The Channel

The AEA 267 media center has a new video recording device available called the SWIVL that staff can use to record instructional content such as presentations or trainings.

The SWIVL is essentially a robotic mount that can hook up to a variety of tablets and smartphones. The kits available for checkout do not come with a tablet or smartphone so staff members must have access to one and be able to download the SWIVL App to their device. The app accesses the camera on your tablet or phone to record video content while the robotic platform holding your device “swivels” back and forth to track the movements of whichever individual is wearing the kit’s tracking “marker” around their neck.  From the app you can then easily upload your recorded clips to the internet.

Currently SWIVL kits are available for checkout only by AEA 267 staff intending to capture video for instructional uses.  The media center has six devices available.  Just contact any AEA 267 media center location to request and reserve a kit.  Also, please keep in mind that you may need to have individuals you’re recording fill out an AEA 267 media release form which is available on the staff website under Communication & Technology> “Digital Resources.”  If you have questions or need copies of the media release please contact Tiffany Schmitt. Also, please be mindful of copyright when considering your subject matter. This resource (also on the staff website) should be reviewed in advance.

Included in each kit is an instructional booklet to walk you through the process of setup and usage.  For further information and training on how to use the SWIVL, staff are encouraged to contact either Sarah Lalk or Cari Teske.

The Flex Room contains resources and technology that require special training in order to use them to their full capacity, beyond the basic projecting of one computer screen to all monitors.  This training will provide participants with the capability or projecting multiple devices at the same time, choosing multiple input and output selections and wireless presenting.  Participants can attend these half-day trainings for one, two, or three hours depending on their needs.  You can sign up for the Flex Room Training (Course # 15399)  through our professional learning system.

1. October 26 – 1:00 P.M.
2. December 13 – 1:00 P.M.
3. January 4 – 9:00 A.M.
4. April 25 – 1:00 P.M.
5. June 22 –  1:00 P.M.

If you have any questions about trainings, please contact Michelle Cowell.

The AEA 267 Board of Directors met Wednesday, October. 5, 2016 in the Cedar Falls Conference Center. The board agenda and packet is available online and the minutes will be published online after approval at the next month’s board meeting.

To support a timely staff replacement process and assist in budget planning, a retirement incentive will be provided for Certified and Administrative Staff who provide early notification of their intent to resign or retire at the end of the 2016-17 work year.

The proposed incentive would be administered as follows:

Commitments of separation by resignation or retirement at the end of the 2016-17 work year submitted by Certified or Administrative Staff, and received in the Human Resources Office between October 3, 2016, and December 2, 2016, and accepted by the Board no later than the regular meeting on December 7, 2016, will receive an early notification incentive payment of $1,500 to be payable June 30, 2017 subject to the employee fulfilling their individual employment contract obligations for the 2016-17 work year. This incentive is only being offered to Certified and Administrative staff due to the challenge in securing replacement licensed staff in these categories.

The topic of professional dress has recently been discussed at our Regional Administrators’ meeting in an effort to ensure that we present ourselves and AEA 267 in the most positive light.  Our dress code was last clarified back in 2012, but with the beginning of the year, we felt it was important to remind everyone of the expectations to ensure consistency.  

The “spirit” of our expectations around professional dress is to represent our agency in a professional light and underscore the important work that we do.  We hope to present ourselves as an organization that takes their work and roles seriously and dress in a way that is parallel to the responsibilities of our jobs.

Here are some general reminders:

Monday-Thursday: Business casual (khakis/polos, dress pants, tops, etc.) to business professional (skirts, pant suits, etc.) depending on who your audience is for the day. If you are giving a presentation, you would probably choose business professional.  If you are simply working  in the office, then business casual is probably just fine (as well as a minimum expectation).

Friday: Jeans are welcome (with a business professional top).  However, again, please remember who your audience is for the day and dress appropriately given your audience.

Example of business casual

Example of “Friday casual”

Example of business professional

Some general rules of thumb:

• Please, no t-shirts.   
• No Flip-Flops. (Flip Flops are not the same as open-toed shoes.)

If you have compelling reasons for requesting variance to the expected attire, please speak with your supervisor. Our hope is that we don’t have to spend a lot of time or energy on dress code issues as we all have much more impactful priorities that desire our attention!  Thanks for your cooperation. Questions? Contact your supervisor.

Safety and accountability are important values for all AEA 267 employees. To ensure that all our staff are safe and accountable, beginning with the 2016-17 school year, we are asking all staff to check into and out of the facilities they support. While most school buildings have a sign-in area, AEA 267 administration has asked that all do by the start of the new school year. Not only is this an important accountability step, it will also ensure that your whereabouts are always known in the event of an emergency.

In addition to signing in at buildings, starting July 1, all staff are asked to ensure that their online calendars are kept current and detailed as follows:

(Deviations from these expectations can be made at the discretion of the supervisor.)

(Category 1) “Full” Calendar: Calendars will indicate on a daily basis using the “busy” designation where the staff member is physically located at the approximate times. In addition, other meetings may be listed on the calendar that the staff member may want to be conscious of or attend if time allows and are indicated using the “free” or “tentative” designation. All leave types should also be noted (i.e. sick, personal, EQ, etc.) using the “out of office” designation.

