The Channel

During the last Coffee with the Chief Zoom meeting, several staff members expressed an interest in ways to show our appreciation for educators serving in our local school districts. We know that this is a tough time to be in education and we want our partners to know that we are here for them and recognize their hard work. To that end, our Creative Services partners have come up with a couple ways for you to participate:

1. Leave a “show the love” card, along with a special treat such as a pack of gum, bottle of water, or small piece of candy, on the desk or workspace of a local educator. Feel free to add a little note to the backside of the card or leave it completely blank for a “someone is thinking of you” feel. Each card has our logo on the back so it will be clear it came from someone in the agency. Please note that special treats are completely optional and not provided by the agency – that would be on your own (but still awesome!).
2. Use one of the specially designed cards to write a handwritten personal note to an educator you want to reach out to. Find some encouraging words to let him/her know that you notice their good work. Please note that more generic agency thank you cards are also available if preferred. Simply place an order through Creative Services. 

The above cards are available at the reception desk of each of our three offices. Just swing by and grab a stash. 

Save the date now to join Chief Administrator Sam Miller on Friday, April 1, at 8:00 am for a virtual update on agency events and current trends in K-12 education. So grab a cup of coffee or your favorite morning beverage and get any questions you might have answered or use the time to express your thoughts and concerns.

Zoom information to join:

• https://centralriversaea.zoom.us/j/83459443089
• Meeting ID: 834 5944 3089
• One tap mobile +13126266799,,83459443089#

It’s no secret that our staff go above and beyond to serve children, families and educators each year. This year, staff have gone to even greater lengths to serve given the continued challenges of the pandemic.

To acknowledge your awesomeness, the Central Rivers AEA board and administration, has added one extra leave day available for your use by June 30. Staff are asked to arrange use with their supervisor and formally request the leave through the Infinite Visions leave system under the category of “Thank You” leave.  Leave can be taken in two-hour increments or as a full day.

We appreciate everything you do and want you to take time to do something for yourself. Use this leave to do anything that “fills your bucket” and helps you stay in balance.  

As Aladdin says, there are a couple of provisions…

• This applies to all Central Rivers AEA staff.
• River Hills, Detention Center and Youth Shelter staff: Supervisors will communicate with you how this will work in your respective programs.
• The “thank you” leave must be used by June 30, 2022. It can not be carried over or cashed out. Said another way? Use it or lose it.

For balance/inquiries contact: Robin Billerbeck 

Central Rivers AEA continues to follow CDC’s guidelines for K-12 schools (updated 1/13/2022) and we ask that any Central Rivers AEA employee who experiences COVID-19 symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19 to notify their direct supervisor and Human Resources as soon as possible.  

Please share any/all of the following details:

• Exposure date:
• Symptom onset date:
• Positive test date: 
• Vaccination status: 
• Close contacts:

For convenience, feel free to use the Reporting my COVID-19 related situation Google form. Employees may be asked additional questions in order to identify a course of action and determine a return to work date.    

Quarantine and Isolation 

• If you were exposed to  COVID-19:  
  • Quarantine if you were exposed to COVID-19 and are not up-to-date on Covid-19 vaccinations
  • No quarantine if you were exposed to COVID-19 and are up-to-date on Covid-19 vaccinations
  • No quarantine if you were exposed to COVID-19 and had confirmed COVID-19 within the past 90-days

• If you are sick or test positive:
  • Isolate if you test positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms, regardless of vaccination status.  
  • Use the When to Stay Home guide to calculate your quarantine/isolation periods

On Wednesday, February 2, 2022, the Central Rivers AEA’s Board of Directors rescinded Board Policy 401.34 (Employee Vaccination/Testing for COVID-19) and its accompanying regulations. This is a result of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) withdrawal of their Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) mandating COVID-19 vaccination or masking/testing. 

Central Rivers AEA’s new Learning Management System (LMS) has officially launched! More details about the LMS, including how to create an account and earn micro-credentials, can be found in this Google slide deck presentation. Questions? Take a look at the Q & A from the last Regional meeting.

A shortcut to the LMS has been added to ClassLink for your convenience. Be sure to check back often as content is continually being added. We value your feedback – if you have an idea for content, talk with your supervisor. Any questions should be directed to Amy Moine.

Central Rivers AEA is participating in the Des Moines Register Top Workplaces survey as part of our commitment to continually focusing on organizational culture and climate. To that end, we’d like to hear about your experience working at Central Rivers AEA, by asking you to respond to this employee engagement survey. 

Early in February, you will receive an email that includes an access link. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and provide us with your feedback. 

Energage, an independent research company, is conducting the survey. To protect your confidentiality, they will not disclose your responses to us. Department, team or group scores are revealed only when there is a minimum of five survey responses. Leaders at Central Rivers AEA may see the comments you offer on the survey’s final page, so please do not write anything that could reveal your identity if that is of concern for you.

