The Channel

We are in the midst of many transitions in education which affect us and our jobs each day.  With transitions come new learning, anticipation and uncertainty which can cause additional stress and concern.  Not to mention, we have personal obligations with family, church, community, etc., that can cause us to feel a little overwhelmed at times.  Most of the time we can endure and handle the additional pressures, but sometimes we all need a little help in coping with the day-to-day challenges of life.  Please do not forget that AEA 267 is one of many employers that takes part in the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

The EAP can aid in finding solutions. The EAP offers a confidential place to find the answers that work for you. Whether the issue is depression, stress, anxiety, family conflict, or financial difficulties, trained counselors are available to assist. For more information, download the EAP brochure today. Please remember that when you reach out to the program, it is kept in the strictest confidence and the contact is not reported back to the agency.

At noon today, Iowans from all walks of life participated in the “Start Somewhere Walk” to kick off Governor Branstad’s “Healthiest State” initiative. Several employees from the AEA 267 Cedar Falls campus took a break from vigorous strolls around campus to pose for a photo. Pictured are (front row, left to right) Joni Puffet and Kerri Wilson; (second row, left to right) Jennie Miller, Roxanne Colling, Shirley Horak and Cynthia Fry; (back row, left to right) Dan Dreyer, Shane Wolf, Sue Hotzel and Betty Beauregard.

The AEA 267 Board of Directors met October 5, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. in the AEA 267 Conference Center for their regular meeting. During the meeting, board members were recognized for their time, energy, commitment and dedication on behalf of the agency and directing it through another successful year of operation. The “old” board then adjourned the final meeting of the 2010-2011 Board of Directors.

Immediately following the meeting, an organizational meeting of the “new” board was convened during which time the board:

• Elected Charlotte Upah as the new President and Roberta Kraft-Abrahamson as the new Vice President for 2011-12. Kerri Wilson administered the oath of office to each newly elected officer.
• Appointed Kerri Wilson as board secretary and Dennis Scudder as board treasurer. The board president administered the oath of office to each of them.
• Heard a presentation regarding a “white paper” developed by Dr. Roark Horn and Dr. E. Robert Stephens regarding the value of the AEA system. Watched and reacted to a new advocacy video and hypersite created by the AEA Communications Committee.
• Motioned to accept a variety of resignations, retirements and hires.
• Set meeting dates and times for 2011-2012 board meetings.
• Approved appointments to the AEA Legislative Committee and the AEA Executive Committee.
• Approved Wells Fargo Bank as a depository of AEA funds with a $10,000,000 limit and the Great Western Bank as a depository of AEA funds with a $3,000,000 limit.
• Appointed Steve Weidner as legal counsel for 2011-2012.
• Approved reciprocal transportation agreements between:
• Belmond-Klemme and Clarion-Goldfield
• Forest City and Central Springs
• Central Springs and Mason City
• Forest City and Clear Lake
• Approved both the Orientation and Mobility Services agreement and the Itinerant Teacher Services agreement with Statewide System for Vision Services (SSVS).
• Approved the agreement with Four Oaks Independence Facility.
• Heard a variety of reports from directors and fellow board members.

Following the AEA 267 regular October meeting, a River Hills Foundation Board meeting was held and members elected the new President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer and heard a River Hills Committee Fundraising update.

The United Way provides support and assistance to a multitude of worthy causes in all of our communities–including our own River Hills Foundation! Each year, the agency provides staff members an opportunity to donate to the United Way either through payroll deduction or one-time donation. Donating is purely a personal choice. If you are interested, please download the 2011 United Way pledge form, complete it, and send it to Betty Beauregard in the AEA 267 Business Office in Cedar Falls by December 13, 2011.

Area Education Agency 267 will provide significant support to the staff of Waterloo East and West High Schools in their participation in the Iowa Safe and Supportive Schools effort. The effort is a federally-supported project designed to measure and improve conditions for learning in selected Iowa high schools. The schools will study issues such as bullying, school safety, attendance, and student engagement over the next four years with support through the U.S. Department of Education’s Safe and Supportive Schools grant.

“The research has long supported that a positive climate in the classroom has a significant impact on student learning,” said Dr. Sara McInerny, Director of Educational Services for AEA 267. “We are dedicating significant resources in staff time to ensuring that these two schools have the professional development needed to succeed in this effort.”

Iowa was one of 11 states to be awarded nearly $3.5 million in federal money this year, and nearly $14 million over the next four years, through the grant program. In total, twenty Iowa high schools have been chosen to participate.

Earlier this year, 60 Iowa schools were randomly selected to participate in the first-ever “Iowa Safe and Supportive Schools” survey of students, parents and teachers. The goal was to measure student safety and student relationships with peers and adults and to determine whether students have adequate resources in their schools. Leaders in 47 of the 60 schools agreed to participate in the survey, which was administered this spring and summer.

Information will be gathered each year for four years. By the fourth year, the final survey will show the nation that Iowa is a leader in improving conditions for learning.

Along with Waterloo East High School and Waterloo West High School, the other high schools selected for funding are:

• Dubuque Senior High School
• Oelwein High School
• Armstrong-Ringsted Middle School/High School
• East Greene High School
• Columbus Community High School
• Davenport Central High School
• Louisa-Muscatine High School
• Iowa Valley Junior-Senior High School
• Olin Junior-Senior High School
• Des Moines Independent East High School
• Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Community High School
• Sioux City West High School
• West Sioux High School
• Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln High School
• Burlington Community High School
• Keokuk High School
• Ottumwa High School
• Winfield-Mt Union Junior-Senior High School

We would once again like to thank everyone for attending our August Kick Off meetings!  There are never enough opportunities to meet and speak to everyone face-to-face.  We hope you found the meeting helpful, informative and a chance to meet our new staff members.  If you have any feedback, please feel free to pass it on to your service area director or email at asullivan@aea267.k12.ia.us

Have a great school year!

