The Channel

CRAEA has been following the global outbreak of COVID-19, a respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus. This topic has captured the media’s attention, and much of the reporting may generate fear and uncertainty.

We wanted to share information specific to our CRAEA team along with some simple, easy steps that you can take to help prevent the spread of any contagious virus, including COVID-19.

Similar to the flu virus, those at greatest risk of complications from COVID-19 are the very old, very young, and those with other chronic or underlying medical conditions. As of this weekend, there were three presumptive positive cases in Iowa although the vast majority of Americans have a low risk of exposure. 

The agency actively prepares for a variety of scenarios that could impact our staff. Tactics such as the use of disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer stations are in place to respond to public health concerns. (More of these will be added in the coming days and supplies will be available for your use out in the field. Check with the receptionist at each of our three locations next week.)

This is not the first health situation to potentially impact our CRAEA community. When the United States experienced an outbreak of the H1N1 virus a decade ago, we were prepared. Not only are we following many of the guidelines from that situation, but we added new systems to help disinfect our buildings.

Staff members can help by following these simple, easy steps that help prevent the spread of ALL contagious viruses, including COVID-19. 

Practice the same routine hygiene used to help prevent the cold and flu.

• Wash your hands
• Stay home when sick
• Avoid contact with the sick
• Clean and disinfect 

Where you get your information about this virus is important. Look for information from reliable and trusted experts. Social media posts often report partial or inaccurate information.

• World Health Organization
• World Health Organization: Coronavirus FAQs
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Iowa Department of Public Health

Do you ever wonder how your other Central Rivers AEA co-workers spend their work life? On the Job @Central Rivers AEA is a monthly series we’ve just launched to give you a peek into the work of others in the agency. Each month, Chief Administrator, Sam Miller will spend time with a Central Rivers AEA employee and learn more about the work involved in their position. These highlight videos will also be shared on our website and social media sites to help educate the public about the work of an AEA.

Up this month? Lacey Brakebill, Team Representative. 

Karl Kurt, Assistant Chief Administrator/Director of HR

Similar to last year, we reopened our negotiations to increase the previously agreed-upon settlements. Our current financial health and a desire to achieve both a salary raise, while still increasing our self-insurance, have led us to agree to a higher settlement for 2020-21.  

In an effort to prepare for a potential downturn in the future, we have agreed to decrease (i.e., buy down) the second year of the negotiated settlement.  

The plan was ratified by each association group and was approved by the Board on March 4, 2020.

For 2020-21:

EA (Certified) — Increased from 1.7% to 2.15% Total Package

• Salary Increase = 2.21%
• Total Package Cost  =$699,863
• Notes: Step movement as applicable, $360 increase to salary schedule base (New Base: $34,805), $10/month increase in employer health contribution, $4.15/month increase in employer dental contribution

*The change from 1.7% to 2.15% was an increase of $146,417 to the settlement package.

CWA (Classified) — Increased from 1.7% to 2.50% Total Package

• Salary Increase = 2.76%
• Total Package Cost  =$83,879
• Notes: Step movement as applicable, $.30 increase to base for each category base on wage table, $10/month increase in employer health contribution, $4.15/month increase in employer dental contribution

*The change from 1.7% to 2.5% was an increase of $26,865 to the settlement package.

NUSS — Increased from 1.7% to 2.15% Total Package

• Salary Increase = 2.27%
• Total Package Cost  =$63,636
• Notes: Previously agreed to increase the insurance distribution $470 for qualifying employees based on reduction in family health contributions ($169.66/month), $10/month increase in employer health contribution, $4.15/month increase in employer dental contribution

*The change from 1.7% to 2.15% was an increase of $13,245 the settlement package.

Administration — Increased from 1.7% to 2.15% Total Package

• Salary Increase = 2.08%
• Total Package Cost  =$102,093
• Notes: $10/month increase in employer health contribution, $4.15/month increase in employer dental contribution

*The change from 1.7% to 2.15% was an increase of $21,502 to the settlement package.

For 21-22:  1.5% total package for each group (EA, CWA, NUSS, and ADMIN)

Language Changes: 

• Adoption Leave — We will add language so that a Grandparent can attend an adoption ceremony, similar to attending the birth of a child.  This one day leave will come from your own sick leave bank. 

