The Channel

The AEA 267 Board of Directors met on June 5, 2013 at 4 p.m. for a work session in the AEA 267 Administrative Services Building on the Cedar Falls campus.  The purpose of the session was to conduct the annual professional growth conference with the Chief Administrator as well as receive updates regarding the New Compact and Collaborating for Kids.

The regular board meeting was held at 6 p.m. in the AEA 267 Cedar Falls Conference Center.  During the meeting, the board:

• Heard a program review regarding the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) web system from Gina Greene and Margie Jensen.
• Approved an agreement with Morningside College for 2013-14.
• Approved an agreement with Viterbo University for 2013-14.
• Renewed the agreement with Eldora-New Providence Schools for rental space.
• Approved the Grinnell Office lease for 2013-14.
• Approved a lease with the Hampton-Dumont Community School District for meeting space for 2013-14.
• Approved the lease agreement with Lutheran Services for Bremwood classrooms for 2013-14.
• Approved contracting with Jester Insurance for Agent of Record services for Worker’s Compensation Insurance including the Retro program for 2013-14.
• Approved the EMC Insurance program for 2013-14.
• Approved the E-Rate Management proposal for 2013-14.
• Approved a resolution authorizing issuance of individual procurement cards.
• Approved an agreement with BMO for the Iowa Association of School Business Officials (IASBO) supported procurement card program.
• Reviewed the Board Policy and Regulation 603.9 Credit Cards.
• Determined the legislative priorities for Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) for 2014.
• Closed the session for collective bargaining.
• Returned to open session.
• Ratified the contract with Communications Workers of America (CWA).
• Set the 2013-14 Non-Union Support and Administrative Staff salaries and total package costs.
• Heard a variety of reports from directors and board members.

AEA 267 Human Resources and Business Office staff are working hard to complete the construction of the new employee self-service portal known as iVisions. The portal will give staff members “24/7” access to personal benefit, compensation and leave information in addition to all business and human resources forms previously found on the AEA 267 staff website.

In the coming weeks, AEA 267 staff members will receive a letter with instructions for registering and logging into the iVisions system along with the mandatory completion of benefits enrollment. Annual benefit enrollment for insurance and flexible spending opens May 13 and ends June 13, 2013.  Please look for an email on May 13, 2013 regarding the online enrollment process.  Personal benefit information will be mailed to your home address later this week.  Please hang on to this information as you may need it when enrolling online.  Stay tuned!

In conjunction with unveiling the new iVisions portal, the AEA 267 staff website has received a facelift and will feature a more visually appealing format as well as some changes in content. Watch for changes in the coming weeks.

The results of the annual AEA/DE Customer Satisfaction Survey are in. While we saw some decreases in favorable responses in a handful of categories, we also saw some increases. Agency Leadership Teams will be studying the data (along with the comments provided by respondents) and forming action plans as needed. Stay tuned for more information!

Dr. Roark Horn

Dr. Roark Horn will visit the Clear Lake, Cedar Falls and Marshalltown offices this month to facilitate a conversation regarding the status of the agency’s budget including future projections. All interested staff are welcome to attend. This meeting will run before the retirement celebrations beginning at 2:30 p.m. and ending by 3:15 p.m.

• Cedar Falls: Tuesday, May 14 (Rooms A, B & C)

• Clear Lake: Wednesday, May 15 (Rooms A, B & C)

• Marshalltown: Thursday, May 16 (Rooms A, B & C)

   

Please plan to attend the open house retirement celebrations honoring our AEA 267 colleagues.  This is a wonderful opportunity to congratulate our retiring honorees and recognize them for their dedication and years of service.

Those being honored at each of our office locations include:

Cedar Falls: Tuesday, May 14

• Linda Allen

• Catherine Buehner

• James Fisher

• Linda Gleissner

• Sue Halvorson

• Linda Martin (Retired 1/1/13)

• Marjorie Maurer

• Linda McDonald

• Tom Salkeld (Retired 12/31/12)

• Dennis Scudder (Retired 2/28/13)

• Charlene Varney

• Debra Warrens (Retired 12/21/12)

• Elizabeth Wehrmacher

• Marjean Wyatt

Clear Lake: Wednesday, May 15

• Sandy Bruesewitz

• Janet Folkerts

• Marian Grooters (Retired 11/30/12)

• Margaret Jensen

• Mary Jean Olson

• Kevin Scharper

• Connie Stille (Retired 1/31/13)

Marshalltown: Thursday, May 16

• Kathy McCune

• Diane Pascuzzi

All three celebrations will be held 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Sandy Lawry

Congratulations to Sandy Lawry who was recently named “Volunteer of the Year” for the Waterloo International Quota Club. Sandy received the award, along with another member of the club, for her contributions and leadership within the organization. Quota International, founded in 1919, is an international service organization that links members of all ages, occupations, and nationalities in a worldwide network of service and friendship.  ”Quotarians” are especially known for their service to deaf, hard-of-hearing, and speech-impaired individuals and disadvantaged women and children.

Sandy was also featured in a segment on KWWL-TV in recognition of her award. Congratulations!

Mother Nature has proven to us once again who is really in charge of the weather! So far this month we have had a mixture of both winter and spring reminding us that we need to be prepared for anything. Please be aware that at some point later this month, the agency will conduct both tornado and fire drills. Drills will run in all three main offices and be similar to those that took place last fall.

The AEA 267 Board of Directors met May 1 at 6 p.m. in the AEA 267 Conference Center for their regular meeting. During the meeting, the board:

• Heard a program review regarding the Special Education Compliance process presented by Justin Stockdale, Dennis Sinclair and Greg Koppes.

• Approved a resolution to participate in the Iowa School Cash Anticipation Program (ISCAP).

• Approved an agreement between River Hills School and the Iowa Association for Educational Purchasing (IAEP) for meal arrangements.

• Approved a cooperative agreement for pre-service clinical placement with the University of Northern Iowa (UNI).

• Approved membership with the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) for 2013-14.

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

United Way’s focus is on education, income and health—the building blocks for a good quality of life. We recruit people and organizations who bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done in our community. It takes a village to strengthen a community—to make sure everyone receives a quality education, can meet their basic needs and has the tools needed to build a financially stable future. One person or agency can’t do it alone.

Your gifts, along with your friends and neighbors’ gifts, are making a real impact. In the last six months, you helped a child with previously undiagnosed heart problems get care. You provided a pregnant teenager counseling and support as she placed her newborn baby up for adoption. You helped first grade students read better. You provided nutritious meals for thousands in the Cedar Valley. You helped a young man stay clean and sober, get a part-time job and enroll in college. You helped a family overcome the loss of their home by fire. You helped moms and dads become better, more engaged parents. You provided transportation to doctors’ appointments. You gave a second grade girl the strength to speak up and tell someone she and her sister were sexually abused. You fixed a senior citizen’s wheelchair. These are just a few of the people YOU helped in the last six months.

Please help by giving to United Way. You can do so online with your local United Way. There you will also be able to find information on your local United Way and its funded partners and programs, as well as other ways you can be involved in making your community stronger.

Cedar Valley United Way: www.cedarvalleyunitedway.org
Marshalltown United Way: www.unitedwaymarshalltown.org
United Way of North Central Iowa (Mason City): www.unitedwaynci.org
Waverly-Shell Rock Area United Way: www.wsrunitedway.org