The Channel

By now, all classified and non-union support staff members have had their initial conferences with supervisors using the new evaluation rubrics developed collaboratively last spring. Staff members and supervisors used the rubrics to recognize both areas of strength as well as targeted areas for professional development and growth. The next step involves structuring professional development opportunities to meet common needs.

For more information about the evaluation rubrics, please visit the staff website or contact Kim Neal, Site Superintendent (Marshalltown office) or Dr. Anne Sullivan, Assistant Chief Administrator/Director of Human Resources.

Although fine-tuning continues to take place, the new AEA 267 website continues to draw many compliments. Many new features have been added to the site including a first-ever interactive map that allows staff members, parents, educators and others to click-to-view a list of all of the AEA 267 staff members serving each school district. Try it today!

To report a technical issue or content error on the new website, please contact Cindi Helgeson, AEA 267 Administrative Secretary-Information Technology.

Although we have had warmer-than-average temperatures and perfect conditions for travel, winter weather is undoubtedly in our future. Are you ready?

For information regarding how to learn about office closings and professional development cancellations, please visit the inclement weather page on our staff website. (Use your email login and password to gain access.) If you have questions after reviewing this information, please visit with your supervisor. Please remember that AEA 267 no longer uses the news media to announce closings/cancellations.

Stay safe!

The AEA 267 Emergency Procedures have now been updated and are available on the staff website and by hard copy in each AEA 267 building (arriving by November 16). Please take a moment to review the updated procedures and ensure that you are prepared in the unlikely event of an emergency.

The AEA 267 Board of Directors met November 7, 2012 at 5 p.m. in the Sumner High School Auditorium along with the Keystone AEA Board of Directors for a public hearing regarding the proposed merger of the Sumner and Fredericksburg School Districts.

Dr. Roark Horn explained the purpose of the meeting. Steve Weidner, the attorney representing AEA 267, detailed the procedures to be followed. Rick Engel, the attorney representing the school districts, gave a description of the reorganization proposal. Mark Wendland, Fredericksburg Board President; Roger Shaffer, Sumner Board President; and Rick Pederson, Sumner and Fredericksburg Superintendent, gave opening arguments.

Comments were made by individuals in the audience. Petitioners responded to comments and objections. Questions were heard from the AEA 267 and Keystone AEA board members. The hearing was closed. The decision of the combined boards was to allow the districts to go to a reorganization vote. Immediately following the public hearing, the board held their regular meeting.

During the meeting, the board:

• Approved the GASB 45 (Government Accounting Standards Board) Service Agreement with IASB.
• Approved the reciprocal transportation agreement between Central Springs and Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock School Districts.
• Approved the reciprocal transportation agreement between West Fork and Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock School Districts.

Barb Opheim

Area Education Agency 267 (AEA 267) is pleased to announce that Barb Opheim has been elected to serve on the AEA 267 Board of Directors. Opheim will replace Charles Vaughn who recently retired.  She will serve as Director District 8 representing the Waterloo Community School District.

Barb has lived in Waterloo with her husband, Dr. Kent Opheim, for thirty-five years. Barb received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Iowa.  She served on the Board of Education for the Waterloo school district for nine years as well as serving on the boards of various community organizations.  Barb is especially interested in the role of special education in the school system and brings a wealth of experience to her new role. Barb enjoys spending time with her family, which includes three grown children and three grandchildren.

Please join us in welcoming Barb to AEA 267!

During the month of September, Dr. Anne Sullivan facilitated a series of staff focus groups to gather input in three key areas:

• What specifically worked well, which things could be improved, and what ideas do you have for future formats related to the Aug. 10th All Agency Day.
• In our efforts to do the “right less” with less, what do you think is the right less?
• Tell us a little about your sense of the climate and culture internally?  What things should we continue to do so that staff feel valued and inspired?  What else could we do or how could we improve?

A variety of themes were generated from the input which are reflected below.

Themes around feedback from August 10 all-staff meeting

• Regional meetings are better; Consider holding all-agency meetings every 3-5 years.
• There was some confusion about whether holding the meeting at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center presented a great expense for the agency. To clarify, the agency did not have to pay for the use of the facility.
• Lunch: There were mixed views about going out vs. staying in for lunch; some crowded conditions were mentioned.
• Speakers: Mixed reviews, but mostly positive; suggestions were made for more “inspirational” speakers.
• Staff recognition: Staff greatly appreciated this part of the day.
• More information would be appreciated about changes going on this year-instead of team meetings.
• Consider sending a letter out before the meeting with information about what group people are in, when groups meet, and who is the employee’s assigned supervisor?
• Special school teachers included.
• Some confusion around the purpose of the day.
• The meeting was held during a very busy time for employees (some certified staff, IT, print shop). It was difficult to miss a whole day of work for some.

