The Channel

Kim Swartz, Regional Administrator

With our strong focus on literacy and math, the agency has restructured to create a Director of Instruction position beginning with the 2018-19 school year. Kim Swartz has been selected for the new position given her knowledge and experience in reading and math instruction. Congratulations, Kim!

Kim has been a professional educator since 1984 teaching elementary students. She joined the AEA system in 2000 as a literacy consultant before becoming a Regional Administrator.  She holds a B.A. in Elementary Education and an M.A. in Educational Technology, both from UNI.

Kim’s family includes her husband Kevin and children Ryan, Austin, and Spencer and their spouses. She has two grandsons and her interests include spending time with family and friends, as well as biking, hiking, gardening, and singing in the church choir.

The Central Rivers AEA literacy conference is scheduled for June 13 & 14 to be held in Cedar Falls. A powerful roster of speakers is scheduled including Timothy Rasinski, Antonio Fierro, Deborah Reed, Barbara Golub, David Kilpatrick and Jim Burke. Important topics such as foundational skills, fluency, word study, vocabulary, the reading-writing relationship, and reaching English learners will be addressed. Staff is encouraged to attend. Fill out a travel request in Ivisons and register now!   

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Richard Dickerson. Richard passed away on Friday, February 23. He was a valued member of the Central Rivers AEA team and will be greatly missed.

Richard first came to us as a special education teacher and then worked as a transition specialist. Following retirement, Richard worked part-time as a van driver for the Media department.

Please keep Richard’s family and friends in your thoughts as they go through this difficult time.

Sam Miller, Central Rivers AEA Chief Administrator

Earlier this month, the Governor’s Education Policy Advisor (Linda Fandel) and Senate and House Education Committee leadership directed Iowa’s AEAs to look for increased efficiencies through the AEA system. Last week, the AEA chief administrators met again with Senate and House Education Committee leadership to ensure a common vision and timetable for this task and had a very healthy discussion around the development of a five-year plan designed to maximize efficiencies in Iowa’s AEAs while creating greater equity of services for all Iowa students.

Dr. Tom Lane, Iowa’s AEA Executive Director, has been following up these conversations, and we have collaborated on an agreement. Senators Sinclair and Kraayenbrink (Chair of Education Appropriations Committee) have agreed to language that calls for a reduction of AEAs from nine to seven and a reduction of AEA chief administrators from nine to seven. The timeline for accomplishing this will be five years. We anticipate that this language will be added in a late standings or appropriations bill before the session ends in April. The agreement provides the AEAs with a reasonable timeframe, while also providing a firm commitment to legislators. A five-year restructuring plan will help ensure a re-aligned AEA system that further enhances equity, innovates new statewide systems and helps us better articulate these efficiencies to all stakeholder groups.

We understand that this is an important announcement, and it may leave you with many questions. As an AEA system, our leadership team is committed to providing you with regular, timely updates as more details of this long-term process unfolds. I also want to mention that the early messages I’m receiving are that staff out in the field will likely feel much less of an impact of any future changes than those of us in administrative positions. I believe firmly that working for the AEA system is and will continue to be a secure and rewarding career choice. Although it may feel otherwise, the legislature deeply appreciates the value of our services. What you do matters to each and every child, educator and family you come in contact with.

Onward and upward.

Sam

The Board of Directors met on Wednesday, February 7th at 6 pm in Cedar Falls.

The agenda can be viewed online.

Chief Administrator Sam Miller, Assistant Chief/HR Director Karl Kurt, and Chief Financial Officer David Nicholson will make the rounds to all three offices and River Hills School later this month to meet with staff.  The meeting will serve as a good opportunity to discuss the news regarding the AEA System Five-Year Plan, and to hear more about the insurance committee recommendations for 2018-2019.

Please plan to join the meeting in person at one of the following sites if possible. The meetings are scheduled from 3-4 pm (3:30-4:30 at River Hills) on all three days. Zoom is being provided for those not able to travel. This one Zoom link can be used for all four dates: https://zoom.us/j/384261259

• Monday, February 26 – Clear Lake Office, Room A
• Tuesday, February 27 – Marshalltown Office, Rooms C, D, E
• Wednesday, February 28 – Cedar Falls Office, Room B
• Thursday, March 1 – River Hills School *3:30-4:30

Late May through September are some of the busiest months for the print shop-especially August and September. The Creative Services department is seeking part-time assistance this summer to help ensure that we stay caught up and are ready for the rush of business that comes when teachers come back to school.

If you know of someone who has an interest in picking up some extra money over the summer months (perhaps a UNI or Hawkeye Community College student) by working in the print shop, please reach out to Beth Strike at 319-273-8222 by February 28. Staff who are not on contract are also encouraged to inquire if interested.

In December, Brent Siegrist retired from his former role as AEA Executive Director but will continue to support the AEA system by focusing on legislative advocacy. This change offers the AEA system the benefit of Brent’s considerable background, knowledge, and expertise in the legislative process, and enhances relationships with policymakers. We are grateful for the leadership that Brent has provided for over 15 years.

Dr. Tom Lane, who has served as a legislative liaison for Iowa’s AEAs the past four years, has been named Executive Director and will now focus the majority of his time on coordination of our statewide work. His priority is to enhance and promote the work of the AEA system, and he will work closely with chief administrators, strengthen relationships with the director groups, and continue to maintain legislative advocacy efforts. Tom’s experience as a teacher, counselor, principal and superintendent will strengthen the community building, both within the AEA system and with other entities.

Brent and Tom have already begun to transition to these new responsibilities. We are fortunate to have the ability to capitalize on the strengths and interests of each of these professionals and to have two staff members who have the ability to complement each other and the work of the AEA system.

The Center for Applied Research conducted a study on behalf of Iowa’s Area Education Agencies to analyze the efficiency of the services Iowa’s Area Education Agencies (AEAs) provide districts. Additionally, the value of services provided by AEAs was explored. The information presented in this report is intended to help support AEA’s decision making regarding continued efforts to be effective and collaborative partners with Iowa school districts. The study will also be used in conversations with legislators and other state officials and recommendations from the report will help chart the future direction for Iowa’s AEAs.

The Governor’s 2018 Future Ready Iowa Summit will be held on Tuesday, April 3, from 8 am to 3 pm at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. The purpose of this all-day event is to amplify public conversation about transforming education and the workforce, including expanding work-based learning and computer science instruction.  

The Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, which is hosting the summit, hopes to attract an audience of 1,000 leaders from business and industry, PreK-12 and postsecondary education, nonprofits, parents, students, elected officials, and others, who will take information from the summit back to their communities to build upon existing initiatives.

Along, with presentations from experts in the fields of education and business, the day will include work-based learning exhibits and breakout sessions. Registration for the summit  is now open with a $50 fee for adults and no charge for students.