The Channel

To support a timely staff replacement selection process and assist in budget planning, the Central Rivers AEA Board of Directors approved an incentive be provided for Certified, NUSS, CWA and Administrative Staff who provide early notification of their intent to resign or retire at the end of the 2023-24 work year.

The proposed incentive would be administered as follows:
1. Commitments of separation by resignation or retirement at the end of the 2023-24 work year, and

2. Notification of resignation or retirement received in the Human Resources Office before
January 2, 2024, and

3. Accepted by the Board no later than the regular meeting on January 3, 2024,

4. Will receive an early notification incentive payment of $2,000, payable June 20, 2024,

5. Subject to the employee fulfilling their individual employment contract obligations for the 2023-24 work year. Staff resigning or retiring who separate prior to the end of the 2023-24 work year are not eligible for the early notification incentive.

6. Staff must have worked for CRAEA for three full years to receive this incentive.

7. Staff may only receive the incentive once per their employment with CRAEA.

Continuing our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (and belonging) learning from last year, there will be upcoming opportunities for all Central Rivers AEA staff to participate in.

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs):

An ERG is a workplace affinity group organized around a shared interest or identity. ERGs give employees an opportunity to connect with people who may share similar identities and/or experiences. They provide an opportunity for support for those who are members of protected classes or marginalized communities. ERG members (with the support of a liaison of similar identity or you) are encouraged to bring forward concerns that surface to help the agency make changes to ensure all staff feel welcomed and empowered to bring their whole selves to work. If you are interested in joining an ERG, please complete this Google Survey or reach out to Dr. Dana Miller.

Continuing Courageous Conversations:

Central Rivers AEA strives to cultivate a workplace in which everyone feels welcomed and empowered to bring their whole selves to work. Continuing work done by the Equity Committee and through the guidance of the Equity Coordinator, we will implement DEI training and provide resources to create awareness, educate and reinforce policies that support diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

Bi-weekly “Courageous Conversations” will be a space, virtual or in person, for staff to gather for 45 minutes to have guided conversations, ask questions and learn about DEI topics.

Want to submit questions or comments anonymously to discuss during the bi-weekly meetings? Do you have general thoughts or questions about DEI+belonging that you would like to submit anonymously? Fill out the “Courageous Conversations” Google survey.

Upcoming book study opportunity:

Keep an eye out in the upcoming editions of The Channel for information regarding a book study.

Congratulations to the October Central Rivers AEA staff that were nominated for a Difference Maker Award by our LEA partners (school administrators, superintendents, principals, teachers, etc.). For our October nominees, here is what our LEA partners that nominated you had to say:

Kaylah Godfrey, SLP

“Kaylah impacts the culture of the building in such a profound way – it is hard to put in words! Between her smile, her kind words and cards of encouragement, every staff member appreciates all she does for us. Watching her work with students is heavenly! Every kid enjoys visiting with Miss Godfrey. She is an employee that truly makes school great and is a breath of fresh air! Central Springs is so lucky to have her!” -Central Springs school administrator

Brian Foster, Work Experience Coordinator

“Brian always strives to do the best he can to enhance the lives of young adults that need a concerned, caring adult!” -WSR Transportation/Maintenance Secretary

Ronda Reid, Special Education Consultant

“Through thick or thin, Ronda has been there for our students and staff. She has been an advocate for our parochial school with the public school. She has ensured that we are successful with our IEP meetings, our data collection and the needs of our teachers in working with our IEP students. Ronda always gives 120%!” -St. Paul & LIED Center school administrator

Crystal Klahsen, SLP

“Crystal is a huge asset to our students who need speech services. She works so hard to accommodate all the different classroom teachers’ schedules when setting up her scheduled times to meet with students. It’s such a joy to see & hear her enthusiasm for each student. It is very clear to those lucky enough to witness her interaction with students how much she cares for each student. Crystal has always been such a positive role model for kids. She comes in everyday with a smile and dedication to her job. Not only have I seen her interact with other students, Ms Crystal also worked with my daughter for many years. During that time I watched my daughter grow with her speech leaps and bounds.” -DNH support staff and teachers

Somer Muller, Special Education Consultant

“Somer works closely with our staff on advising services for students. She always helps communicate with parents about their student’s needs. She is great.” -BCLUW school administrator

The Educational Directory for 2023-24 has been updated and can be viewed and downloaded on the agency website under the Resources page. If you would like to have a printed copy, please contact your region’s administrative assistant.

During our kickoff meeting in August, all Central Rivers AEA staff had the opportunity to participate in a game of human bingo. Staff who filled out and turned in their cards were included in a random drawing. Thank you to everyone who participated!

1. Dawn Swehla, Special Education Consultant – Cedar Falls (Montage GC from Joel)
2. Charlie Patterson, Youth Shelter Teacher – Woodhaven (Montage GC from Joel)
3. Andrea Haaland, Special Education Consultant – Cedar Falls  Montage GC from Joel)
4. Jeika Pinero, Early Access Service Coordinator – Cedar Falls (Montage GC from Joel)
5. Stacey Lyons, Work Experience Coordinator – Cedar Falls (Swag Bag)
6. Amy Gauthier, Speech Language Pathologist – Cedar Falls (Swag Bag)
7. Ryan Robison, Early Childhood Special Education Consultant – Hampton-Dumont (Swag Bag)
8. Jackie Fober, School Social Worker – Sumner-Fredericksburg (Swag Bag)

Non-certified staff are now required to take the child abuse mandatory training (link to mandatory trainings). Some important details:

• You do not need the dependent adult abuse training.
• Once the training has been completed, please fill out this google form for Human Resources (HR) recordkeeping.
• The training must be completed by October 1, 2023.
• River Hills staff will complete the training(s) when they return to work and will submit their completion as directed by their supervisor.
• See the tip sheet for other Q&A obtained from AEA Learning Online. CRAEA’s requirements are in pink.

