The Channel

We extend our sympathy to the family and friends of David Giese, former Central Rivers AEA Board member, who passed away on April 14 at the age of 84.

David dedicated his career to education as a language arts and speech/theatre teacher in Mason City, where he was known for inspiring students, leading academic programs, and supporting educators across the region. In addition to his work in the classroom, he contributed to professional learning as a trainer with the Area Education Agency system, reflecting his commitment to strengthening teaching and learning beyond his own school.

Following his retirement, David continued his service to education as a member of the Central Rivers AEA Board of Directors. His perspective as an educator and his steady leadership helped guide our agency’s work in support of schools and students through a number of important transitions in our history.

We are grateful for David’s service and the lasting impact he made on education in our region.

At Central Rivers AEA, a primary aspect of our mission is to serve all students and educators with equity and excellence. Digital accessibility is a vital part of that commitment. It ensures that every individual, regardless of ability, can fully access and engage with the essential information and resources we provide. Meeting these requirements isn’t just about legal compliance; it’s about living our values and ensuring no one is left behind in our digital spaces.

To support this effort, all staff, with the exception of custodial staff and van delivery drivers, are asked to complete a refreshed digital accessibility module with updated guidance on meeting requirements. This training will provide the tools you need to align your practices and ensure that the agency stays in compliance. If you aren’t sure if you have an account or have forgotten your password to Canvas please visit the forgot password page.

Action items:

• Complete the module between April 13 (note that the module is closed until this date) and May 15, 2026. 
• Reach out to Kay Schmalen, Phil Hendricks, Contessa Van Buskirk, or Dr. Tiffanie Zaugg for technical support in completing the course and with any questions or support needed in implementing the guidance.

Central Rivers AEA will again be using Web Link to sign contracts and Notices of Conditions (NOCs). This process allows you to securely access, sign and store your documents for future reference. To help you navigate this new process, we’ve attached a step-by-step instruction guide and a video tutorial. Please review the instructions carefully, especially the sections highlighted in red, as they contain key details. If you need extra support, this tutorial video will walk you through how to access, view and sign your contract in Web Link.

You’ll receive an email notification when your contract is ready for signing. If you run into any issues, contact the help desk at helpdesk@centralriversaea.org or call 319-273-8231.

We are pleased to share that during the April 1 Board meeting, the administration recommended the approval of employment contracts for the 2026–2027 school year. This update covers our four distinct employment groups: Certified, Classified, Non-Union Support Staff (NUSS), and Administrative staff.

These agreements reflect our ongoing commitment to providing competitive compensation while maintaining the long-term fiscal health of our agency.

Negotiated settlement overview

The following total package increases have been established for the upcoming contract year:

• Certified Staff: 2.50% Total Package Increase
• Classified Staff: 2.50% Total Package Increase
• Non-Union Support Staff (NUSS): 2.50% Total Package Increase
• Administrative Staff: 1.00% Salary Increase

Preserving your take-home pay: insurance update

In a significant move to support our staff’s financial well-being, insurance rates and premiums for the 2026–2027 year will remain flat. Despite rising medical costs and market pressures, the agency has elected to absorb these increases rather than passing them on to employees.

What does this mean for you?

Because employee contributions for medical, dental, and vision insurance are not increasing, the entirety of the negotiated settlement increases will be placed directly into salary. This approach ensures that the raises you earned are reflected as fully as possible in your take-home pay.

Looking ahead: 2027–2028 extension

In addition to the upcoming year’s settlement, both the Certified and Classified associations have agreed to a new two-year agreement extension. For the 2027–2028 school year, the total package increase is currently set at 2.00%.

While this provides a helpful baseline for predictability, it is important to note that this is a starting point. It is our sincere hope to increase that settlement in the future, pending the determination of State Supplemental Aid (SSA) and the overall fiscal health of the agency.

Important dates & early signing incentive

Contracts are scheduled to be distributed the week of April 6, 2026. Please take note of the return deadlines for your specific group:

• Certified Staff: 21 days from distribution.
• Classified, NUSS, and Administrative Staff: 10 days from distribution.

$500 Early Signing Incentive

As a reminder, all eligible returning staff members who return their signed contracts within five business days will receive a $500 early signing incentive. We encourage you to review and return your documents promptly to take advantage of this bonus.

A note of gratitude

As we look toward another year, we want to extend a sincere thank you to every member of our team. Your continued dedication to our agency and our shared mission is what allows us to thrive.

