Friday, December 20, 2013
Curriculum Network: January 3 Meeting
The next Curriculum Network meeting will be held on Friday, January 3 in Rooms 13 A & B of the Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive) and will begin at 8:30 a.m. The agenda and handouts will be posted on the Curriculum Network Google Site.
Save the Date: January 7 HAA Meeting
The next HAA meeting will be held from 9:00-11:50 a.m. on Tuesday, January 7 in Rooms 13 A & B of the Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive).
Does your District Want Feedback on its TLC Grant Application?
Is your district submitting a Teacher Leadership and Compensation (TLC) grant application at the end of January? Do you want feedback from knowledgeable AEA staff and districts who are applying? Do you want feedback from a process that is consistent with the process the TLC Commission plans to use? If so, Heartland AEA has an opportunity for your district to get valuable feedback on your grant.
Heartland AEA will hold a feedback process session for districts on January 13 from 12:00-4:00 p.m. The TLC grant planning session on that day will only run from 9:00-11:30 a.m. Interested districts can reserve a spot by contacting Kevin Fangman at kfangman@heartlandaea.org by Monday, January 6. Participating districts will need to submit a draft of their grant to Kevin by Thursday, January 9, and commit to sending one or two people to review sections of grants for other districts. There will be one or two simple directions regarding how grant application drafts will need to be submitted so the process can be organized efficiently. This will be sent out to participating districts on Tuesday, January 7.
The process will be modeled after the structure that the Teacher Leadership and Compensation System plans to use to score grants. District and AEA reviewers will be assigned to read one or two sections of the grant, along with the abstract, and then fill out a structured feedback form. All 10 sections of a district's application will be reviewed, and all feedback will be sent home with districts at the end of the day.
If you are interested in participating, you will need to contact Kevin Fangman know by Monday, January 6. Kevin can be reached at kfangman@heartlandaea.org.
Heartland AEA will hold a feedback process session for districts on January 13 from 12:00-4:00 p.m. The TLC grant planning session on that day will only run from 9:00-11:30 a.m. Interested districts can reserve a spot by contacting Kevin Fangman at kfangman@heartlandaea.org by Monday, January 6. Participating districts will need to submit a draft of their grant to Kevin by Thursday, January 9, and commit to sending one or two people to review sections of grants for other districts. There will be one or two simple directions regarding how grant application drafts will need to be submitted so the process can be organized efficiently. This will be sent out to participating districts on Tuesday, January 7.
The process will be modeled after the structure that the Teacher Leadership and Compensation System plans to use to score grants. District and AEA reviewers will be assigned to read one or two sections of the grant, along with the abstract, and then fill out a structured feedback form. All 10 sections of a district's application will be reviewed, and all feedback will be sent home with districts at the end of the day.
If you are interested in participating, you will need to contact Kevin Fangman know by Monday, January 6. Kevin can be reached at kfangman@heartlandaea.org.
Learning Management System Day, Jan. 17
Heartland AEA will be hosting a Learning Management System (LMS) "Shootout" on January 17 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Johnston REC. The day is primarily targeted at curriculum directors, technology directors, tech integration specialists and K-12 administrators.
Vendors will give a 50-minute presentation that provides an overview of their LMS product. Most vendors will present 4-5 times on this day. A full presentation schedule will be distributed in early January, once all invited vendors have indicated if they plan to participate. Districts should be able to easily see 4-5 presentations on this day if they are interested in that many different options. There will a lunch break, and there are multiple restaurants within easy driving distance.
Confirmed vendors/presenters include: Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, Infinite Campus. Other sessions include Can Google be used as a Learning Management System?
Registration is free and available through Heartland AEA PD catalog. Click here to register.
LMS vs. SIS
A Student Information System (SIS) is primarily a student record-keeping system, recording information such as attendance, grades, behavior, contact information, etc. A Learning Management System (LMS) focuses primarily on delivering/facilitating instruction, and it includes features such as document storage, discussion boards and online quizzes. The information contained in an LMS and an SIS overlaps to some degree (such as student names and ID numbers), and some SISs (such as Infinite Campus) are adding in features that normally appear only in an LMS.
A great resource to look at prior to and after the LMS Day is the Heartland AEA tech consultant team’s online comparison of Learning Management Systems, which is available at:
https://docs.google.com/a/heartlandaea.org/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AodmIe5QMX6MdDRTdlZIMG5tZTNDM1F1WWMyRXhjWWc&usp=sharing#gid=0
We look forward to seeing many teams from districts and schools on the January 17. Please contact Lance Wilhelm at lwilhelm@heartlandaea.org if you have any questions at this time.
