The Channel

To better serve you, we are using a new room reservation system! The easiest way to access it is through Classlink, but it can also be accessed via https://rooms.centralriversaea.org/.

All previous events have been moved over. As part of this new system, if you are the event organizer, you will receive a calendar event invite. Please accept this invite as a reminder of the upcoming event. Please note, if you decline or delete an event from your calendar, it does not delete the event reservation. All modifications to the event should happen in the system.

You will receive a reminder to confirm your event 10 days before the date it takes place on. This is your opportunity to make changes and or remove the event if it’s no longer needed. 

If you need a room or space to work in and would like to use one of the rooms that are part of the reservation system and haven’t made a reservation, please check in at the front desk when you arrive so that we can point you in the direction of a room that is available for you. As always the glass rooms in Central Perk are available as a workspace, on a first-come-first-serve basis. If you have any questions, please contact the Professional Learning Team.

With summer upon us, this is my last opportunity to bid farewell to this incredible organization that has been my professional home for the past eight years. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your chief administrator and witness the remarkable growth and achievements we have accomplished together.

When I first joined this team, our vision was clear: to provide the highest quality services and support to the communities we serve. And I can confidently say that we have done that and so much more. Together, we have transformed our agency into a lighthouse of excellence and innovation among the nine AEAs in Iowa.

Here’s what we’ve accomplished together over the past eight years:

• Rebranded our agency to firmly establish us as one organization vs. three separate regions. The move to “Central Rivers Area Education Agency” has given us a fresh and modern identity, enhanced our visibility, and captured the essence of who we are—dynamic and forward-thinking.
• Created the role of Regional Administrator. Not only has this strategic move empowered our agency to better serve the diverse needs of our school districts, but we have also signaled that while Special Education is our signature service, we are integrated and serve the whole child.  
• In our pursuit of efficiency and effectiveness, we consolidated physical locations, streamlining our operations and saving money. Satellite offices were closed and our Cedar Falls operations were consolidated into one building that showcases our commitment to professional learning for educators and pride in the work we do.
• On the heels of physical office closures and recognizing the evolving landscape of work, we embraced the concept of remote work site. We leveraged technology where it made sense, created more balance in our work lives, and found ways to provide more service to students and our LEA partners. 
• Recognizing the relevance to our future, we are focusing on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. We’ve “planted a flag” that signals internally and to those we serve that this work is here to stay. If we are to serve all children and educators, we owe it to them and ourselves to understand our biases and seek opportunities to unite.
• Perhaps one of our greatest achievements is the implementation of INspired Leadership well-being programming. We understand that the success of our organization depends on the well-being and happiness of our staff. By prioritizing their mental and emotional health, we have created an environment where everyone feels supported and empowered to make a difference. Whether you are embracing coaching, taking the Energy Leadership Index (ELI) to learn more about which energy level you are most frequently operating from, or making changes to improve your physical and mental health, I encourage you to take advantage of all the agency has to offer. It’s a gift to you that I hope you’ll open.

I am confident that our agency will continue to thrive. I wish Joel the best in his new role and I’m excited to watch from afar.

As I bid farewell, I am filled with gratitude for the support I have received from you. I am leaving with a sense of fulfillment, knowing that I have been a part of something truly remarkable. The impact we have had on the lives of students, the relationships we have built, and the shared experiences we have had are the true legacies of our time together.

So, let us celebrate the bonds we have forged, the milestones we have achieved, and the bright futures that lie ahead. Thank you for being a part of my life, for believing in me, and for making my time here unforgettable.

-Sam

Last week, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier interviewed Sam Miller, Chief Administrator, about the potential impact of additional funding cuts to Iowa’s Area Education Agencies. The story helped amplify our message to legislators that continuing to cut funding is not acceptable and has great potential to impact services. Shortly after, Governor Reynolds signed the bill that moved the proposed cuts forward for next year’s funding.

To ensure that Central Rivers AEA staff members continue to feel informed as the issue progresses, we wanted to also share the following key messages with you.

