The Channel

As part of the agency’s overall COVID-19 risk mitigation efforts, maintenance staff are using electrostatic sprayers in conference rooms, work areas and offices. Please clear your desk each night of papers and close laptop lids. In addition, our maintenance staff need staff members to clear the building by 5 pm each night so that the disinfecting can be completed by the end of the evening. Questions? Contact Karl Kurt.

Central Rivers AEA staff who receive reimbursement for their personal cell phones or carry an agency-owned cell phone are listed in the directory, which can be found on the staff website under Communications. 

The directory can also be downloaded using the QR code. Please notify Laura Rinnels of any updates. 

Did you know there is a direct relationship between how much you pay in fees and the return on your investments? You can earn more by paying less!

This is a great time to start identifying exactly how much you pay in fees. How much is the expense ratio (this is how mutual funds make their money)? Are you paying a Class A or C load (a commission that goes to a salesman)? Other commissions? Transaction fees? What is the financial advisor charging you? Other fees?

How might you pay less in fees? One option to consider is to invest in low cost index funds or ETFs that charge less than .1% per year. You should consider if paying a load or a commission when buying is worth it. One way to rid yourself of these other fees is to invest in a place like Vanguard.com. You can eliminate the advisor fee by doing it yourself. 

It is never too early nor too late to better understand this world of investing. If interested in learning more you could start by reading What Color is the Sky by Michael Finley and/or The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by John Bogle.

Did you know that Zoom now offers Closed Captioning? Closed Captioning enables you to not only hear the speaker but see what they are saying in transcript form. If you are the host of an upcoming meeting, please use these directions to turn Closed Captioning on and explain to users how they can use this feature. Highlighting this feature during the month of October will help others to know that it’s available which may make a tremendous difference in their ability to participate! Questions? Contact the IT Help Desk.

Mark your calendars now for an all-staff information meeting to be held virtually on Tuesday, November 10, beginning at 3:00 p.m. More details and the Zoom link will be included in November’s staff newsletter. 

The Central Rivers AEA board of directors has approved the early retirement notification incentive again this year in order to support a timely staff replacement selection process.

The proposed incentive would be administered as follows:

1. Commitments of separation by resignation or retirement at the end of the 2020-21 work-year submitted by certified, NUSS, or administrative staff, and;
2. Notification of resignation or retirement received in the HR office before December 9, 2020, and
3. Accepted by the Board no later than the regular meeting on December 10, 2020,
4. Will receive an early notification incentive payment of $1,500, payable June 18, 2021,
5. Subject to the employee fulfilling their individual employment contract obligations for the 2020-21 work year. 

Classified staff and staff resigning or retiring prior to the end of the 2020-21 work-year are not eligible for the early notification incentive. For more information, contact Karl Kurt, Assistant Chief Administrator/Director of Human Resources.

Every year the Human Resources department needs to communicate on a wide range of topics that all staff need to know.

Please review this document for specific board policies and mandatory training requirements.

Questions should be addressed to Shirley Horak, HR Coordinator (shorak@centralriversaea.org)

Be sure to check out the new Wellness Wave website this month where you will find resources and fun challenges, including: 

• Our monthly Flash Challenge 
• Halloween & Covid – family fun ideas that will make you forget we’re in the middle of a pandemic & safety guides
• Central Rivers AEA Wellbeing and Mental Health Resources
• Wellness Wall – where you can share a photo, story or inspirational quote with your CRAEA team
• Who is on top of the Wellness Wave Leaderboard