The Channel

For months, talk of the availability of federal stimulus funds has been just that—talk. In recent weeks, however, it has become official that Area Education Agencies and local school districts will receive a boost with stimulus funding. Specifically, AEA 267 will receive approximately $7,350,000 in stimulus dollars for use over two years.

The government has outlined four guiding principles for the use of the stimulus dollars:

• Spend quickly to save and create jobs
• Ensure transparency and accountability
• Thoughtfully invest in one-time funds
• Advance effective reforms

AEA 267’s use of stimulus dollars will be aligned with district needs. A careful examination of the following data resources is taking place:

• 2008 on-line survey of AEA 267’s Comprehensive Service Improvement Plan taken by 59 of 60 districts
• Summary report of 60 AEA leadership team visits to each of our 60 school districts and their leadership or school improvement team
• All 60 LEA Comprehensive School Improvement Plans (CSIPs) and Annual Progress Reports (APRs)
• DE LEA Site Visit Reports (as available); and
• other student achievement data.

Planning will move swiftly so that the money can be put to use as quickly as possible. It is hoped that by next month an official list of priorities and initiatives can be shared with all staff and the public.

“This additional funding will allow us to retain our current work force and add positions in priority areas for the next two years,” said Dr. Dean Meier, chief administrator. “While the funding is short-term, it does provide us with an exciting opportunity to see what can be done to increase student achievement with additional resources. We feel fortunate to be in this position.”

It is unclear whether additional funding will be available after the two years are up.

May 10-16 is National School Board Recognition week. What a great opportunity to drop a quick note to our own AEA 267 board members thanking them for their dedication and support to the agency. AEA 267 board members provide countless hours of volunteer service and many drive a great distance to attend meetings, conferences and participate on committees. Say thank you today! Contact information is available here.

Over 91% of educators who responded to a recent Iowa Department of Education survey say that Area Education Agency 267 (AEA 267) services meet their professional needs. The survey, which has 11 basic questions about AEA services, yielded nearly 2,200 responses or about 42% of the educators served by the agency.

Other results include:

• 86% of educators say that AEA 267 staff maintain good working relationships
• 85% of educators indicate that AEA 267 staff have the knowledge and skills needed to have a positive impact on their school
• 84% of educators say that AEA services have assisted in improving their classroom instruction and/or job-related practices
• 80% of educators believe AEA 267 is responsive to their local student learning needs
• 80% of educators indicate that AEA 267 delivers current and timely services.

“I know large corporations that would be thrilled to get a 91% approval rating from their customers,” said Dr. Dean Meier, AEA 267 Chief Administrator. “It’s almost unheard of. We have some of the best staff in the state of Iowa and this just confirms that.”

It’s no secret that the agency has struggled with declining resources and funding at the same time that the demand for AEA 267 services is increasing. The economy and declining enrollment in local school districts, a key factor in AEA funding, has played a role.

“Like the local schools we serve, we are challenged every day with trying to maintain quality in light of fewer resources. Our staff members are rising to the challenge.”

The Iowa Department of Education AEA customer feedback survey is administered to all Iowa educators annually.

Please join any of our celebrations honoring this year’s AEA 267 retirees. All of the open house events are scheduled from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

On Monday, May 18 in Clear Lake those being honored are Mary Beshir, Margaret Dunlap and Al Hodapp.

On Tuesday, May 19 in Marshalltown those being honored are Sandy Bennett, Larry Bradley, Gerald Johnson, Kathleen McCall, Charlene Smothers, and Joan Studts.

On Wednesday, May 20 in Cedar Falls those being honored are Pam Bottorff, Denise Clipperton, Phoebe Drape, Jean Ebert, Rick Foster, Susan Gerken, Mary Heber, Lois Hoffman, Elizabeth Klein, Louise Krogh, LaRae Liger, Janice Metz, Linda Podhajsky, Sue Rittgers, and Bonnie Winther.

The AEA 267 Board of Directors met at 6:00 p.m. on May 6, 2009, in the AEA 267 Conference Center for their regular meeting.

During the regular meeting, the board:

• Heard a review from Caeli Schnabel, Jerry Schnabel’s daughter, on autism and special education services in China. A connection was made through Skype (by computer) to hear Caeli discuss her experience with Chinese education during a year-long visit on a Fulbright Scholarship.
• Accepted with regret the retirements of Sandy Bennett, Speech-Language Pathologist (Sector 5); Denise Clipperton, Teacher of Multi Disabilities/SCI (Waverly-Shell Rock High School); Louise Krogh, Special Education Consultant (Sector 9); Linda Podhajsky, Teacher of Multi Disabilities/Resource (Waverly-Shell Rock High School); LaRae Liger, Speech-Language Pathologist (Lincoln Elementary, Waterloo) all retiring at the end of the 2008-09 school year.
• Accepted with regret the resignations of Bev Oppold Blessman, Consultant for Career & Technical Education (Clear Lake); Ben Bristow, School Psychologist (Sector 9); and Lynn Ross,  Teacher of Multi Disabilities-Resource (Denver Elementary) all effective at the end of the 2008-09 school year.
• Motioned to hire Denise Dermody, Occupational Therapist (Cedar Falls); Meghan Smith, School Psychologist (Sector 5); Darlene Sousa, School Psychologist (Sector 5); and Sadie Terpstra-Schwab, Teacher of Mental Disabilities (Dike Elementary).
• Reviewed the 600 series of AEA 267 board policies: business procedures.
• Approved the contract amendment with FMC Decat for Coordination Services.
• Approved the EMC Agency Insurance Program for 2009-10.
• Heard a variety of reports from directors and fellow board members.

