The Channel

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.

Linda Martin, AEA 267 Consultant for Curriculum, was recently elected to the State Coordinator Advisory Committee for We The People: The Citizen and the Constitution for 2009-2011. Congratulations, Linda!