The Channel

Kris Colwell, AEA 267 Graphic Artist

Please welcome back Kris Colwell, Graphic Artist working out of the Marshalltown office! Kris accepted the position upon the retirement of Tracy Voss, our Graphic Artist in Clear Lake.

There are some important changes to keep in mind when sending in print requests:

• Print ready color copies and posters should be sent to either the Cedar Falls print shop or the Clear Lake print shop, not a Graphic Artist.
• PODD & Board Maker services should be sent to Judy Schuler in Cedar Falls.
• Graphic jobs should be sent to a Graphic Artist, Lindsay O’Regan in Cedar Falls or Kris Colwell in Marshalltown.  Any questions regarding Digital Store Front should be directed to Dave Johnson, Print & Production Supervisor.

The AEA 267 Board of Directors met Wednesday, January 7 at 6 p.m. via conference call due to inclement weather. During the meeting, the board:

• Approved the 2015-16 proposed budget for publication
• Approved the final plans of Phase 1 for the remodel of the Cedar Falls Conference Center
• Heard a second reading and approved the following board policies:
  • 401.27R1 – Employee Use of Cell Phones & Other Communication Devices Regulations
  • 401.27R2 – Agency Cell Phone & Reimbursement Procedures/Request Form
  • 405.1 – Sick Leave
  • 405.3 – Bereavement Leave
  • 405.4 – Medical Emergency Leave
  • 405.7 – Jury Duty
  • 405.8 – Personal Leave
• Approved the agreement with Drake University to offer credit through Professional Learning
• Heard a variety of reports from directors and fellow board members

The AEA 267 Foundation meeting was held immediately following the regular board meeting.

Thank you for your amazing response to this year’s food pantry drive. Donations have already surpassed last year’s total with one week left to donate. A huge thank you to AEA 267 administrative staff for generously donating prizes which include multiple gift cards, handmade items, baked goods and more. What a fantastic team effort!

Just a friendly reminder that for every $1 you donate, five meals can be provided to needy families in our area. Take your monetary donation to Dyan Johnson in Cedar Falls, Lori Thomas in Clear Lake, Morgan Frederick in Marshalltown, or any satellite office or special school secretary. For every $1 you donate, your name will be entered into the raffle for prizes.

Let’s work together to make an even bigger impact this holiday season!

While so far our winter has been fairly mild, poor weather conditions are likely in our future at some point. Be sure to read through the updated frequently asked questions and answers related to weather. Several clarifications have been made regarding how to handle office closed and early dismissal days in terms of work time.

Example of customizable PowerPoint template now available!

For those that use PowerPoint frequently in their work, templates with the agency’s colors and logo have been added to the staff website for your use. (Use your email username and password to log in.) Use of these templates ensures a consistent image for the agency and takes the guesswork out of design. More templates will be added in the future!

Did you know that as an AEA 267 employee you are eligible for discounts through the Iowa Educators Consortium (IEC)? Discount products include cellular phone plans, digital cameras and camcorders, health and wellness, office supplies, software and technology. For more information, contact Jamie Albertsen, jalbertsen@iec-ia.org or 800-255-0405, ext. 12346.

In an effort to keep all Area Education Agency employees and board members informed of statewide initiatives and matters of importance, a new electronic AEA newsletter, The AEA Advocate, has been developed by the AEA Communications Committee for distribution to all AEA staff on a monthly basis. The most recent issue of the newsletter can be viewed here while the January edition will be sent directly to your email in box.

The AEA Communications Committee is very interested in your feedback about this first issue along with your suggestions for information that you would like to see provided in future editions. Please feel free to comment on this post and/or share your feedback with Beth Strike.

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 Wednesday, December 24 and will reopen on Monday, January 5, 2015.  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 Wednesday, December 24 through January 4 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 supervisor or administrator.

The AEA 267 Board of Directors met Wednesday, December 10 at 5 p.m. via conference call from the AEA 267 Cedar Falls Administrative Building. During the meeting, the board:

• Approved a first reading of the following board policies:
  • 401.27R1 – Employee Use of Cell Phones & Other Communication Devices Regulations
  • 401.27R2 – Agency Cell Phone & Reimbursement Procedures/Request Form
  • 405.1 – Sick Leave
  • 405.3 – Bereavement Leave
  • 405.4 – Medical Emergency Leave
  • 405.7 – Jury Duty
  • 405.8 – Personal Leave
• Accepted a donation to the agency of a Zippie Wheelchair
• Voted to elect James Green of Grant Wood AEA to represent Iowa’s AEAs on the Iowa Association of School Boards
• Heard a variety of reports from directors and fellow board members

The AEA 267 Foundation meeting was held immediately following the regular board meeting.