The Channel

Until further notice, all in-state and out-of-state travel continues to be suspended. This includes conferences, state meetings, networks, etc. Please plan to participate in those offerings virtually and discuss any concerns with your supervisor.

COVID Recovery Iowa can help Iowans with a number of issues including providing free, confidential virtual counseling and helping to connect families to food resources. There are virtual ZOOM Support Groups for teens, pre-teens and parents. The program also offers a number of virtual online activities including yoga, cooking classes, parent resources and more, to help Iowans through this stressful time.

You can find out more at covidrecoveryiowa.org, or simply call 844/775-9276 to be connected to resources. The virtual counseling sessions and support groups are free and confidential, and available to every Iowan.

The employee cell phone reimbursement is for the necessary use of a personal cell phone in order to perform the responsibilities of the employee’s position, per Central Rivers AEA Board Policies 401.27R1 and 401.27R2. Staff approved for reimbursement will have their personal cell phone number listed in the Central Rivers AEA cell phone directory, which is published only on the internal staff website. 

All requests are subject to the approval of the AEA Regional Administrator and Executive Director. The reimbursable amount is based on the number of contracted months up to $120 annually.  New employees hired after the start of the year have 30 days from the date of hire to submit a request for reimbursement at a prorated amount

To apply for the 2020-2021 reimbursement, submit the request form before August 31, 2020. Payment will be made on September 20, 2020.  Any changes to a staff member’s phone number must be promptly reported to Laura Rinnels at 641-329-4244.

The staff lounges in our three office locations are open for staff to enjoy while on breaks. This includes Central Perk in the Cedar Falls office. Staff will need to observe social distancing with just one person per table and masks need to be worn unless you are on your lunch break.  

Be sure to sanitize the table you sit at and do not leave used dishes in the room. If you use agency tableware, all items must be washed, dried and put away before you leave the room. Sanitizer will be available in each room or from the receptionist. 

Individual counseling sessions teach members about their retirement account, including possible retirement dates, benefit payout options and service purchase options. These sessions are for those within five years of retirement and will be held over the phone on August 24, 25, 26, & 27. Additional details can be found on this flyer. 

Pre-registration is required and appointment times fill up quickly. To schedule a  30-minute counseling session, contact IPERS at 800-622-3849. IPERS will then call you at your scheduled time to discuss your information. 

A master calendar has been created in Google for all administrative and large staff meetings taking place in the new school year. All staff can access this calendar to view the dates and you will want to consider setting up notifications in order to be aware of changes and updates to meetings each month. 

If you have questions regarding any of the meeting dates, please contact Lori Thomas (lthomas@centralriversaea.org) and if you need assistance accessing the calendar or setting up notifications, please contact tech support (helpdesk@centralriversaea.org)

Please be sure to check the outgoing voicemail greeting on your Zoom phone to ensure that you don’t still have the old message from when the offices were closed.

Your new message should say something like:

“Hello. You’ve reached (name), (title) with Central Rivers Area Education Agency. I’m away from my desk or on the phone right now but your call is very important to me. Please leave a message and I will call you back as soon as possible. Thank you very much for calling. Have a great day!

In an effort to increase our knowledge around ways to mitigate the spread of Covid-19, reminder that all staff must successfully complete the COVID-19 Safety Guidelines through AEA Learning Online Module R2L: Health and Safety for Teachers and Staff.  

1. • The training module is to be completed before returning to an agency facility on a staggered or regular work schedule. (If you have already returned to work on a full or part-time basis, please complete this training ASAP.)
   • To document completion, employees are to forward the training certificate to their region/program administrative assistant or supervisor.  

In addition, while we have the chance, we want to remind all staff who hold a BoEE license, that they need to complete the ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and SPP (Suicide Prevention and Postvention) on an annual basis.  Certificates should be forwarded to the HR office.

 Directions to take the training(s) are outlined on this document. To view other CRAEA mandatory training, refer to this table.

Contact professionallearning@centralriversaea.org if you have any questions or problems with the training.

August brings a physical return to work for agency employees along with more frequent virtual meetings. Following months of working at home and much more casual attire, what’s the new dress code for coming back? Beginning August 3, staff members should return to traditional professional attire, whether virtual or in person. This blog post from 2019 outlines the agency’s approach to dress and can be used as a helpful reference. So, whether you are working in the agency, in a district, or providing services remotely, plan to present a professional image each day! Questions? Please visit with your supervisor.

Central Rivers AEA stands in solidarity with the Black community and with peaceful protests against the racial injustice that has plagued our nation for too long. Each of us must commit to doing all we can to counter racial injustice wherever we see it and take a stand. For lasting change to occur, we must keep the conversation going. Not just today, but in the days and months to come. Central Rivers AEA supports all ethnic groups and promotes the value of diversity in both our schools and communities.