The Channel

Renovation work is occurring at a rapid pace at our new Cedar Falls-based Central Rivers AEA home at 1521 Technology Parkway. The estimated deadline for substantial completion of both the upstairs and downstairs is June 19. Based on this information, we are tentatively scheduling the move for the majority of Cedar Falls-based staff to begin on June 26. Creative Services and Professional Learning departments will move in August as the print room, garage and elevator areas will take longer to complete. Please note that professional learning classes will be held at our current location at 3712 Cedar Heights Drive through July.

For employees whose contract work will be completed prior to the start of the move-in timeline, please make the following preparations:

• Try and secure boxes to help facilitate the move.  If you need boxes please contact Gus Delamore as he may have a few available.
• Please determine what will be making the move with you. (A reminder for those without designated space, your personal items will need to be taken home.)
• Box up those items and label with your full name (last name, first name). Leave your boxes in your work area.
• Our custodial crew will move the boxes to an unfinished area at 1521 Technology Parkway and sort them so that when you return for the new school year, you can access your materials.
• For those employees who work year around, we will provide details and a schedule closer to the actual completion date, once the move can be officially scheduled.

Questions? Contact Gus Delamore or Karl Kurt.

The branding work team continues to work diligently on the list of tasks associated with rebranding our agency. We are excited to announce that our new email addresses (first initial last name@centralriversaea.org) and website (www.centralriversaea.org) will be rolled out between June 16-19. Signage will begin being installed at all three of our locations in mid to late June.

Several staff members have asked about gaining access to our new logos so that they can begin adding them to 2017-18 forms and documents. This Google folder contains several variations of the agency logo for staff member use. However, please do not begin using the new logo on documents to be distributed before July 1. Also, please reference the Central Rivers AEA Imaging Standards when using our new brand and leave the heavier design work to our graphic artists in Creative Services. Letterhead, envelopes, business cards, etc. are all being created and will be ready for use after July 1.

Questions? Contact Beth Strike.

Please plan to attend one or more of the upcoming retirement open houses honoring AEA 267’s 2017 retirees. The celebrations will be held on Tuesday, May 16 in the Cedar Falls Conference Center; Wednesday, May 17 in the Clear Lake Office; and Thursday, May 18 in the Marshalltown Office from 3:30-5 p.m. at all locations.

These celebrations present a wonderful opportunity to congratulate our honorees and recognize them for their dedication and years of service. Those being honored this year include:

Cedar Falls

• Judy Bodecker, Educational Assistant at River Hills School
• Ronald Danielson, Educational Assistant at Woodhaven Youth Shelter
• Donita Dust, Speech Language Pathologist
• Janice Dykstra, Consultant
• Carol Earles, Special Education Consultant
• Mary Hanneman, Special Education Consultant
• Kim King, School Psychologist
• Sandy Lichty, Sp Ed Consultant
• Chris Merkel, School Social Worker
• Cindy Millett, Early Childhood Special Educator
• Connie Olsson, Educational Assistant at River Hills School
• Brenda Reiher, Detention Center Teacher, N IA Juv Detention Center
• Dennis Sinclair, Area Director of Special Education
• Vicki Uhlenhopp, Special Education Nurse-Instruction, River Hills

Clear Lake

• Shirley Crippin, Speech Language Pathologist
• Dennis Molln, School Social Worker
• Mary Moritz, Itinerant Teacher of Vision Impaired
• Barb Oelberg, Print Technician
• Nancy Prins, Speech Language Pathologist
• Jill Schager, School Social Worker

Marshalltown

• Donita Anders, Early Childhood Educator
• Mary Jo Bailey, Audiologist
• Carol Bottom, School Psychologist
• Jane Boyle, Service Area Secretary
• Stan Ernster, Speech Language Pathologist
• Chris Hull, Audiologist
• Linda Langland, School Social Worker
• Mark Proescholdt, Van Driver
• Carol Sandholm, Special Education Consultant

Mark your calendars! Our first all-staff meeting as Central Rivers Area Education Agency will be held on August 14 at our new headquarters at 1521 Technology Parkway in Cedar Falls! We will start the day with social time and registration from 8:30-9 a.m. and are are planning a fun day complete with recognitions, inspiration and “edutainment” by Monte Selby. A detailed agenda will be sent out closer to the actual date. Plan to end the day by 3:30 pm or before depending on work group.

