The Channel

Do you ever wonder how your other Central Rivers AEA co-workers spend their work life? On the Job @ Central Rivers AEA is a monthly series we’ve just launched to give you a peek into the work of others in the agency. Each month, Chief Administrator, Sam Miller, will spend time with a Central Rivers AEA employee and learn more about the work involved in their position. These highlight videos will also be shared on our website and social media sites to help educate the public about the work of an AEA.

This month? Angie Dickey and the crew in Media.

American Education Week is a great time to celebrate the amazing work that each and every one of you do for the children, families, and educators that our agency serves. Simply put, you make a tremendous positive difference! On November 15, everyone will receive a small token of appreciation from the agency. Take time during American Education Week to reflect on your many contributions…and thank you!

Are you a veteran? Please get in touch with Human Resources so that we can honor you for your service on Veteran’s Day! Contact Robin Billerbeck.

The Business Office is excited to announce that Pam Morrissey has accepted the accounting manager position.  Pam has over 25 years of school finance experience, most recently as the school business official for Van Buren County Community School.  Prior to working for Van Buren, she worked for Great Prairie AEA, Council Bluffs, and Riverside schools. Pam will begin her new position on November 11. Please join the Business Office in welcoming Pam to Central Rivers AEA!  

Iowa’s Area Education Agencies (AEAs) have solidified their commitment to all of Iowa’s 500,000 K-12 students, 327 public school districts, 182 accredited, non-public schools and thousands of children birth to age 3 with its updated strategic plan. The plan, which builds on the work outlined in the AEA Compact, reflects our renewed commitment to the priorities and actions that Iowa’s nine AEAs will take to meet the needs of those we serve.

The work outlines the essential functions of Special Education, Media and Educational Services that were identified when the AEAs were established in 1975. It also incorporates recent efforts to maximize efficiencies and align equities in services, such as children’s mental health and well-being and real-world, in-depth work experiences into schools (i.e., Future Ready Iowa).

Central Rivers AEA has staff members represented on the teams to support the work outlined in the action plans including Sam Miller, Dr. Julie Davies, Amy Knupp, and Jen Sigrist. We are also aligning our priorities and focus areas with the Iowa AEA Strategic Plan. 

While each AEA may differentiate its services slightly according to the needs of its districts, the state-wide system is committed to uniting all of our essential services with this common plan.  We believe we’re stronger together, and our state-wide system is grounding the equitable, efficient, and effective experience of our districts with this strategic, system-wide plan.

The Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (IPERS) will offer a lunch and learn on November 19 from 11:30 -12:30 via Zoom. Join the meeting if you would like to learn more at https://zoom.us/j/374789348.

The FAQs for Inclement Weather Procedures were revisited and revised due to the multiple office closed days in 2018-19.  The changes reflect the following: 

1) For 260 day full-time staff, if the office is closed or has an early out due to inclement weather, the time will be paid but employees may be required to work or choose to work, for all or part of the day, based on their role, responsibilities, supervisor and deadlines.  

2) For 260 day full-time staff, scheduled leave will not be granted back to you during inclement weather, except in extraordinary circumstances.  

3)  Hourly staff do not need to clock in/out when working remotely during inclement weather, except for maintenance/custodial staff.

As a reminder:  You may arrive up to an hour late for work without using leave time or making up the time within the week if you find yourself in a unique weather circumstance that causes your delay. It is expected that you will make contact with your supervisor to let him/her know your situation immediately upon knowing that you will be delayed so that s/he is assured that you are safe and an adjustment to your day can be made if necessary. For further guidance or clarification, please contact Human Resources.

The 2019-20 Educational Directory is available online and can be accessed on the staff website under Communications and also on the main agency website under About. If you need a printed copy, please speak to your region’s administrative assistant. 

Stay in the know whenever there’s a professional learning cancellation or office closing! Sign up to get Central Rivers AEA weather alerts via text, call, or email. Staff members can contact Shirley Horak at shorak@centralriversaea.org for info on signing up. 

Our first icy pavement conditions were already experienced this week and the agency wants to remind everyone to be mindful of the ice and snow when venturing out. Be sure to wear weather-appropriate footwear and walk with caution. Shoes and boots should have a flat bottom and your entire foot should make contact with the ground. For more information on staying safe this winter visit the CDC’s website. 

Chief Administrator Sam Miller, along with agency directors, visited each of our three offices in October and provided updates on a variety of topics including the new strategic plan, health insurance, well-being, Ed Services, Media and Creative Services. A recorded version is available for those who were not able to attend in person or via Zoom.

