Emily Holt

Emily Holt, a physical therapist with Area Education Agency 267 (AEA 267) has earned a Pediatric Specialist certification  from The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS).  Obtaining the pediatric specialist certification gives the physical therapist a greater depth of skills in their area of practice and provides formal recognition of advanced clinical knowledge in pediatrics, as well as assisting consumers and the healthcare community in identifying these physical therapists.

Emily came to AEA 267 in 2011 from Kentucky where she worked in an outpatient pediatric clinic.  Choosing to advance her education in order to provide the highest possible level of physical therapy care for children, Emily is one of only 17 physical therapists in Iowa who has earned the certified specialist credential in pediatrics.

Emily and her husband, Konrad, live in Clear Lake with their dog, Floyd.

The AEA 267 Board of Directors met July 10 at 5 p.m. via a conference call from the AEA 267 Conference Center for their regular meeting. During the meeting, the board:

• Approved the 2013-14 Fiscal Agent Agreement with Cedar Valley Promise.

• Approved agreements with Statewide System for vision services.

• Approved a lease with Community United Child Care Centers for a classroom at Valley Park for 2013-14.

• Approved the 2013-14 Transportation contract with EPI/Northland Regional Transit.

• Approved the 28E agreement with Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock for an education associate for the 2012-13 school year.

• Reviewed Board Policy 405.7-Jury Duty.

• Approved the revision of the AEA 267 Reorganization Plan.

• Heard a variety of reports from directors and board members.

The AEA 267 Board of Directors met August 14 at 6 p.m. in the AEA 267 Conference Center for their regular meeting. During the meeting, the board:

• Heard a program review and watched a demonstration of the Infinite Visions software.

• Approved an amended contract with the State Training School for 2013-14.

• Approved the 2013-14 contract with MJ Care for Medicaid services.

• Approved the amended 2013 Fiscal Agent Agreement with Cedar Valley Promise.

• Reviewed the AEA 267 mileage reimbursement rate.

• Approved authorization to accept bids for new Media delivery vans for 2013-14.

• Accepted the RJ McElroy Grant for 2013-14.

• Approved revisions of the following Board Policies and Regulations:

  • 405.8-Personal Business Leave

  • 504-Early ACCESS Policies

• Heard a variety of reports from directors and board members.

The phone systems at our Cedar Falls, Clear Lake and River Hills sites have been configured to support four-digit dialing between agency phones located at those facilities.

Utilizing the four-digit dialing system will not only connect you directly to the phone of the person to whom you wish to speak, but will eliminate the cost for long distance calls between our Cedar Falls and Clear Lake facilities.

The “Phone Book” button on agency phones can be used to lookup four-digit phone numbers for staff. After pressing the “Phonebook” key; simply use the keypad to type in the first few letters of a staff person’s last name, press the “Lookup” key, press the “Next” and “Backup” keys until the correct name appears, and then press the “Call” key.

If you are dialing from the Clear Lake office, to reach the Cedar Falls receptionist dial 1100. If you are in the Cedar Falls office, dial 1001 to reach the Clear Lake receptionist.

To eliminate toll charges, 800 numbers should not be used to make calls between the Cedar Falls, and Clear Lake facilities.

At this point, we do not have four-digit dialing for our other offices, so please continue to make calls to and from those offices as you have done in the past.

Dr. Roark Horn, AEA 267 Chief Administrator

Final decisions on educational appropriations were made by the State Legislature on the last day of the this year’s session, which occurred after I conducted budget hearings at the main offices. There was good news and bad news regarding the AEAs. We are getting the 2% in supplemental state aid (formerly allowable growth), so increased revenue to us on that will be about $450,000. But the language in the bill was written in such a way that AEAs would not receive the additional 2% in the “2% + 2%” proposal. This was a surprise and we believe this was not the legislative intent. We are trying to get this addressed, but it is possible it will stand as passed since the legislature has adjourned. That will cost AEA 267 about $450,000 in additional revenue. The good news, however, is that the Legislature did restore some of the $20 million cut that we have been under for the past two years. They gave the AEAs back $5 million, which is an additional increase for 267 of about $700,000. Negotiated settlements have been reached, but some are yet to be ratified. Once that is all done it appears that for next year expenses will exceed revenues by about $1.5 million. This continues us on the wrong trajectory, but if everyone continues the current practice of working together to manage expenses there is hope that we can pause or reverse that trajectory in 2014-15.

Sarah Brown, AEA 267 Accounting Director

The close of the fiscal year is nearly upon us. Your cooperation in honoring the following deadlines is critical to the work of the Business Office as we work to meet Department of Education deadlines for Special Ed billings as well as other state and federal regulations. While July 2 is the final deadline for the items below, please do not hold on to these items if they are ready for processing. Your assistance in sending them on to us as quickly as possible is appreciated!

July 2 is the final deadline for the following items:

• Timesheets & mileage (including expense reimbursement) from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013.

• Payments (invoices) to vendors for services incurred prior to July 1, 2013.

Invoices to customers the AEA has provided goods or services to during the 2012-13 fiscal year must be submitted to the Business Office as soon as possible so that we may complete the billing process. Be sure to include only goods or services provided on or before June 30.

Questions? Please contact Sarah Brown.

Please be sure that in setting your summer calendar, you are making plans now to attend your sector’s August meeting. As a reminder, these meetings will be devoted both to sector-related business as well as agency updates. All meetings will be held from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

• Monday, August 12: Northwest Sector (AEA 267 Clear Lake Office)

• Tuesday, August 13: Northeast Sector (Waverly High School, Rada Auditorium)

• Wednesday, August 14: East Sector (AEA 267 Cedar Falls Conference Center)

• Thursday, August 15: South Sector (AEA 267 Marshalltown Office)

The agenda will include detailed information regarding the new employee self-service portal (“iVisions”), updates regarding agency Leadership Teams, Collaborating for Iowa’s Kids, the AEA/DE New Compact and honoring staff for their years of service with the agency.

Although it may not seem like it outside, summer is nearly here! Beginning Monday, June 10,  AEA 267 summer office hours will be 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.  Regular hours will resume August 12.

Best wishes to everyone for a safe, relaxing and sunshine-filled summer!

If you have not already enrolled online for your annual benefits, the deadline is June 13. Everyone must complete this process even if you are declining insurance, resigning or retiring.  Please visit the iVisions portal for a video tutorial or download the Benefits enrollment instructions for review.

For more information, contact Shirley Horak.