The AEA 267 Board of Directors met Wednesday, May 3, 2017 in the Cedar Falls Conference Center. The board packet is available online and the minutes will be published online after approval at the next month’s board meeting.

Kirsten Moore walks off the pounds on the walking desk in the Cedar Falls office.

Congratulations to Kirsten Moore, who has achieved great success in her fitness efforts. After signing up for a fitness course in 2015, Kirsten began to modify her diet and then began using both a standing desk and the walking desk in the office. Over time she has lost a total of 15 pounds!

Are you curious about how the use of a standing or walking desk can improve your health? Contact Karl Kurt, Assistant Chief Administrator/ Director of Human Resources for more information.

The Polar Bears may not have won the challenge, but team members Andy Smith, Laurie Huftalin, Shira Gebel, Sally Wolfe and Edie Penno, went out of their way to make fitness fun! The team participated in the Polar Plunge in the Cedar River to raise money for Floyd County Search and Rescue. Congratulations to the team on winning best costume and to team member Edie Penno who was named “oldest shiver”!

After 10 weeks of dedication to a healthier lifestyle by 14 teams, the results are in. Team rankings are below, along with the average score of participants in each team out of a possible 50 points.

Congratulations to everyone who participated in this fun challenge to promote wellness! The fist place team takes home $200.40; the second place team wins $100.20, and the third place team receives $33.40. 

Welcome Melissa Tandy, Regional Administrator for Region 8 beginning July 1, 2017

We would like to take this opportunity to announce a new leadership appointment to support the integrated services model in addition to some new Regional Administrator assignments. The AEA 267 Administrative Cabinet made a decision to identify a “Lead Regional Administrator” whose primary role will be to help ensure unified efforts across our regions, our disciplines, and to help support Amy Knupp in her new role as an Executive Director. The lead will also serve as a liaison to the Administrative Cabinet helping to ensure that goals and actions are implemented with fidelity in addition to monitoring results. Justin Stockdale has been tapped for this new role which will begin on July 1. Congratulations, Justin!

With Justin taking on additional responsibilities, the agency has asked Melissa Hesner to assume his role in Region 7 (Waterloo), reassigned Justin to Region 10, and hired a new Regional Administrator for Region 8.

The agency welcomes Melissa Tandy, currently a Facilitator of Special Education with Grant Wood AEA to the new Regional Administrator position for Region 8. Melissa holds Masters degrees in both Teaching (emphasis in Special Education/Multi-categorical Disabilities; Secondary Education) and Education (emphasis in Educational Leadership). In addition to her role as a Facilitator for Special Education, she has served as a Special Education Consultant, and secondary special education teacher. Welcome Melissa!

These reassignments will take place on July 1. Thank you in advance for your patience, open-mindedness and flexibility during the upcoming transition!

Staff will have a chance to sit down informally with Chief Administrator Sam Miller this month at each of the three sites for an update regarding the budget, leadership transitions, and facility renovations. The dates and locations are as follows and all meetings will begin at 3 pm. Attendance is voluntary. Please plan to attend if your schedule allows.

• Cedar Falls:  Monday, April 24th in the Conference Center, Rooms B & C
• Clear Lake:  Tuesday, April 25th in Room A
• Marshalltown:  Wednesday, April 26th in Rooms A, B, & C

For those who are unable to attend one of the meetings, a recorded version will be available. If you have questions or concerns, please leave those in the comment section of this post and Sam will address those at the meetings and in the recorded version.

A huge thank you to everyone who has worked together to bring the new Central Rivers AEA website to completion. The new website features more streamlined content, a news bureau of both agency and school district news, live chat, quick facts about the agency, and blogs. The site will be launched in May with the roll-out of Gmail (see related article below) and our new agency email addresses. A companion intranet (staff website) is also being completed to launch at the same time. We think you’ll love it!

We are looking for staff members who are willing to author blogs on the new site. Interested? Contact Beth Strike.