We are deeply grateful for the work you do every day. Whether you are in a classroom, an office, or out in the field, please know that we appreciate the profound difference you make in the lives of our students and the communities we serve. Thank you for being part of our team.

Central Rivers AEA staff: mark your calendars for April 27 – May 22, 2026. This will be your time to choose your benefits. The benefits you choose will then become effective on July 1, 2026. Before open enrollment begins, think about any life changes from the past year that might affect your coverage, review your current elections, and gather dependent information you may need.

Reminder: Everyone must enroll!

All eligible employees are required to complete enrollment. Even if you don’t want to make changes, you must log in and confirm your elections. Please note:

• There will be no rate changes for medical, dental or vision coverage for 2026-27.
• For the 2026-27 open enrollment only, all staff are eligible to elect new or purchase additional Voluntary Life/AD&D coverage up to the guaranteed issue amount of $200,000 with no medical questions required (No Evidence of Insurability needed).
• Review a summary of your benefits.

How to enroll

1. Log on to the Employee Dashboard at https://launchpad.classlink.com/centralriversaea. 
2. Select the “HR/Bus Office” folder (lime green).
3. Select the “CRAEA Benefits Enrollment” application.
4. Follow the prompts to enroll in your 2026-27 benefits.

Questions? Contact Kevin Klobassa, Benefits Specialist at (319)-273-8202 or benefits@centralriversaea.org. Stay tuned for more information about your benefit offerings and how to make the most of them this year.

Your feedback is requested regarding the final date chosen for the Fall 2026 All-Staff Kick Off meeting. While it is difficult to identify a date that works for everyone, it is still worth trying to find the best overall fit. Our originally identified date of August 18 creates a significant conflict for Ed Services staff, particularly given their role in supporting back-to-school professional development. Others may also have conflicts as they carry out their roles in supporting schools at the start of the year.

In light of this, two alternative dates are being considered. If you feel passionately about which date is ultimately chosen, please give us your feedback on this survey by April 15. Thank you!

As we continue moving forward together, the agency is kicking off a new monthly series designed to help all staff better understand our 2025-2030 Strategic Plan – and, just as importantly, what it means for your work every day.

Whether you support students directly, work in operations, provide professional learning, or serve behind the scenes – this series is meant to help CRAEA staff see how our shared goals and values align with the many ways we serve.

We invite you to engage with this series along the way. Have questions? Want to share reflections or ideas? Feel free to leave comments on each post. Your input helps strengthen our collective understanding and supports ongoing alignment as an agency.

Videos:

• January: Introduction to the Strategic Plan + Mission & Vision – Stan Rheingans, Chief Administrator
• February: Core Values – Karl, Assistant Chief Administrator/Director of Human Resources
• March: Goal #1: Promoting safe, orderly, and welcoming learning environments – Annette Hyde, Executive Director of Special Education
• April: Goal #2: Promote equity in education by closing achievement and opportunity gaps – Tesha Moser-Zimmerman, Executive Director of Educational Services
• May: Goal #3: Ensure consistent quality in the delivery of AEA services to Iowa’s accredited schools – Karl Kurt (Wrap-up/Summary)

Thank you for taking time to follow along each month and for the work you do every day to advance our mission. We’re excited to build shared clarity and momentum around the Strategic Plan – and we hope this series helps every staff member feel connected to the bigger picture.

If you missed the all-staff update on Tuesday, March 10 via Zoom, the slide deck and recording information can be found below. The next meeting (unless canceled if there are no new updates) will be held on Tuesday, April 14, from 4:00-4:30 pm.

Resources from 3/10/26:

• Recording 
• Slides
• Zoom link for future meetings: https://aea1.zoom.us/j/99941260595?pwd=1L7Lj66bUNsF6KqJ3t9TU3eTHuO3aB.1
• Meeting ID: 999 4126 0595
• Passcode: 713069

To help protect student privacy, we’re asking all staff to review their Google Drive. Please check your files and remove or update any that are shared as “Visible to anyone in Central Rivers AEA” or “Anyone with the link.” All Central Rivers AEA staff:

• Update the sharing settings to “Restricted” or share only with specific people.
• Delete any outdated files you no longer need.

This small step helps keep student information safe. More detailed instructions can be followed online. Please contact the CRAEA Tech Help Desk at helpdesk@centralriversaea.org or 319-273-8231 if you have questions or need assistance.