A few additional things to note: 

• If you do not receive the survey email within the next two weeks, please check your spam or junk email for a message from “Energage Survey.” To open the survey invitation, you may have to confirm the email is not spam. 
• If you delete the survey email accidentally, you will receive a reminder message within a few days that includes another access link. 
• Please do not forward the survey email to a colleague. Each email has a unique code to prevent multiple responses from a single person. 

Please reach out to Energage at 1-800-749-0187 or reply to your survey email if you have questions. Thanks for taking the time to complete the survey. We look forward to your feedback! 

The virtual all-staff meeting to honor our retirees has been rescheduled to Friday, May 27 due to a conflict on May 20. Please note this change on your calendars and join us as we celebrate those retiring! The celebration will begin at 9:00 am and more details will be available in an upcoming newsletter. 

Thank you to those who were able to join Chief Administrator Sam Miller virtually this morning for an update on agency events and current trends in K-12 education.  These informal meetings are a great place to get any questions you might have answered and an opportunity to express your thoughts & concerns.

Today’s recording is available to view online. Please note the passcode (1J@8XbqR) must be used to enable viewing.

The next update will be held on Friday, April 1, 2022, beginning at 8:00 am.

• https://centralriversaea.zoom.us/j/83459443089
• Meeting ID: 834 5944 3089
• One tap mobile +13126266799,,83459443089#

W-2s for calendar year 2021 were handed out to office staff or mailed to your home during the week of January 24. If you need another copy, please visit the IVisions portal under My Compensation and download the form. Questions should be directed via email to Shane Wolf or by calling 319-273-8203.

Wellmark is now reimbursing members for FDA approved over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 tests that are purchased on or after January 15, 2022. Other insurance benefits relating to the virus include: 

• No-cost COVID-19 testing related to the diagnosis of COVID-19 when ordered by your healthcare provider.
• Same out-of-pocket cost to see your healthcare provider in an office setting or a virtual visit.
• Wellmark members can get the COVID-19 vaccine, including booster shots, at no cost.

To find more information, please visit the Wellmark website .

The 2022-23 All-Staff Kickoff meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 17, 2022. Please add this date to your calendar. The meeting will be held in the Cedar Falls Conference Center and attendance is mandatory for all employees. 

Thank you to everyone who completed the Accessibility Self-Paced Training Course! We wanted to continue to provide you with some examples as well as some tips and tricks to ensure content that you create digitally will be accessible to everyone. We will continue to explore and address as many of your questions as possible. You can always return to the Accessibility Self-Paced Training to review the different ways you can make documents more accessible. For more examples and feedback, please view the Accessibility Follow-Ups document. If you have any questions or need support, please contact the CRAEA help desk at helpdesk@centralriversaea.org. 

Reminder of CRAEA’s expectations regarding accessibility: Digital accessibility is not only a legal requirement, but an obligation to ensure everyone can utilize our products and services.  Creating an inclusive digital environment will provide access to our resources and limit barriers while enhancing participation among those we support and serve. 

Important to note: When creating content digitally, always consider the audience. You cannot assume your content regardless of the format (Documents, Slides, Sheets or the web) will not be accessed by someone who has a disability. Our job is to create opportunities, not obstacles. 

Google Calendar RSVP Options

To make Google Calendar more flexible in the hybrid workplace, they’ve introduced new RSVP options for Calendar invitations. Now you can indicate how you plan to join a meeting – in the meeting room, or virtually. Both the organizer and guests will be able to see how attendees are planning to attend the meeting in the event detail. This will help meeting attendees know what to expect when joining a meeting and prepare accordingly.

Google Calendar Hacks

On the outside, Google Calendar may look like any other standard online calendar. But dig a little deeper and you’ll unearth a wealth of features and functions. You’ll be amazed at how organized your work and personal life can be with Google Calendar. To make the best use of it, check out some Google Calendar hacks and see how your productivity and performance can boost to the next level!

Interested in saving a few extra dollars in the new year? Check out two discount programs available to CRAEA employees:

Blue365

• Offers access to many health and wellness deals.
• Available at no cost to members of Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.
• Member-benefits include discounts on fitness, hearing and vision products, nutrition and personal care tips, travel deals and so much more!
• Registration is simple, so don’t miss out on the many great offers!

Cell Phone Discount

• There are personal cell phone discounts available to Central Rivers AEA employees through a State of Iowa contract with four wireless providers: AT&T, Sprint-Nextel, U.S. Cellular and Verizon.
• Eligibility, discounts and identification requirements vary with each cellular provider.
• For specific details on educational discounts, please visit the above cell phone providers’ websites for more information.