Category: Uncategorized

Thank you to everyone who donated both cash and prizes for the 2013 Food Bank Drive. Together, we were able to raise $1,887 to help stock food pantries in Iowa. What a great accomplishment! Special thanks to Kerri Wilson, Donna Perry, Morgan Frederick, Tricia Petersen, Joan Coffin, Beth Strike, and Lori Thomas for their support and assistance with this process.

On December 18, a random number generator was used to pick the winners of the prizes donated by our administrative staff. The winners are:

The AEA 267 Board of Directors met Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at 6 p.m. via a conference call from the AEA 267 Cedar Falls Conference Center for their regular meeting. During the meeting, the board:

• Approved the 2014-15 proposed budget for publication.

• Approved the first reading of the following board policies:

  • 300 Series (Administration)

  • 400 Series (Personnel)

• Approved the agreement with Dunkerton CSD for the Ladders to Learning program for the 2013-14 school year.

• Tabled a recommendation for an Insurance Consultant.

• Tabled action on the purchase of Media Vans.

• Heard a variety of reports from directors and fellow board members.

Please change your voice mail greeting and set an away message to your email during the holiday breaks so that callers and/or e-mailers will know when they can expect to hear from you.

Voice mail example:

“Hello, this is (your name). Our office will be closed beginning Monday, December 23 and will reopen on Thursday, January 2, 2014.  Please leave your name, telephone number and a detailed message and I will call when I return. Thank you!”

Email “away” message example:

“Thank you for your email.  I will be out of the office beginning Monday, December 23 through January 1 and will respond to your email upon my return. Thank you and have a wonderful holiday!”

If you need assistance with either task, please visit with your administrator.

Many thanks to Kandi Beinfang-Lee for her contributions to our latest success story which highlights the impact of AEA services on student achievement. Watch and learn how Nicki Schaumberg, a recent graduate of Forest City CSD, achieved academic success with the help of AEA 267 staff and her local teachers.

According to Food Bank of Iowa, one in five Iowa children do not have enough food to eat. For every $1 donation, five meals can be provided to needy families in our area. From now until December 17, AEA 267 staff members are invited to donate funds to support area food pantries. For every $1 you donate, your name will be entered into a raffle for prizes donated by AEA 267 team members.

To help fill the area food pantries (and possibly win a great prize), take your monetary donation to Kerri Wilson in Cedar Falls, Lori Thomas in Clear Lake, Morgan Frederick in Marshalltown, or any satellite office or special school secretary.

Prizes include over $350 in gift cards to places like Hy-Vee, Subway, Olive Garden, Walmart, and Target; incredible gift baskets, and a grand prize of season tickets to a major sporting event!

Hopefully at this point, most staff are having success in navigating the iVisions portal for their Human Resources and Business Office needs. One thing you may have noticed is that the system does not send an automated message reminding you that your salary has been deposited each month. However, this information, and much more, is available anytime to you with just a few clicks. Once logged in to the portal, use the “My Compensation” menu to access your most current pay stub, calendar year, W2 information, total compensation, and tax withholding forms. (Please be sure your current address is entered in the system for W-2 mailings! You can update this information using the “My Personal Information” menu.) Interested in knowing whether your expense claim has been paid? Simply go to the My Toolbox>Expense Reimbursements>Navigate to the Expense Reimbursement. Then click the “apply” button to view the reimbursement history.

Please contact Sarah Brown if you need further assistance. Thanks for your patience as we all learn the ins and outs of iVisions!

Winter weather has arrived bringing frigid temperatures, snow and marginal road conditions at times. Please be sure that you have taken time to thoroughly review the information on the inclement weather page of our staff website. (Use your email login and password to gain access.) This page provides all of the details you will need to learn about cancellations and closures as well as updated procedures and answers to your most frequently asked questions about weather-related travel. If you have questions after reviewing this information, please visit with your supervisor. Stay safe and please exercise good personal judgement at all times!

Although summer is still many months away, please be aware that the sector meetings for 2014 have been set. Please add your sector’s meeting date to your calendar and plan now to attend! Details regarding the day will be shared closer to August.

Monday, August 11 (NW Sector, Clear Lake Office)

Tuesday, August 12 (NE Sector, site to be determined)

Wednesday, August 13 (East Sector, Cedar Falls Office)

Thursday, August 14 (South Sector, Marshalltown Office)

The 2014-2015 rates for Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (IPERS) are in. For the first time in seven years the rates will not increase. Currently, employees are paying 5.95% and the AEA is contributing 8.93% of your covered wages. These rates will continue through June of 2015.