• We can’t continue to sustain funding cuts. In addition, receiving notice of a cut in late May when February is our budget deadline and contracts must go out to staff for the coming year in April doesn’t make good business sense.
• We will rely largely on reserves to resolve the budget shortfall this year; however, this is not a sustainable solution.
• It is necessary to maintain healthy reserves so that we are able to make payroll in August and early September (since AEAs are funded on a 10-month formula); thus, depending on the time of year that the reserve amount is reviewed, it may look artificially high. At Central Rivers AEA, our reserves are primarily due to the concerted efforts we have made to create efficiencies through the closure of several satellite office sites, consolidating operations in our Cedar Falls site, and negotiating fair settlements with staff. Being critical of healthy reserve balances is like punishing us for being fiscally conservative, something the majority of legislators value.
• The true impact of the cuts will likely be felt next year when the board and new chief administrator will have to make decisions about making up the shortfall should cuts continue.
• The services that Iowa’s AEAs provide are often behind the scenes but provide foundational support to students and schools. When those supports aren’t there, Iowans will begin to feel it – not only now, but down the road when those students become adults and we see the impact of what they didn’t receive during their K-12 educational career.
• Historically, we have provided direct services without cost to accredited non-public school districts. This includes support for students on Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) which includes services such as speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. While no funding comes to AEAs for these services, AEAs provide the services because it’s the right thing for students. One solution is to change the funding formula to include accredited nonpublic students for special education services similar to how it works for public schools – we see this as an equity issue that will only be more difficult to overcome given school choice legislation.
  • Gained traction legislatively by legislators in both parties.
  • Was not included in this year’s budget.
  • So rather than funding services delivered to students with IEP’s the special education funding is cut. We are going in the wrong direction.

By code, the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) training requires both an annual update and annual completion for staff who hold a BOEE license and have regular contact with students in K-12. The 2023 version was released on June 2. Follow the link for the updated version staff need to complete during the 23-24 school year. For additional information on mandatory trainings, please visit the Central Rivers AEA mandatory trainings list.

The May celebration can be viewed online. Congrats to our retirees!

Summer office hours went into effect on Monday, June 5 and offices will be open 7:30 am – 4:00 pm. A reminder to all Central Rivers AEA staff that all CRAEA offices will be closed on Fridays in June and July. Regular office hours of 8:00 am – 4:30 pm will resume on Monday, August 7. Enjoy your summer!

The 2023 All-Staff Kickoff meeting will be held on Friday, August 18. Please add this date to your calendar. The meeting will be held in the Cedar Falls Conference Center and attendance is mandatory for all Central Rivers AEA employees.

Join us in thanking our amazing board members during School Board Recognition Month! Serving almost 62,000 students, 5,000 educators and over 500 staff members, these nine dedicated volunteers are the backbone of the agency, setting the course for all we do! Help us thank them for their service by sending them an email of appreciation. 

• Nicole Lovik-Blaser, Director District 1
• Dr. Deb Rich, Director District 2 – President
• Kathryn Enslin, Director District 3
• Dr. Darshini Jaywardena, Director District 4
• Dr. Mary Stevens, Director District 5
• Maureen Hanson, Director District 6 – Vice President
• Dr. Tony Reid, Director District 7
• Bryan Burton, Director District 8
• Dennis Craun Jr., Director District 9

If you missed the last Coffee with The Chief, the link to the recording and passcode to view can be found below. This month featured the new Chief Administrator, Joel Pedersen, who hosted a Q&A with staff.

• April Coffee with The Chief(s) Zoom recording
• Passcode: V^*=9T6q

Thank you to the 472 employees who shared their opinions as part of the Des Moines Register Top Workplaces survey. That’s a nearly 87% response rate, which is incredible! In addition to the standardized response, we also received over 1,600 comments which we are in the process of reviewing for themes. We continue to learn a lot from the data and your responses and appreciate you taking the time to give us your feedback. Below, please find some general themes from this year’s data.

What three words best describe Central Rivers AEA?

1. Supportive
2. Positive
3. Collaborative

Which two statements received the highest scores?

1. Growth – My Supervisor helps me learn and grow.
2. Values – Central Rivers AEA operates by strong values.

Which two statements received the lowest scores?

1. Meetings – Meetings at Central Rivers AEA make good use of my time.*
2. Inclusion – I feel included at Central Rivers AEA.

*Note: While our scores are above average when compared to our peers, this continues to be a consistent theme in our feedback.

From the comments in the survey, here are some of our “glows” and “grows.”
Why would you recommend working at Central Rivers AEA?

