClock to submit leave, review health and retirement plans, check compensation info, report a work injury, access onboarding/offboarding materials and review agency employee policies.
• Special Education Hub: Specialized tools, paperwork guidelines, compliance documentation and instructional strategies for staff serving students with specialized learning needs.
• Technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Media: Hardware, software and tech support. Submit tickets through the Tech Request Catalog, order iPad apps, look up office phone extensions and voicemail setup guides and browse helpful tips on everyday tech, AI tools and media equipment.

On the front page of the staff intranet, you will find the seven new categories on the main menu, along with five “quick link” resources.

Take a few minutes today to explore your new hub, test out the new chatbot or search bar and bookmark the pages you visit most often! Can’t find something you are looking for? Share your input for additional content with Beth Strike.

Whether you are connecting with school district partners, collaborating with colleagues across the agency, or presenting a professional learning opportunity, a cohesive agency identity helps build trust and connection.

We are excited to share that a fresh set of Central Rivers AEA branded Zoom backgrounds is now available directly within your Zoom account! These new options feature our core values and clean designs to give your virtual meeting space a polished, professional look.

How to Access the New Backgrounds

Updating your background is simple, but requires a quick account refresh:

1. Log Out: Open your Zoom desktop application, click on your profile icon in the top right corner, and select Sign Out.
2. Log Back In: Log back into Zoom using your Central Rivers AEA credentials (SSO).
3. Select Your Background:
   • Before or during a meeting, click the caret (^) next to the Start/Stop Video button.
   • Choose Virtual Background…
   • Scroll through the pre-loaded options to select your favorite new Central Rivers AEA background!

Using branded backgrounds during virtual meetings is a simple way to strengthen our collective identity and represent Central Rivers AEA with pride.

If you run into any issues accessing the new backgrounds after signing back in, please reach out to the IT Helpdesk for assistance. Thank you for all you do to represent the Central Rivers AEA brand.

At Central Rivers AEA, our commitment to equity, inclusion, and accessibility guides everything we do. To ensure that every single colleague and partner can fully participate, engage, and access information during our gatherings, we want to remind all staff of essential accessibility best practices for district, discipline and IEP meetings.

By consistently embedding these practices into our daily routines, we eliminate barriers and foster a culture where everyone can thrive. Please keep the following key standards in mind when planning and facilitating meetings:

Consistent Microphone Use is Mandatory

While microphone use is an established expectation across the agency, we frequently hear facilitators ask, “Is everyone okay if I don’t use the microphone?”

Please refrain from asking this question. Many individuals rely on microphones for essential auditory access, and asking the room to “opt out” puts colleagues in the uncomfortable position of having to disclose an accessibility need publicly. Microphones should always be used during all district and discipline meetings—no exceptions.

Enable Closed Captioning Across All Settings

Closed captioning is vital for clear communication and comprehension:

• Virtual Meetings: Ensure closed captioning is enabled at the start of every virtual meeting.
• Screen Sharing (Achieve): When presenting information or sharing screen content (such as Achieve), ensure captioning remains active and visible so participants do not lose access to spoken dialogue.
• In-Person IEP Meetings: Utilize available real-time captioning tools to support participants during in-person IEP meetings.

Maintain Adequate Lighting & Visual Access

Visual cues are essential to supporting auditory comprehension. Speakers’ faces and expressions provide crucial context:

• Arrange meeting spaces so participants can clearly see the speaker’s face without obstructions.
• Ensure rooms are well-lit and avoid standing directly in front of bright backlights or dark shadows that conceal facial movements.

Ensure Access to All Audience Contributions

Accessibility doesn’t stop with the primary presenter—it extends to every participant in the room:

• Pass a microphone to audience members before they contribute to discussions or ask questions.
• If a handheld microphone is unavailable, the meeting facilitator or primary speaker must repeat or rephrase the contribution clearly into the microphone before responding.

Creating an accessible environment requires intentional effort from all of us. Thank you for your continued dedication to making Central Rivers AEA an inclusive workplace where every voice is heard and every colleague is supported.

Our agency’s annual review of mandatory policies and procedural items are now available! Please review the document as there are several important updates to read. A few examples include:

• Agency Operations (such as our vision, values, strategic plan, etc.)
• Quick links available on our staff intranet (website).
• Navigating and understanding the important items in your Weblink portal.

There is plenty of information to go through, please contact HR with any questions.

We are on a mission to collect 100 success stories before Thanksgiving to highlight the amazing work happening across Central Rivers AEA! Have you helped a student reach a breakthrough? Did you support a teacher, school team or family in making real progress? We want to hear about it! Sharing your experience helps us show our communities the true value of the work we do together.

A reminder that this year, we will randomly award ten (10) $100 gift certificates from all entries/stories of success shared before Thanksgiving 2026. Let’s keep shining a light on the difference we’re making together! For questions, please reach out to Beth Strike, Director of Communications & Creative Services.

In summary:

If all school(s) that an employee serves are closed, certified support staff are no longer limited to two (2) remote workdays per year due to winter weather. Beginning 2026-27, eligible staff may work remotely any time all of their assigned schools are closed due to inclement winter weather.