Staff who fall into this category: Administrative Team, direct service providers such as ECSE, Early Access, itinerant hearing, itinerant visually impaired, orientation & mobility , OT/PT, work experience/transition specialists and coordinators, audiologists, audiometrists, COTAs, SLPAs, Family Educator Connection staff, technology consultants, consulting staff, teacher librarians, and technology staff who serve multiple locations or districts.

(Category 2) “Repeat” calendar: Calendar shows the physical location where the staff member is located each day as well as the actual times they are in each location. Use the “busy” designation.  (If you deviate from your assignment, that deviation should be noted on your calendar.) All leave types should also be noted (i.e. sick, personal, EQ, etc.). Use the “out of office” designation.

Staff who fall into this category: Staff members who have a consistent schedule at multiple locations (e.g. Special Ed Team Reps, consultants, social workers, psychologists, SLPs,  and support staff assigned to River Hills.)

(Category 3) “Minimal” calendar: Calendar indicates when the staff member is out of the office for a meeting, vacation or other leave. Use the “out of office” designation.

Staff who fall into this category: Staff members who have a consistent schedule at one location including secretaries, HR & Business Office staff, custodians, print room staff, lending library staff and shelter/detention staff. All leave types should also be noted (i.e. sick, personal, EQ, etc.).

(Category 4) No online calendar completed

Staff who fall into this category: Van drivers.

Questions? Contact your supervisor.

Melissa Ford, AEA 267 School Social Worker was selected by the Iowa School Social Workers Association (ISSWA) as the 2016 Iowa School Social Worker of the Year.  Melissa will be honored at the annual ISSWA Conference in Des Moines on November 11. She will also be recognized at the Midwest School Social Work Conference in Chicago on October 27.

Melissa has been with AEA 267 since 2008 and serves in the Grinnell Community School District. Nominated by several staff members at Grinnell High School, her nomination letters highlighted Melissa’s work there and in the community with the Poweshiek County Dental Coalition.

Heidi Durbin, Dean of Students summed up the reasons why she recommended Melissa for this prestigious award: “In addition to all the day-to-day responsibilities Melissa performs, it is her willingness to jump in and make things happen and her wealth of knowledge about school and community resources that is unparalleled and makes her most deserving of this award.”

Please join us in congratulating Melissa on this well-deserved honor!

To support the new integrated services model, the agency is pleased to offer an electronic Professional Learning/Travel System to support staff with expenses such as conference registrations and travel arrangements (hotel/flight/rental car). The new system merges the internal PD request system, the external PD request form, EQ requests, and travel requests into one line of communication with notifications delivered via AEA 267 email. Transportation arrangements for staff will be handled by Keri Hudson (NW/S sectors) and Barb Schroeder (NE/E sectors). For your convenience, the system will be linked to the Professional Learning website. Staff will be asked to specify the type of request they are seeking. Options include:

Approval Only

o   I am requesting approval to attend an event and there are no material fees or travel arrangements needed. Any fees incurred are mileage only and reimbursement will be made by the staff member.

PO Number Needed

o   I am requesting approval to take an internal Professional Learning opportunity and need an internal purchase order number to register for a course with material fees. This is for No Credit. If approved, you will receive a purchase order number and will register for the AEA 267 PD offering using that purchase order number.) Travel arrangements will be forwarded to an administrative secretary.

Reimbursement Needed

o   I am requesting approval to take an internal course and plan to request reimbursement for material fees. This is for fee-based credits – graduate, licensure renewal, substitute authorization, Para educator, and classes with Audit Fees. If approved, you will then register using your credit card. Travel arrangements will be forwarded to an administrative secretary. Your credit card will be charged for the credit and the materials. You may request reimbursement for materials through the same process by uploading your invoice onto the system after registration.

Travel/Conference Registrations

o   I am requesting approval to attend an event and need travel and/or conference registration arrangements to attend. Travel may involve hotel, airfare, and rental car needs. If approved, the request will route to an administrative secretary for processing. Any mileage/parking/meal fees incurred will be submitted for reimbursement by the employee

Thank you to everyone who responded to the evaluation of our Opening Day meeting on August 11. Feedback on the day was overwhelmingly positive despite our spontaneous schedule and presenter changes. Thanks for rolling with the punches! In addition to your appreciation for the day, it was also clear that you prefer to keep the meeting centrally located in Cedar Falls in the future. For that reason, we are currently looking for a site for next year’s meeting somewhere in the Cedar Valley. Also, you suggested that we move the meeting back a week to better accommodate the transition back to contract time for those staff who are off contract for the majority of the summer. Thus, we are considering August 14, 2017 as our date for next year.

Stay tuned for more details which will be shared via Intersections.

The agency is making available walking workstations in each of our office locations to help encourage more movement throughout the day. These workstations are being delivered and set-up, however, we are still in the process of putting a system into place for their use.

Look for details to be sent within the next week. Please do not use the workstations until further guidance has been provided.