The Channel

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

Category: Uncategorized

  • Reminders and updates from the Business Office

    Did you know that 88% of Iowans filed their income tax returns electronically last year? Filing electronically or “e-filing” is easy, safe, and decreases the time it takes to receive your refund. Those individuals who are 25 or younger, 65 or older, or in the military may qualify to efile for free. For more information, visit www.iowa.gov/tax

    The Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) website offers a convenient feature called “My Account” which offers individualized information about your IPERS benefits. This feature allows you to view a record of contributions, keep your contact information up-to-date, estimate your benefits, and update beneficiary information. For more information, visit www.ipers.org

    It now appears that an extension of the current reduction in Social Security tax will not go beyond December of 2012. Please let this serve as yet another reminder that beginning with your January 2013 paycheck, your actual “take home” pay will be 2% less.

    Finally, if you have an opportunity, please wish Dennis Scudder well as he completes his final month with the agency before retiring. Dennis has served as the helm of AEA finances since 1974, as one of the original employees of the system. He has done an outstanding job as a steward of public resources and in guiding the financial decisions of the agency.

  • Office Support Professionals Day (OSPD) allowed to sunset

    For several years the agency has hosted an Office Support Professionals Day (OSPD) to provide staff members with an opportunity to meet and learn together around common needs. While this day served a purpose, staff members now have an opportunity to participate in customized professional development that meets their unique needs through the new evaluation process. Thus, the “one size fits all” approach to learning no longer fits.

    Thank you to those who have assisted with this event in the past.

  • January Board Recap

    The AEA 267 Board of Directors met January 2, 2013 at 4 p.m. in the AEA 267 Cedar Falls Conference Center for a work session.  During the work session the board explored the results of the Culture/Climate Survey presented by Janelle Brouwer, Special Education Coordinator, and were given a financial update by Dennis Scudder, Director of Finance.

    Following the work session, the regular meeting was held at 6 p.m.  During the meeting, the board:

    • Heard a program review regarding the AEA 267 Leadership Teams.
    • Approved the 2013-14 Proposed Budget for Publication.
    • Approved agreements with Hampton-Dumont and Marshalltown School Districts for the Ladders to Learning Program.
    • Approved the Extended School Year Calendar for 2013.
    • Approved the 2013-14 Office Calendar.
    • Heard a variety of reports by directors and fellow board members.

     

     

  • Culture/Climate Survey yields positive results

    Thank you to the more than 460 of you who participated in the Culture/Climate survey! Your responses represent approximately 60% of our total staff which is an amazing response rate. Although we have areas for continued growth, the results were extremely positive.

    Question

    Percent of staff who strongly agree or agree
    I know what is expected of me at work. 95.08%
    I have the materials I need to do my work right. 83.3%
    At work, I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day. 75.81%
    In the last 7 days, I have received recognition or praise for doing good work. 63.81%
    My supervisor or someone at work seems to care about me as a person. 92.72%
    There is someone at work who encourages my development. 83.51%
    At work my opinions seem to count. 70.03%
    The mission/purpose of our agency makes me feel my job is important. 82.23%
    My co-workers are committed to doing quality work. 94%
    I have one trusted colleague at work. 96.58%
    In the last six months, someone at work has talked to me about my progress. 72.81%
    This last year I have had opportunities at work to learn and grow. 90.58%

    As you can see, our areas of strength include having a trusted colleague at work, understanding expectations and feeling like our colleagues are committed to their work. Our areas for growth include acknowledging each other’s work through praise and recognition, ensuring that we honor the opinions of others, and giving feedback on progress.

    Our agency Leadership Teams will be analyzing the survey results later this month and developing action steps to guide future work. Again, thank you for your participation!

  • December board recap

    The AEA 267 Board of Directors met December 5, 2012 at 6 p.m. in the River Hills School Conference Room for their regular meeting.  During the meeting, the board:

    • Heard a program review regarding Google Hangouts.
    • Approved AEA 267’s Professional Development agreement with Drake University for 2012-2013.
    • Approved participation in 2012-2013 Iowa Drug and Alcohol Testing Program.
    • Renewed the lease with North Iowa Community Action Organization (NICAO) for the Charles City sector office.
    • Heard a variety of reports from directors and fellow board members.

    Immediately following the regular board meeting, the AEA 267 Foundation Meeting was held.  Board members were given a tour of AEA 267 River Hills School.

  • Food bank drive officially underway!

    Food bank drive officially underway!

    The statistics are staggering and have a direct impact on a child’s ability to learn…

    • One in five children in Iowa do not have enough to eat.
    • One in eight Iowans are food insecure.
    • 408,280 Iowans live at or below the poverty level.

    Now the good news!  For just one dollar, 4.5 meals can be provided to our fellow Iowans!

    Again this year, AEA 267 is coordinating a fundraiser to help fill Iowa food pantries.  Last year, the agency as a whole donated over $2400 to area food banks.   From now until December 17th, AEA 267 staff members are invited to donate money to help support this worthy cause.  Participation is completely voluntary and 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, Amanda McMartin in Marshalltown, or any sector office secretary.  Prizes include:

    • Chocolate Lover’s gift basket (donated by Amy Knupp and Karen Aldrich)
    • Gift basket of coffees, teas, & hot chocolates (donated by Edie Penno)
    • Gift basket of handmade soaps (donated by Dr. Roark Horn)
    • “Home” plaque (donated by Kerri Wilson)
    • Knitted mittens (donated by Cheryl Carruthers)
    • Knitted scarf (donated by Dr. Carol Sensor)
    • Pan of homemade lasagna (donated by Gary Whitmore)
    • Applebee’s gift card (donated by Justin Stockdale)
    • Casey’s gift cards (donated by Julie Davies, Dr. Beverly Plagge, Dr. Mary Stevens, Beth Strike, and Dr. Anne Sullivan)
    • Hy-Vee gift card (donated by Jerry Schnabel)
    • Panera gift card (donated by Judy Moser and Jay Colsch)
    • Target gift cards (donated by Kim Swartz and Denny Sinclair)
    • Walmart gift cards (donated by Rod Ball, Kim Neal, Larry Niebur, and Dennis Scudder)

    The funds collected this year will be given to Food Bank of Iowa, serving Clear Lake, Marshalltown and the central corridor of Iowa and to Northeast Iowa Food Bank, serving the Cedar Valley.

    Together we can make the holidays a little brighter for those in need!

  • AEA 267 Marshalltown print shop to close

    In early March (2013), the AEA print shop in Marshalltown will be moved to our Cedar Falls office. Due to budget constraints and a decline in print impressions, we are realigning our delivery of services to meet customer needs and maintain fiscal responsibility.

    In the next few months, we will be visiting with the schools that typically send work to our Marshalltown office with more specifics. We will work for an orderly transition so there will be no disruption of services.