• No supervisor approval is required for remote work on qualifying days.
• While these days do not automatically count as the potential “virtual service” day that week, staff should ensure they are able to meet all the needed and expected face-to-face services in their districts prior to choosing to be virtual on another day.
• If any assigned school remains open, the employee is expected to report to that location. Staff calendars are generally expected to align with their district calendars to ensure adequate support, and there may be times when it is necessary to adjust their contract days in lieu of working virtually. Staff should use their professional judgment in making these decisions.

Guidelines for other staff (non-certified):

• Instructional employees (teachers, educational assistants) at River Hills, Detention Centers, and Shelter Programs should follow the schedule of their assigned resident district for late starts or early dismissals.
• Non-instructional employees who work less than 260 days should report to the nearest AEA office to finish their day if their assigned school closes early. If road conditions prevent this, they have options like using personal leave, making up the time, or working remotely if they have privileges.
• Full-year employees who work 260 days are required to work remotely if the office is closed or closes early, provided they have been approved for remote work. Hourly staff must clock in and out themselves.

All staff:

• If severe weather causes a delay, you may arrive up to one hour late without using leave time or making up the hours.
• Please inform your supervisor as soon as you know you’ll be late, so they know you’re safe and can adjust your schedule if needed.

For more details, see “A” under the General FAQs section.

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Winter weather notifications

With winter weather almost here, be sure you are signed up to receive Central Rivers AEA weather alerts* via text, call or email regarding closings or professional learning cancellations. *If you are already signed up, you do not have to do anything.

If you are not registered or want to check your contact information and preferences please log into My Alerts, using the ‘Sign in with Google’ login option. If you have trouble logging in or setting up your preferences Staff members can contact Phil Hendricks for assistance.

Beginning July 1, 2027, the agency will make a significant change regarding how long information is kept in Google Workspace. This will help to protect agency data and strengthen security.

The biggest change for most staff will be that emails will be automatically and permanently deleted after five years. Once deleted under this policy, these messages cannot be recovered.

In addition, information will be kept for five years and then automatically deleted in Gmail and other Google Workspace apps, such as Google Chat and Google Calendar. Google Drive will be excluded from this rule. As an example, an email from June 2022 will be more than five years old when the policy takes effect and will be subject to permanent deletion, even if you’ve archived it or added a label. If still needed, staff will need to save a copy to Google Drive before July 1, 2027.

Files supporting active projects in Google Drive, including your Google Docs, Sheets and Slides files, will continue to be kept indefinitely. Files moved to the Trash will be permanently deleted after five years.

What should you do?

Before July 1, 2027, set aside time to review your emails and files. Save any important emails you need to keep longer than five years to Google Drive. Simply leaving an email in your inbox, archiving it or adding a label will not protect it from automatic deletion.

How to save emails to Google Drive

Questions about these changes or how to save an important email? Review the How to Save an Email to Google Drive for Long-Term Storage directions to get started.

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Need more assistance? Reach out to the CRAEA Help Desk (or call 319-273-8231). Thank you for helping keep our agency’s information secure and organized!

We would like to welcome incoming staff for the 2026-27 school year. We are so excited you’re joining our Central Rivers AEA team!

All staff are invited to take advantage of 1:1 core energy leadership coaching sessions with Certified Professional Coach, Dr. Leslie Moore, via Zoom. Sessions are designed to enhance your well-being, life satisfaction and assist you in meeting your personal and professional goals. Just book one day in advance – slots are for 60 minutes and can occur anytime between 7:30 am and 4:30 pm on Tuesdays or Thursdays. Book your coaching time now at this link. If you have questions, contact Leslie at lmoore@centralriversaea.org.

Don’t forget to update your voicemail greeting and set an “away” message for your email during the Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks to let callers and emailers know when to expect a response. All Central Rivers AEA offices will be closed on November 26-27 in observance of Thanksgiving.

Voicemail example

Hello, this is (your name). Our offices are closed beginning Thursday, November 26 and will reopen on Monday, November 30. Please leave your name, number and a brief message and I will return your call on the 30th. Thank you and happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Central Rivers AEA.

Email “away” message example

Thank you for your email. I will be out of the office on Thursday and Friday, November 26-27. All Central Rivers AEA offices are closed in observance of Thanksgiving. I will respond to your email upon my return on Monday, November 30. Thank you and have a wonderful Thanksgiving! (Please note the office closure dates for the Christmas holiday break are December 24, 2026 – January 1, 2027. Offices will reopen on Monday, January 4.)

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Reach out to the CRAEA Help Desk at 319-273-8231 or helpdesk@centralriversaea.org if you need assistance.

Midwest winters can turn a routine walk to your car into an unexpected slip or tumble. If an injury happens this season, choosing the right care can save you both time and money:

• Doctor’s Office ($$): Best for non-emergency issues that can wait for a standard appointment.
• Urgent Care ($$$): Ideal for injuries needing same-day attention that aren’t life-threatening, such as a sprain from a winter fall.
• Emergency Room ($$$$): Reserved strictly for serious or life-threatening emergencies, like chest pain or uncontrollable bleeding.

Stay cautious on the ice, and be sure to check out the “Know Where to Go” video or November flyer for more tips on choosing the right care option this winter!