An exempt session for collective bargaining issues was held before adjournment.

A Foundation Board Meeting was held immediately after the regular meeting and members:

• Heard updates on the progress in fund raising and legal status.
• Reviewed liability insurance coverage for the Foundation.
• Heard a review from Dennis Scudder, Foundation treasurer, on future investment procedures for the Foundation.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) is looking for male volunteers who are willing to donate a week of their time (June 21-June 26) to serve as a summer camp counselor. Each year MDA puts on a camp for children with muscular dystrophy, ages six through 17. The camp is located at Monticello, Iowa.

Contact Erin Baumgart with MDA to obtain an application, or with further questions. Applications are due May 15.

In response to public health concerns regarding the Swine Flu, the Iowa Department of Education recommends checking their website for the most up-to-date and accurate information:

http://www.iowa.gov/educate/

On the national and international level, additional resources include:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – http://www.cdc.org/swineflu
World Health Organization – www.who.int/en

AEA 267 administration continues to monitor the situation and will provide updates to staff as necessary.

Again this year, Iowa’s Area Education Agency system will be represented by a booth at the Iowa State Fair in the (air conditioned!) Varied Industries Building. The booth was a huge success last year garnering thousands of visitors.

This year, AEA 267 will be asked to staff the booth on the first day of the fair, August 13. Each volunteer will receive a free pass, AEA logo shirt as well as parking and mileage reimbursement. Shifts are in four hour increments. Interested? Contact Beth Strike, AEA 267 Communication Specialist by June 1.

U.S. Cellular & Verizon offer all public employees, including AEA staff, a discount on a personal phone plan. Information about U.S. Cellular can be found at http://www.iec-ia.org/vnews/display.v/ART/49ad49d988b41

For Verizon details, click http://www.iec-ia.org/vnews/display.v/ART/47960c9067fcc

If you have problems, please contact the people listed on the Website.  These discounts are made available thanks to the Iowa Educator Consortium, an initiative of Iowa’s Area Education Agencies.

Congratulations to Helen Hinders, Aplington-Parkersburg Middle School; Krista State, CAL Elementary of Latimer; and Larry Thompson, Four Oaks in Mason City for being the three winners for this year’s AEA 267 Outstanding Paraeducator Award!

In order to honor the hard work and dedication of the paraeducators employed by the schools within Area Education Agency 267 (AEA 267), the agency Paraeducator Advisory Committee honors three paraeducators with an award.  The paraeducator must demonstrate the following characteristics in order to qualify as a nominee:

• efficiency and initiative in the performance of work as a paraeducator
• significant personal and/or professional gains
• enhance the overall image of paraeducators in AEA 267; and
• positively impact the student(s) with whom he/she works on a daily basis.

A working committee of AEA 267 InfoTech staff members have been developing a system-wide plan for providing and supporting emerging technology tools for staff.  Support for tools such as videoconferencing from your computer, blogging, podcasting, and use of a discussion board is being developed.  More information related to accessing and training opportunities will be shared by the end of May.

Even though there are obvious connections to the schools, families and educators we serve, the initial focus will be on building our own internal capacity. For more information contact Jerry Schnabel, AEA 267 InfoTech Director.

Starting April 1, school students and K-12 educators (including AEAs) will have access to software discounts of up to 85% with the new Iowa Educators Consortium (IEC) Software Store powered by Journey Education. Partnerships with Microsoft, Adobe, NUANCE and Inspiration have been made that allow us to extend fantastic discounts to Iowa K-12 students, teachers and school and AEA staff.  In addition, thousands of other software programs as well as computer hardware, books, bags and more are available at discounted prices.

Journey Education products can be ordered online or by calling 800.874.9001. Any product ordered will be shipped directly to the customer’s home.

Pricing examples:

• Microsoft Office Standard 2007 – Retail $399, IEC Price $59.98
• Microsoft Office Professional 2007 – Retail $499, IEC Price $89.98
• Adobe Creative Suite 4 Design Standard K-12 – Retail $1,399, IEC Price $219.98
• Adobe Creative Suite 4 Production Premium – Retail $1,699, IEC Price $319.98
• Dragon Naturally Speaking Preferred 10.0 Student/Teacher Edition – Retail $99, IEC Price $49.98
• Inspiration Kidspiration 3 Student Single – IEC Price $29.98

Questions? Contact Deb Culp, AEA 267 InfoTech Administrative Assistant.