The Channel

Mental health is just as important as your physical health and deserves the same quality of support. In the past, we have shared information regarding our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), virtual mental health visits through Doctor on Demand and the ability to engage in face-to-face therapy through your medical insurance.

Starting October 15, we will be adding the “Reach Out Program” in-house, featuring a small group of confidential, trained, empathetic staff who can serve as a first resource for you when struggling with a personal or professional challenge. We are calling them “staff support allies” and they are listed below. 

• Kandy Bienfang-Lee, klee@centralriversaea.org
• Sarah Downey, sdowney@centralriversaea.org
• Angie Koop, akoop@centralriversaea.org
• Christin Squier, csquier@centralriversaea.org
• Monte Phillips, mphillips@centralriversaea.org

The Reach-Out program is designed to provide a safe and supportive thought partner to process and/or provide guidance and support. It is not meant to be therapy or for crisis situations. Our protocol for conversations is solution-focused. It is meant to be a short-term collaboration with a colleague, who has mental health training, to help provide support and find the right resources for you.

We recognize a need and desire to do better as an organization to ensure there is a responsive and empathetic work environment. Please hear us, when we say, “You are not alone,” and we want to provide help and support to you as an individual, a professional and as a member of our team. Our goal is to listen, provide a safe space and possibly help identify the next steps. 

The process is confidential, not only by design but by the professional ethics of each of our allies.

For more information, please join us on October 15, from 8-9 am for a special all-staff Zoom meeting to discuss this initiative further:

• https://centralriversaea.zoom.us/j/84954741695
• Meeting ID: 849 5474 1695
• One tap mobile  +13126266799,,84954741695# US (Chicago)

Our agency’s annual review of mandatory policies and procedural items are now available! For viewing, please visit the document as there are important updates to read. A few examples include:

• Inclement Weather policies – We’re in Iowa and winter is just around the corner!
• Agency Operations (such as our vision, values, equity updates, etc.)
• Navigating and understanding the important items in your iVisions Portal

There is plenty of information to go through, please contact Shirley Horak or Robin Billerbeck, in HR with any questions.

In an effort to support a timely staff replacement selection process and assist in budget planning, the Central Rivers AEA Board of Directors has approved an incentive be provided for Certified, NUSS, and Administrative Staff who provide early notification of their intent to resign or retire at the end of the 2021-22 work year.

The proposed incentive would be administered as follows:

• Commitments of separation by resignation or retirement at the end of the 2021-22 work year submitted by Certified, NUSS, or Administrative Staff, and
• Notification of resignation or retirement received in the Human Resources Office before January 3, 2022, and
• Accepted by the Board no later than the regular meeting on January 5, 2022,
• Will receive an early notification incentive payment of $2,000, payable June 20, 2022,
• Subject to the employee fulfilling their individual employment contract obligations for the 2021-22 work year. Staff resigning or retiring who separate prior to the end of the 2021-22 work year are not eligible for the early notification incentive.
• This incentive is not offered to CWA.

As was shared during the August edition of The Channel, the agency has contracted with the New York Leadership Academy to facilitate an equity audit alongside our agency equity committee. This month, the work focused on:

• Identifying success criteria
• Reviewing the timeline and steps in the audit process.
• Reviewing the results of a needs assessment survey.
• Laying the groundwork for roles and responsibilities of committee members.

At this point, no specific goals or action plans have been identified.  The equity committee will be meeting again in early November to identify specific focus areas for our audit process.  Once we have the focus areas identified, we will be seeking insights and feedback from our staff through surveys and/or focus groups.   

Interested in learning more? Check out this slide deck or contact one of the equity committee members or Karl Kurt.

Grab a cup of coffee (or your favorite morning beverage) and join Chief Administrator Sam Miller 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. 

The first update was held on Friday, October 1 and the recording is available to view online. Please note that the passcode 3AV^QTH0 is needed to enable viewing. 

The remaining meetings will all be virtual and begin at 8:00 am. If you are unable to join us, the recordings will be available in The Channel. Dates, times, and Zoom information are listed below.

