The Channel

Chrome Tab Groups

If you tend to keep a lot of tabs open in your Chrome browser, you know the challenges of working with many websites at once: your tab bar is cluttered and it’s often hard to find a page you know is open — somewhere — in your browser.  Now, with a simple right-click, you can group your tabs together and label them with a custom name and color. To create a new tab group:

1. Right-click an open tab
2. Select Add tab to new group
3. Name the group and choose a group color

Zoom Push-to-Talk

Are you tired of fumbling around to unmute yourself during Zoom meetings?  If so, the Zoom push-to-talk feature should help alleviate some of the hassle.  The feature allows the user to remain muted throughout a Zoom meeting and instead of grabbing for your mouse to unmute yourself, just hold down the spacebar when you want to be unmuted and talk.  

In order to take advantage of this feature, however, you will need to make sure you have it turned on in your settings:

1. Within the Zoom desktop app, select your profile picture, then choose Settings 
2. Select the Audio tab
3. Check the option Press and hold SPACE key to temporarily unmute yourself 

 If you have any questions or need technical assistance, please contact the Help Desk at 319.273.8231 or helpdesk@centralriversaea.org. 

The Central Rivers Help Desk is excited to announce a new online IT Knowledge Base to help employees gain access to IT-related support material.  Knowledge base articles include step-by-step instructions, general how-to information, and screenshots to help employees gain the knowledge to solve a problem or complete a task.  The IT Knowledge Base will provide employees with the opportunity to find relevant IT support information quickly as a self-service option.  Please contact the Help Desk at 319.273.8231 or helpdesk@centralriversaea.org for support.  As always, we are here to help you! 

Staff working remotely will NOT need to fill out an application for remote worksite (RWS) for 2021-22.  Further details regarding RWS parameters will be available in the near future. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the HR Department.

In June, the agency took a clear stance against the racial injustice and discrimination that has plagued the Black community in our nation for far too long. We feel it’s equally as important to take the same stance against the violence and discrimination often aimed at the Asian American community today. 

Each of us must commit to doing everything we can to counter racial injustice and discrimination where we see it and take a stand. For lasting change to occur, we must keep the conversation going. As an agency, we value and respect diversity and celebrate our differences.

For more information related to supporting the Asian American community, please visit the Division 45 Anti-Asian Discrimnation Task Force website.

For more information related to supporting the Black community, please visit the Black Lives Matter website.

Together, we can send a clear message that discrimination, violence, and injustice simply won’t be tolerated.

Starting Tuesday, April 6 all Central Rivers AEA internal staff resources (Portal, Time Clock, Work Year Calendar, etc.) will be added to the Central Rivers AEA staff’s ClassLink dashboards.  This will provide staff with easy to use, single sign-on (SSO) access to digital resources. 

In addition, the “for staff” dropdown on the Central Rivers AEA homepage will be removed and an Employee Dashboard link will be made available in the footer of the homepage, which will take you directly to the ClassLink login.

More information on the change can be found on this document. Questions should be directed to the Help Desk at 319-273-8231 or helpdesk@centralriversaea.org.

The Open Enrollment period for insurance will open April 19 and end on May 9. Even if you do not take insurance, you must go through the open enrollment process, which can be found on the Portal under My Benefits > Benefits Enrollment. Please use a Chrome or Firefox browser and be sure to go through each step carefully.   

An insurance presentation for all staff will be held on Thursday, April 22 at 3:30 p.m.  The Zoom information to join is below:

• Join Zoom Meeting on Thursday, April 22, 2021, 3:30 p.m.
• https://centralriversaea.zoom.us/j/82221646718  
• Meeting ID: 822 2164 6718  
• One tap mobile: +13126266799,,82221646718# US (Chicago)

Need support? Contact the CRAEA Tech Help Desk at helpdesk@centralriversaea.org or 319-273-8231.

A friendly reminder to all staff members about our agency’s board policy relative to social media use. Board policy 703.4 provides clear guidance that can help you represent yourself and the agency in the best light while online. Please take a moment to review and forward any questions to Beth Strike at bstrike@centralriversaea.org.

Mark your calendars now for the 2021-22 all-staff kickoff meeting being held Wednesday, August 18.

We look forward to seeing everyone face-to-face for the first time in well over a year!

The day will feature an inspiring and informative presentation by Kristen Anderson of the Brilliance Project as well as time to reconnect, network, and prepare for an incredible new year of service.

The Central Rivers AEA health insurance plan has experienced extremely high claims during the first six months of our year.  Due to these high claims, the monthly insurance premiums are increasing 15-19% for next year.  

Having a competitive benefit package remains a priority, so the agency will continue to cover the single premium for the $2,500 and $3,500 plans for full-time employees.  Part-time employees will continue to pay a prorated premium.  Employees enrolling in a family plan will continue to pay the difference between the family premium and the employer contribution. 

Below is a summary of the premiums and employer contribution changes:

Take time on April 21 to recognize our outstanding office support team during Administrative Professionals Day! This group of staff working in our offices are instrumental in keeping the agency running smoothly and ensuring all staff have what they need to do their jobs.  We couldn’t do what we do without them!