Thoughts:

• We are fiscally healthy and desire to be as aggressive as we possibly can with our settlements.  However, we also desire to be prepared for uncertain financial times. Thus, the lower settlement for the 2nd year of our agreement.  We believe this is an aggressive, yet conservative approach.

It is our hope that our willingness to reopen settlements and to increase the negotiated amounts is received positively.  We realize we have an amazing team, and we want to honor you and the work you do. We will continue to work to provide raises while maintaining security and a solid fiscal condition while balancing the need for additional staff in the field.  

$550,000 –  NEW MONEY (2% SSA*)    

$950,000  – PROJECTED COSTS

= ($400,000) Shortage

UPDATE — 2.3% SSA = $750,000 of New Money; Shortage drops to $200,000

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call, email, or set up a meeting so we can discuss them.

As part of our ongoing efforts to support the social, emotional, physical and financial health of our employees, we are excited to announce that we have scheduled a Lunch and Learn with “The Crazy Man in the Pink Wig” (otherwise known as Mike Finley) on March 25 from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm via Zoom or in person at the Cedar Falls Office, Room A2.

Mike comes highly recommended by a couple of our staff members who have worked with him and is also the uncle of Amy Starr, a Team Rep for CRAEA. He offers free financial classes and seminars in the Cedar Falls/Waterloo Area promoting his passion for helping others to become financially literate. Financial literacy includes knowledge around a wide variety of subjects including credit cards, car buying, investing, insurance, credit, taxes, retirement and much more. 

We encourage you to invest 60 minutes to participate in the Zoom meeting (or attend in person). In addition, this opportunity has been added to our wellness platform. If you attend, you can mark it off as an activity and earn $15 of wellness dollars!

For more information, contact Karl Kurt at kkurt@centralriversaea.org.

Foodie February results

Foodie February was an agency-wide canned food drive with our three office locations and Rivers Hills School competing for the best display.

Clear Lake and River Hills collected the most donations and Clear Lake won bragging rights for the best display of their donated canned goods!

March Madness

The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament that begins in March is arguably the most exciting time of the year for office pools, so we will be doing another office pool this year with winners getting Central Rivers apparel.  

We will be sending an all-staff email after the brackets are finalized.  So start thinking about who you will have in your Final Four and who your “Cinderella” team is for this year.  I know there are a number of us rabid basketball fans that look forward to getting beat again on our brackets by someone who picked their winners based on the school’s mascot!

Wear your baseball attire on Friday, March 27

CRAEA Culture & Climate committee invites ALL STAFF to support your favorite baseball team, as the season opens.  Feel free to wear your baseball team attire as appropriate for your position on Friday, March 27th. Remember if you are unable to wear a jersey or team t-shirt, you can certainly accessorize with your favorite team’s colors!  Let’s see those ties, socks, earrings, get creative, etc. 

Don’t forget to forward any of your favorite Game Day pics to Tiffany at tmuhamedagic@centralriversaea.org to share via social media to spark some Springtime energy! 

Many thanks to Jo Prusha who put together this spreadsheet attempting to capture social media information for our area schools and staff. If you’d like to contribute to this resource to use to help promote your professional learning offerings or give shout-outs to your fellow teammates or LEA partners, please feel free to add information! 

This month, we continue our agency updates highlighting the three main focus areas of the agency strategic plan by focusing on Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) for Well-Being. Dr. Dana Miller, School Psychologist, and lead for the work, describes the work and what it means for you.

Sarah Nelson, currently a school improvement consultant serving Region 10, has been appointed to the position of Director of Information Technology with the agency. Nelson will replace Jen Sigrist who is now taking on additional responsibilities in providing Future Ready support for schools and staff. (Sigrist will continue to oversee the Media department.) 

“Sarah has a great skill set that will add tremendous value to the technology department,” said Sam Miller, Chief Administrator. “This position will allow her to continue her work in school improvement while spending some of her time influencing the direction of an important department in our agency.”

Nelson joined the agency in 2016 as a Technology Services Coordinator and later transferred to the role of Consultant for School Improvement. Her previous positions include K-12 Instructional Coach/Technology Integrationist with the Waverly-Shell Rock CSD as well as serving as a technology consultant and teacher with Waterloo CSD. 

Do you love Brene Brown’s work as much as we do? If so, you’ll want to make plans to subscribe to her new podcast coming in March 2020 called “Unlocking Us”. For more information, check out her website! Subscribe at: https://brenebrown.com/subscribe/