Did you miss attending one of the all-staff meetings? Watch recorded segments below! (Recorded from the Cedar Falls meeting.)

Dr. Roark Horn’s presentation:

Dr. Anne Sullivan’s presentation:

In order for our AEA Contact Manager system to remain current and viable, each year, AEA 267 staff members are asked to go in and update their profile in the system. This ensures that you will receive information customized to your interests and in line with what those you serve are also receiving via email. (It also ensures that your MediaNet profile is current for ordering and receiving Lending Library materials.) Updating your information (including location) takes merely a few minutes. Please take time today to take care of this important step.

Directions for updating your profile for AEA Contact Manager:

From our Get Media page – http://www.aea267.k12.ia.us/media/ – click on the link in the right column – Job Assignments-AEA 267 Staff. Log into Medianet using your client number and password. (If you have questions or need help with your Medianet login, please contact a member of the library staff in either Cedar Falls, Clear Lake or Marshalltown.) In the top section of the page, please check all of the appropriate boxes that relate to your AEA 267 job assignment (the lower section is for our LEA clients). When done, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the green submit button.

Questions? Contact Deb Culp at 641-844-2492.

The AEA 267 Board of Directors met September 7, 2011 at 6 p.m. in the AEA 267 Conference Center for their regular meeting.

During the meeting, the board:

• Heard a review of the agency finances and Maintenance of Effort (MOE) from Dennis Scudder and Dr. Roark Horn.
• Motioned to accept a variety of resignations, retirements and hires.
• Appointed David Giese as the AEA 267 Board delegate and Charlotte Upah as the alternate for the IASB Delegate Convention to be held on November 16, 2011.
• Approved the 2010-11 Certified Annual Report (CAR).
• Approved the contracts with Project Child Care and Head Start Programs with North Iowa Community Action.
• Approved the agreement with Mercy Medical Center in Mason City for Educare Instructional Programs.
• Approved the renewal of Partner Contract with Exceptional Persons for provision of Early ACCESS services.
• Approved the renewal of Memorandums of Agreement between NEICAC, Tri-County Child & Family Development Council Inc., NICA and AEA 267.
• Approved the reciprocal transportation agreement between Forest City and Garner-Hayfield and between Garner-Hayfield and West Hancock.
• Heard a variety of reports from directors and fellow board members.

Please remember to update your voice mail greeting daily! Scripts, tip sheets and more are available on the staff website (username: aeastaff/password: aea267ia). If you have questions, please contact your administrator or supervisor.

Darrel Lind, longtime board member and advocate for the AEA system has retired from the AEA 267 board. Darrel has served the AEA system as a board member since 2000 when he was sworn in on the Northern Trails AEA board.

Darrel’s wisdom, kindness and incredible respect for AEA staff members will be sorely missed. We wish him well and thank him for his tireless and gracious years of service.

Recently, Governor Terry Branstad announced a plan to make Iowa the Healthiest State within five years as measured by the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index®.  The Healthiest State Initiative is a community and business-led, government-endorsed statewide effort that will engage citizens throughout the state to improve their overall health and well-being.

Iowa’s 2010 overall Well-Being Index rank is 19th compared to all other states. The goal is to become number one in five years. While Iowa scores well in many areas, there is a significant opportunity for improvement in healthy behavior and work environment. Branstad also noted that addressing comprehensive lifestyle changes could allow the State to redirect as much as $16 billion* over the next five years to grow the state economy [versus being consumed by health care ($11 billion) and lost productivity ($5 billion)]. The success of this initiative is critical to the economic viability of the State and translates to a healthier Iowa and better quality of life for all its residents.

As a first step on the road to becoming the Healthiest State, all Iowans are encouraged to take part in a Start Somewhere Walk on Friday, October 7. At noon that day, communities, neighborhoods, schools, businesses, churches and other groups across the state will gather to walk one kilometer (0.62 miles, or about 7-8 blocks) as a way to demonstrate their support for the Healthiest State goal. AEA 267 staff members are encouraged to participate!

By now, you should have received your invitation to the all-staff “welcome back” meeting to be held in your area. If not, just a reminder about the following dates:

• Tuesday, August 16, Cedar Falls area staff (AEA 267 Cedar Falls Conference Center)
• Friday, August 19, Marshalltown area staff (AEA 267 Marshalltown Office)
• Monday, August 22, Clear Lake area staff (AEA 267 Clear Lake Office)

Meetings begin with social time at 8:30 a.m. followed by greetings from leadership team members, including a budget update from Dr. Roark Horn, AEA 267 Chief Administrator. Meetings will conclude by 10:30 a.m. See you there!

While you may not have been at the Iowa Education Summit held last month, you can still watch videos of the speakers involved! Visit the AEA 267 Eduvision site and search for “Iowa Ed Summit” to watch replays.

As of July 1, the agency will no longer use the news media as one of the channels for announcing office closings or professional development cancellations. Information will still be shared in the following ways:

• Under “Latest News” on the agency’s website.
• Cell phone text message or email from https://schoolalerts.iowa.gov/, an automated web-based service. Sign up today!
• The official agency announcements line at 1-866-923-1089.

This change was made due to the frequent inconsistency in how the news media handled messages and the popularity of the more reliable forms of communication above. If you were a person who previously relied primarily on the news media for your announcement information, please make plans now to adjust to the change!