The Channel

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.