• The people here are our best resource. Working here is an opportunity to collaborate with some of the best and brightest educators I know. (Administrator)
• It has the best culture of any place I have ever worked. They hire high-quality employees so things are done efficiently and with a positive attitude. I feel like I work with a group of highly qualified and motivated professionals. (Team Rep)
• I think CRAEA offers an opportunity to grow as a professional in a supportive system. I love how they treat employees as people and professionals at the same time. I feel we are treated with great respect (Consultant)
• These past few years, leadership has made an effort to be more visible and transparent. It’s clear that they are working to create a positive, inclusive work environment with a strong culture. (SLP)

Share an example of Central Rivers AEA operating by strong values

• Our agency has embraced work to build a positive culture within the agency. They have provided training and resources to stand behind the strong values of supporting staff well-being, so they, in turn, can support our families and educational partners. (OT)
• Each time I have an evaluation with my supervisor we talk about self-care, and she motivates me to actually take the time to focus on self-care while tying that back to the work we do. I have never worked for a company that cares about its employees this much. Central Rivers talks the talk and walks the walk. My evaluations are targeted at my values and the work I do. It is not a one size fits all approach, I do feel that I am valued and respected at work! (Team Rep)

What makes you hesitate to recommend working at Central Rivers AEA?

• CRAEA does a great job serving kids, families, and teachers but our jobs are VERY HARD! (Early Access Educator)
• Better insurance packages/cheaper family insurance. (Work Experience Coordinator)

What do you dislike about meetings at Central Rivers AEA?

• They frequently don’t pertain to my discipline and don’t allow me to gain knowledge in areas that I want/need to. (SLP)
• Unfortunately, I think we have reached the point of diminishing returns with Zoom. While it has given us the ability to “cover more ground” in terms of meetings, relationships and quality may be starting to suffer a bit. Balancing face-to-face meetings with Zoom is something I’d like to see us consider. (Administrator)

Our data continues to indicate that our culture and climate is very positive, and we are performing well in comparison to our peers. However, we know we do have some opportunities for improvement which we will continue to pursue. Together, we can ensure that Central Rivers AEA stays one of the top places to work in Iowa!

Did you know… 20% of our Central Rivers AEA staff have failed the phishing campaign? Staff that are unsuccessful in monthly phishing campaigns will be required to complete an assigned training.

What does it mean to “fail” an agency phishing campaign?
Our agency regularly sends out test emails to staff with phishing red flags embedded within the emails. These phishing emails provide opportunities for staff to practice identifying phishing red flags and report/delete malicious emails. These test emails also provide us with data to identify staff who need additional training and support. Need a refresher on the red flags to look out for? Review our CRAEA Phishing Red Flags Poster.

What happens if I fail an agency phishing campaign?
If you fail a phishing campaign, you will receive a follow-up email from Sarah Nelson, Director of IT/Special Programs, notifying you of your assigned training. Once you receive the notification, you will have two weeks to complete the assigned training. If you are unable to complete the training within the two-week window, your supervisor will follow up with you.

If you have questions about the assigned trainings, please reach out to Ashley Samek, IT/Special Programs Coordinator, or Sarah Nelson, Director of IT & Special Programs.

To learn more about the previous phishing email in March and get a preview of the training you’ll receive if you don’t pass, watch this video. Remember that each training campaign will come with its own unique video.

(If you need closed captioning to the video, you can access the file here to download and view.)

As a reminder, insurance open enrollment closes on Friday, May 19. All benefit-eligible employees must enroll or waive coverage, regardless if you are making no changes, resigning or retiring! This is the only time per year you can make any changes without a qualifying life event. The new rates and coverage take effect July 1, 2023. Important details can be found below.

• New Benefits Enrollment System: EASE is our new benefits enrollment system. You will be able to access EASE via ClassLink, located in the employee dashboard.
• There will be a slight rate increase to medical and vision coverage for the 2023-24 plan year. 
• Coverage enhancements have been made to our dental and vision plans.

These changes were discussed in detail during a benefits insurance presentation for all staff that was held on Thursday, April 27. The Zoom meeting recording and passcode can be found below.

• Central Rivers AEA benefits insurance meeting recording.
• Passcode: qj3NGG#2
• Insurance Enrollment 2023 slide deck
• Additional Resources – Staff Website

If you have questions regarding your coverage options, please contact Kevin Klobassa, Benefits Specialist, at (319)-273-8202 or via email at benefits@centralriversaea.org.