A strategic plan lights the path for the key areas we will focus our work around in the coming years. It doesn’t, however, include everything we do. Learn more about the Central Rivers AEA strategic plan in this short video from Chief Administrator, Sam Miller. Note that for region staff, a more in-depth conversation will be held on this topic later this month during regional meetings. All staff are invited to learn more during the agency updates next week.

Resource: Strategic Plan Graphic Overview

Do you ever wonder how your other Central Rivers AEA co-workers spend their work life? On the Job @ Central Rivers AEA is a monthly series we’ve just launched to give you a peek into the work of others in the agency. Each month, Chief Administrator, Sam Miller, will spend time with a Central Rivers AEA employee and learn more about the work involved in their position. These highlight videos will also be shared on our website and social media sites to help educate the public about the work of an AEA.

This month? Graphic Designer Lindsay O’Regan!

We will be holding agency updates at our three main office locations next week. Each update will be held at the same time: 3:30-4:30 p.m. A Zoom option will be available on all three dates at https://zoom.us/j/345551121

These short meetings present an important opportunity to hear updates from agency Administrative Cabinet members on topics such as the new agency strategic plan, wellness, insurance, and more. They are designed to be informal and conversational so feel free to bring your questions!

• Monday, October 7 in the Marshalltown Office
• Tuesday, October 8 in the Clear Lake Office
• Wednesday, October 9 in the Cedar Falls Office

All staff members are invited to participate in an agency-wide Central Rivers AEA Halloween Costume Contest on Thursday, October 31st.  To participate just snap a picture of yourself in work-appropriate costume and upload it to this Halloween Costume Contest  Google Form or email it to Pam Kabela before 9am Thursday, October 31st.  Voting will begin at 10 am and end at 1 pm.  Winners will be announced by 2 pm via email.     

Generous CRAEA Apparel Store voucher prizes will be awarded. First place $50, Second place $30, and Third place $20.  

All locations will be decorating for Halloween, please contact your team to see how you can help create a spooktacular atmosphere at your location. We also encourage you to bring a spooky snack to share on Halloween.  

Good luck to all you ghouls and goblins! Ready, Set, Booo…

Central Rivers AEA cares about the health and well-being of its employees and recognizes that a variety of personal problems can disrupt their personal and work lives. Although many employees solve their problems either on their own or with the help of family and friends, sometimes employees need professional assistance and advice.

Everyday life can be stressful and can affect your health, well-being and performance. Fortunately, our Employee Assistance Program can aid in finding solutions. When facing personal problems, you might struggle with where to turn for help. The first step is usually the hardest, and guidance is often the key. That’s why the agency offers an employee assistance program (EAP). An EAP offers a confidential place to find the answers that work for you.

Under our EAP you can receive no-cost, confidential help for a wide variety of needs and concerns including, but not limited to:

*Depression

*Stress management

*Anxiety

*Marital difficulties 

*Alcohol and drug addictions

No problem is too large or small. Contact the EAP for assistance (866-451-5465).  

To support a timely staff replacement selection process and assist in budget planning, the early retirement incentive is being offered again this year. The incentive will be administered to Administrative, Certified, and NUSS staff as follows:

• Commitments of separation by resignation or retirement at the end of the 2019-20 work year submitted by Certified, NUSS, or Administrative Staff.
• Notification of resignation or retirement received in the Human Resources office before December 10, 2019.
• Accepted by the Board no later than the regular meeting on December 11, 2019.
• Will receive an early notification incentive payment of $1,500 payable June 19, 2020.
• Subject to the employee fulfilling their individual employment contract obligations for the 2019-20 work year. 
• Staff resigning or retiring who separate prior to the end of the 2019-20 work year are not eligible for the early notification incentive.

For more information, contact Karl Kurt, Assistant Chief Administrator/Director of Human Resources.

Barb Ehrig has retired from her part-time position in accounts receivable, effective September 30 and we will also be saying goodbye to Calli Boeckmann as Accounting Director on October 4. Calli resigned her position at Central Rivers AEA to become the business manager at North Polk CSD.

At this time, the accounts receivable responsibilities will be handled by Betty Hesseling, Benefits Specialist, and Mike Kalvig, Chief Financial Officer, will take over Calli’s responsibilities until an accounting director is hired.  

Please join Mike & the Business Office staff in thanking Barb and Calli for their service to Central Rivers AEA. We wish them the best in their future plans!