December 10, 2021

• https://centralriversaea.zoom.us/j/89137644516
• Meeting ID: 891 3764 4516
• One tap mobile  +13126266799,,89137644516# 

February 4, 2022

• https://centralriversaea.zoom.us/j/81908784702
• Meeting ID: 819 0878 4702
• One tap mobile  +13126266799,,81908784702# 

April 1, 2022

• https://centralriversaea.zoom.us/j/83459443089
• Meeting ID: 834 5944 3089
• One tap mobile  +13126266799,,83459443089# 

Now in its 18th year, October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2021 and this year’s theme is “Do your part. #BeCyberSmart.”  This theme encourages individuals and organizations to own their role in protecting their part of cyberspace, stressing personal accountability and the importance of taking proactive steps to enhance cybersecurity.

Statistically, phishing emails are the leading cause of data privacy incidents, so it’s more important than ever to equip yourself with the knowledge necessary to identify these malicious messages.  Phishing is a type of social engineering where an attacker sends a fraudulent message designed to trick a human victim into revealing sensitive information to the attacker or to deploy malicious software.

Take one minute to review the message and search for any of the five common red flags shown below:

1. Message is unexpected or oddly timed
2. Message contains odd spelling or grammatical errors
3. Message urges actions like clicking links or opening attachments
4. Message appears to be time sensitive or threatens consequences for inaction
5. Message is requesting money or personal information

When you receive any suspicious communications: Stop and think before you click!  

If you suspect a phishing email, please contact the Help Desk at 319.273.8231 or helpdesk@centralriversaea.org. 

Thank you to everyone who has taken the Accessibility Self-Paced Training – CRAEA Module and given us feedback. Based on the feedback, we have made refinements to the module. Since only some sections are recommended vs required, there is no longer a summary quiz at the end. The training is still required for all staff to complete by December 1, 2021. There are still three modules that make up the course, but we have created a breakdown of which modules we suggest you familiarize yourself with vs could be useful to your job:

• We suggest you familiarize yourself with the information in this section
  • Accessibility Guidelines (Covers what the ADA says about web accessibility and covers different concepts that work together to make accessible web/digital content)
• These sections you might find useful in your day-to-day
  • Accessibility in Google Workspace Tools (Covers the tool Grackle to help make more accessible Google Documents)
  •  Zoom (Covers using Accessibility features like Closed Captioning, to help your viewership)

At the bottom of each page to move to the next page, click “Next” to take you to the next page. As you view pages, a green checkmark will appear to the right. This allows you to keep track of where you left off.

The training should take approximately 2.5 – 3 hours to complete. Once you have completed the three modules, please complete the form found on the last page of the course titled Congratulations! Course Complete!

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

Many employees are receiving emails regarding a Blue Cross Blue Shield Association class action settlement.  The email contains a unique ID and links to a website with additional information. 

• This email is not a phishing attempt.  There is a pending BCBS class action settlement that may allow individuals who were covered under a BCBS policy (Wellmark) to receive settlement funds. 
• Your receipt of this email is not a guarantee that you will receive a settlement payment. 
• Individuals who didn’t receive an email may still be eligible to file a claim.
• Health Plan Name: Wellmark BCBS of Iowa
• Central Rivers AEA Group No: 36927
• Employer Address: Central Rivers Area Education Agency, 1521 Technology Parkway, Cedar Falls, Iowa, 50613

 For more information on eligibility, the claim process, and to file a claim please go directly to the settlement website.

Our office buildings and grounds are always looking spotless thanks to our custodial/maintenance team!  While they may be more behind-the-scenes, their hard work does not go unnoticed.

Cedar Falls Office:

• Gus Delamore, Supervisor of Buildings/Maintenance
• Gloria Hill, Lead Custodian/Maintenance
• Beth Kidder, Lead Custodian/Maintenance
• Don Brown, Substitute Custodian

Clear Lake Office:

• Gregory Hampton, Custodian
• Skyler Wood, Lead Custodian/Maintenance

Marshalltown Office:

• Lenny Hogendorn, Lead Custodian/Maintenance

River Hills School:

• Steven Hines, Lead Custodian/Maintenance
• Paul Onodinga, Custodian – 2nd Shift
• Douglas Sarauer, Custodian – 2nd Shift