The Channel

Need quick and easy access to board policies? They can now be found on the agency’s website by searching under “About Us” from the main page.

An article in the Sunday, December 28 edition of the Des Moines Register made some interesting claims regarding the Iowa AEA system. For one, the article claimed that Iowa AEAs are more top-heavy and now have four times as many administrators as five years ago. In fact, during the last five years most AEAs, and especially those that have merged, have actually decreased the number of administrators or stayed relatively the same. No one has a four-fold increase. At AEA 267 we have reduced the number of administrators by 27.3% since our merger.

The reporter also claimed that the AEAs cost taxpayers more. It implied that AEA budgets have grown faster than appropriate. In fact, AEA 267’s general fund budget has grown less that the State of Iowa’s revenue. Declining enrollment continues to reduce the allowable growth rate of our general fund budget as does the limited growth and freezes in federal funding. Declining enrollment affects all but a couple Iowa AEAs. The federal limitations and freezes affect all AEAs.

The article further criticized AEAs for promoting from within or at least criticized those people for getting salary increases in relation to their new positions. Dean Meier, Mary Stevens and Paula Goetz were singled out because of their promotions to new positions. The AEA 267 Board and Administration has made a concerted effort in the past six years to develop in-house leadership opportunities and promote current staff to positions of greater responsibility. Salaries for promoted individuals are in line with the positions they hold according to corresponding positions within the Agency and according to market comparisons.

The article seems to have missed the point of mergers. AEAs 2, 6, and 7 merged to enable us to reduce from three chief administrators to one, to be able to consolidate human resources, payroll, business services, etc. in order to protect and even increase direct services to students, families and educators. At AEA 267 we can well document the savings in the above listed functions and the redirecting of those savings to direct services.

It is important to note that some side articles in the paper shared very positive information about Iowa’s AEAs. It recognized that the “demand for the agencies” work is higher than ever. In the last few days, many words of appreciation and support have been voiced from the superintendents of AEA 267. Our customer satisfaction survey scores are excellent. As we provide equitable, efficient, and effective services to our many partners, rest assured they appreciate our work. They appreciate our work because you, our staff, do good work.

The Register story may give you an opportunity to tell our AEA story to others. You, our staff, are the best ambassadors for AEA 267. As you tell our story, remember our promise:

We will provide educational leadership, services, and support to the children, families, and educators we serve to build their capacity to positively impact and increase student achievement.

As we fulfill our promise, we can work with the full realization that the customers of AEA 267 value and appreciate the equitable, efficient, and effective services we provide.

Four Oaks staff members, in partnership with area businesses, provided over 75 students the opportunity to holiday shop for family members and others as part of the Giving Is Fun Too (GIFT) program. Staff members and businesses like Dollar General, Kraft, and even a local church provided over 650 gifts that students could purchase for $.25 each.

“This is a whole staff effort,” said Stacey Wirtz, Teacher of Behavior Disorders. “It gives us a great excitement to give students this opportunity.”

Last week brought our first opportunity to test the agency’s new weather announcement system. While the system worked well, here are a few reminders for next time. (And since this is Iowa, we know there will undoubtedly be a next time!)

1. If you want to receive automated email/text messages about AEA 267 office closings or PD cancellations, register at Snowcap. You will need to follow the process through to the end by confirming your registration with the confirmation ID sent to you. Without this step, your registration won’t be complete and messages won’t arrive. This is a great system that works well for those who want the information instantaneously.
2. The AEA 267 announcements line is up and running. Announcements for the Clear Lake, Cedar Falls and Marshalltown offices are available by following the prompts. Call 1-866-923-1089.
   
3. Decisions about closings or PD cancellations are made as quickly as possible in the morning. Please be patient as conditions are monitored.

“I am convinced that nothing we do is more important than hiring and developing people. At the end of the day you bet on people, not strategies.”

–Larry Bossidy, former Chairman and CEO, Honeywell

Organizational effectiveness at AEA 267 demands that we have the resources (Capacity) to deliver our corework. That Capacity centers on the knowledge, skill and time of all people in our agency. Hiring, supporting, coaching and development are major emphasis for seeing that our Capacity is good and always getting better. After several years of study, the Agency selected PI Worldwide and it’s Predictive Index (PI) tool/survey processes as the vehicle to assist all of us with improving organizational effectiveness.

Predictive Index measures behavioral tendencies, providing quick, accurate, objective, reliable, specific and valid information. It’s a tool/survey used by organizations around the world for over fifty years. Currently, five other AEA’s in the State of Iowa are utilizing PI. PI is a thinking tool. It’s a survey, not a test. There are no right or wrong responses.

As we move forward with agency-wide implementation of PI, it will impact our Culture (how things work in AEA 267) in a very positive manner. This System (PI) will assist all of us with more effective communications, building stronger team interaction and more effective relationships.

Let’s take a quick look at how PI is already impacting our Culture. First, some input from Justin Stockdale, Special Education Principal at Bremwood and second, input from Karen Aldrich, Sector 6 Special Education Coordinator.

The PI helped reassure and further identify where my own behavioral talents and tendencies lie. The PI helps to improve relationships! I understand others better. Through the conversations I’ve had I feel a personal connection with every team member on staff. The PI helped me recognize others’ talents and how those talents can be used in moving our organization forward “Give others what they need.” That’s the PI way. The saying “Do unto others as you’d have done unto you” is out! I have found others don’t want what I need. The conversations I’ve been able to have with team members regarding their PI results have been incredible. I simply better understand where others are coming from and can now adjust my behavior to better accommodate every person on our team.

—Justin Stockdale

I have been using PI’s since this summer. This tool has helped me a great deal. First, it has helped me develop a deeper understanding of myself and why I act and react the way I do in the workplace. This insight has helped me be more effective with the people I interact with on a regular basis. Secondly, my relationship with staff members is enhanced when I analyze their PI and share mine with them. Because there is no good or bad, or right or wrong with the PI data, it is non-threatening. We are able to use the information to help us work as effectively as possible. I really like the PI – it’s great!

—Karen Aldrich

Considering retirement on or before July 1, 2009? Please contact Shirley Horak, Personnel Coordinator, as soon as possible by calling 319-273-8245.

Support and sympathy go out to Deb Paton whose husband, Paul, died on Tuesday, December 9. Deb is a Parent Advisor with the FEC in the Cedar Falls Special Education office.

River Hills School will host their annual holiday program on Friday, December 19 at 9:30 a.m. All are welcome to attend!

The Herbert Hoover Uncommon Student Award, a $5,000 scholarship program for Iowa juniors, does not evaluate grades, test scores, or essays. Applicants propose a project they want to accomplish. Approximately 15 juniors are chosen in April to participate and then complete their projects. In the fall of the senior year they make presentations about their projects at the Hoover Presidential Library-Museum in West Branch, near Iowa City. Each student receives a $1,000 stipend. Three are chosen to win $5,000 scholarships for a two or four year school anywhere in the nation. More information: www.hooverassociation.org

Deadline: March 31, 2009. To request an application brochure call 1-800-828-0475.