Certified staff: Certified staff should continue to take both the child abuse and dependent adult abuse mandatory trainings to maintain their BOEE license (no changes here). Please continue to send copies of completed trainings to the HR office.

News from the BoEE (certified staff): The Divisive Concepts & Scapegoating training is now a required training for CRAEA staff who teach in a classroom (HF802).  More information can be found in the August newsletter from AEA Learning Online. If you have any questions, please contact HR.

Recently, there has been an uptick in the number of COVID-19 cases among Central Rivers AEA staff. Please remember the importance of following our current COVID-19 protocols.

• If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, such as headache, muscle or body aches, fever, cough, shortness of breath, or loss of taste or smell, notify your direct supervisor and HR immediately.
• You should stay home from work and consider getting tested for COVID-19.
• If your job responsibilities are compatible with remote work, and you are able to work, HR and your supervisor can create a schedule that meets your needs and those we serve.
• If you test positive for COVID-19, you must quarantine for five full days after your symptoms begin.
• You can return to work after five days if you are feeling better and have no fever for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication). However, you must wear a mask for an additional five days after you return to work.

Check out the CDC’s guidelines and recommendations during your isolation period. The Isolation and Exposure Calculator tool can be used to help check your isolation and/or quarantine dates. These protocols are designed to protect the health of everyone in our workplace. Reach out to Karl Kurt with questions.

The agency is partnering with the Hy-Vee Pharmacy to offer flu shot clinics for employees and their families. The vaccination schedule is as follows:

Monday, October 2, 2023, from 7:30-8:30 am

• Cedar Falls Office – 1521 Technology Parkway (Central Perk)
• Clear Lake Office – 9184 265th Street, Suite B (Room D)
• Marshalltown Office – 909 South 12th Street (Room F)

Friday, October 13, 2023, from 8-10 am

• River Hills School – 2700 Grand Blvd, Cedar Falls (large conference room)

Please complete the 2023 Flu Shot registration form by Monday, September 18 if you wish to participate. Please remember to bring:

• A copy of your driver’s license.
• A copy of your insurance card (front/back).
• A completed flu shot consent form

Flu shots may be covered at no cost to employees and their family members with proof of insurance. Please contact Kevin Klobassa (319-273-8202) with any questions.

As a cybersecurity measure, all Central Rivers AEA staff are required to change their credentials every 180 days. These credentials are used to log into your laptop and access your Google account. Two weeks before your password needs to be changed, you will begin receiving reminder emails on a daily basis informing you that your password must be changed within the timeframe indicated in the email. The sample email below illustrates what you will receive starting two weeks before your credentials must be changed.

Please contact the Help Desk with questions. Thank you for your vigilance in helping us stay cyber-safe!

The new Technology Request Catalog is now operational, ensuring the equitable allocation of staff technology resources. This refined approach will enhance our technology request management, provide inventory tracking, and elevate our ability to cater to the specific needs of our staff. Here’s how the new process works:

1. Go to the Employee Dashboard (Classlink OneClick).
2. Select the yellow “Tech Support” folder and choose the “Technology Request Catalog” icon.

3. You can request a tech item/equipment by locating the item, selecting “Add to Cart,” inputting the relevant information, and then selecting “Confirm Cart.”

4. Once you have submitted your request, it is now ready for review. 
5. All requests made from the blue “Specialized Technology ”category will notify your supervisor of your request. These specialized requests will then go to Cabinet for final approval based on job duties and individual needs. 
6. If approved, you will receive a notice that your item is ready for pickup from the Help Desk. At that time, you may request the item be sent to you at another location for pickup. 

This new process aims to eliminate unnecessary delays, enhance transparency, and centralize the technology request handling for a smoother and more efficient experience. If you have an issue or question about the new system, email the Help Desk or call them at (319)-273-8231.

Congratulations to our full Central Rivers AEA team! Based entirely on the employee feedback captured with the Workplace Survey administered in February, Central Rivers AEA received the coveted “gold” designation for the second year in a row!

According to the Des Moines Register Top Workplaces officials, “your Top Workplaces win is proof positive Central Rivers AEA puts its people first.”

The 2023 Central Rivers AEA Top Iowa Workplace email signature template is now available. Over the next few weeks, your email signature will automatically be updated. The content of your email signature is derived from the staff directory; your email, professional headshot, title, phone number and office location. Double-check the staff directory to make sure the information is accurate. If any of your information is inaccurate or incomplete, please reach out to your region’s administrative assistant.

(We are aware of a minor formatting issue with how the signature appears on mobile IOS devices. At this time, there does not appear to be a solution. The information in your signature will still appear and be digitally accessible, but the formatting may be slightly off.)