Themes around doing the “right less” with less (positives)

• Hiring a School Administrative Manager (SAM) at Four Oaks.
• Maintaining quality staff over space/buildings.
• Learning Center move to Clear Lake Office.
• We are looking at workload now vs. caseload (in the area of speech/language services)/new speech model.

Themes around doing the “right less” with less (areas for improvement)

• Use technology even more efficiently. (Skype, Google Hangout, Adobe Connect)
• Providing lunch at all-agency meeting.
• Better alignment of agency goals and district goals-staying a step ahead.

Themes around culture and climate

• Keeping people informed and feeling a part of the process; Be clear about the reason for change.
• Speed of communication: The quicker the better so rumors don’t start.
• Continue the “years of service” recognition program.
• Not sure who I’m supposed to call for paper, mileage, etc. This used to be covered in a sector meeting in August.
• Continue to strive toward improved communication with staff.
• The agency’s openness about budget and sharing information about the budget with staff was good.
• Please continue these focus groups and forums for input.
• There is too much time spent away from schools/kids to attend meetings.
• AEA 267 expectations for paperwork (EER, PD expectations, assignments) is challenging.
• People concerned about not having a job with cuts in funding.

All of the themes were recently reviewed by the AEA 267 Administrative Team, the Wages & Working Conditions group, and the AEA 267 Board of Directors. Areas of improvement are being considered in future planning. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Given the ongoing changes that occur with individual cell phone numbers, staff resignations and hires, etc. it’s important to periodically access a fresh copy of the agency cell phone directory from the staff website at (please use your email username and login for access). Many cell phone numbers did change over the summer months.

For more information, contact Sue Hotzel in the AEA 267 Cedar Falls Administrative Services Building.

Thanks to the many individuals who provided feedback regarding the future of all-staff meetings (see “Focus groups provide valuable input”). Your feedback was very helpful in assisting Ad Cabinet in reaching a final decision about how frequently to pull staff together in one location.

The plan going forward will be to bring staff members together in one location every three to five years and instead meet annually in sectors. The sector meetings can include time for “all agency” news and presentations allowing the remainder of the time to be used for sector related information. This will avoid the need for separate meetings for each purpose. Meeting dates for sector meetings will be shared yet this fall.

The AEA 267 Board of Directors met on October 3, 2012 at 6 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 2011-2012 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 2012-13. Kerri Wilson administered the oath of office to each newly elected officer.
• Appointed Kerri Wilson as board secretary and Dennis Scudder as board treasurer.
• Heard a presentation regarding a position paper developed by Dr. Roark Horn, Dr. E. Robert Stephens (a retired professor and researcher who is widely considered to be the leading authority on the state intermediate systems), Dr. Troyce Fisher and others regarding a “new compact” between AEAs and local school districts to “co-own” responsibility for student learning. (More details on the position paper will be shared at a future time.)
• Set meeting dates and times for 2012-13 board meetings. Meetings will continue to be the first Wednesday of each month (with exceptions in July and August, which will be the second Wednesday).
• Approved board appointments to the AEA Legislative Committee, the AEA Executive Committee, the AEA 267 Audit Committee, and the IEC and IAEP committees.
• Accepted a petition from the Sumner and Fredericksburg Community School Districts to reorganize. The AEA 267 board will combine with the Keystone AEA board (which serves the Fredericksburg Community School District) on November 7 for a formal hearing and to make a decision on whether the petition should go forth to the public for a vote on February 5.
• Approved Wells Fargo Bank and the Great Western Bank as a depository of AEA funds.
• Appointed Steve Weidner as legal counsel for 2012-13.
• Approved a number of reciprocal transportation agreements.
• Approve contracts with Iowa Department for the Blind for vending services.
• Approved a 2012-13 agreement with St James Church for Gym Rental for Four Oaks.
• Approved a Statement of Agreement with Denver Community Schools for Interpreter for hard of hearing/deaf and Educational Assistant for Visually Impaired.
• Approved a Statement of Agreement with Mason City Community Schools for an Integrated Classroom at Lincoln Intermediate.
• Approved a Statement of Agreement with Waverly Community Schools for Interpreter for hard of hearing/deaf program
• Selected Tuesday, April 16, 2013 (tentative start time of 5:30 pm.) for a joint meeting with the North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) board of directors.
• Heard a variety of reports by directors and fellow board members.