Vendors will give a 50-minute presentation that provides an overview of their LMS product. Most vendors will present 4-5 times on this day. A full presentation schedule will be distributed in early January, once all invited vendors have indicated if they plan to participate. Districts should be able to easily see 4-5 presentations on this day if they are interested in that many different options. There will a lunch break, and there are multiple restaurants within easy driving distance.
Confirmed vendors/presenters include: Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, Infinite Campus. Other sessions include Can Google be used as a Learning Management System?
Registration is free and available through Heartland AEA PD catalog. Click here to register.
LMS vs. SIS
A Student Information System (SIS) is primarily a student record-keeping system, recording information such as attendance, grades, behavior, contact information, etc. A Learning Management System (LMS) focuses primarily on delivering/facilitating instruction, and it includes features such as document storage, discussion boards and online quizzes. The information contained in an LMS and an SIS overlaps to some degree (such as student names and ID numbers), and some SISs (such as Infinite Campus) are adding in features that normally appear only in an LMS.
A great resource to look at prior to and after the LMS Day is the Heartland AEA tech consultant team’s online comparison of Learning Management Systems, which is available at:
https://docs.google.com/a/heartlandaea.org/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AodmIe5QMX6MdDRTdlZIMG5tZTNDM1F1WWMyRXhjWWc&usp=sharing#gid=0
We look forward to seeing many teams from districts and schools on the January 17. Please contact Lance Wilhelm at lwilhelm@heartlandaea.org if you have any questions at this time.
Drug Impairment Training for Educators, Jan. 20 & 27
Due to popular demand, we are again offering our "Drug Impairment Training for Education Professionals" course. This course is intended to make educators competent and confident in evaluating and documenting those individuals suspected of abusing drugs in the school setting with the eventual goal of making the school a safer and better learning environment. The class will be held January 20 and 27, 2014 and will be taught by Craig Porter, retired police officer. Click here to register.
Important Dates and Information about I-ELDA Testing
Click here for more information on administrative guidelines and timelines for this year’s I-ELDA Testing.
Capitol Girls Opportunity for 9-12 Grade Girls
Capitol Girls is a great opportunity put on through the Iowa Dept. of Human Rights and the Girl Scouts of America. This event is for girls in grades 9-12 to take an in-depth look at our state government by shadowing lawmakers. Please distribute the flyer to interested students.
The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.
The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.
Phyllis Yager Memorial Diversity Teaching Award
Phyllis Yager received a Master of Arts in 1953 and a doctorate in 1983 from the UI. She is the late wife of Science Education Professor Emeritus Robert E. Yager, who also received a Master of Arts in 1953 and a doctorate in 1957 from Iowa. Phyllis Yager devoted her career to advocating multicultural opportunities and gender-affirming activities through her work as a teacher in the Iowa City School District and later as a consultant to the Grant Wood Area Education Agency.
Named in honor of Phyllis Yager, the Phyllis A. Yager Memorial Commitment to Diversity Award recognizes educators who go above and beyond the required curriculum to increase diversity awareness. Recipients receive a stipend to further diversity initiatives or professional development, and are asked to make a presentation to the College of Education community during the College of Education Diversity Committee’s annual Beyond Tolerance Diversity Conference on April 17, 2014.
If you are interested in applying for the grant, applications and further description of award amounts can be found through the College of Education Diversity Committee website:
http://www.education.uiowa.edu/committees/diversity-committee
The deadline for the applications is March 14, 2014 and can be mailed to College of Education Diversity Committee, Office of the Dean, 459 Lindquist Center, Iowa City, Iowa 52242.
Any further questions can be addressed to Marcus Alt, the College of Education Diversity Committee Graduate Assistant at marcus-alt@uiowa.edu.
The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.
Named in honor of Phyllis Yager, the Phyllis A. Yager Memorial Commitment to Diversity Award recognizes educators who go above and beyond the required curriculum to increase diversity awareness. Recipients receive a stipend to further diversity initiatives or professional development, and are asked to make a presentation to the College of Education community during the College of Education Diversity Committee’s annual Beyond Tolerance Diversity Conference on April 17, 2014.
If you are interested in applying for the grant, applications and further description of award amounts can be found through the College of Education Diversity Committee website:
http://www.education.uiowa.edu/committees/diversity-committee
The deadline for the applications is March 14, 2014 and can be mailed to College of Education Diversity Committee, Office of the Dean, 459 Lindquist Center, Iowa City, Iowa 52242.
Any further questions can be addressed to Marcus Alt, the College of Education Diversity Committee Graduate Assistant at marcus-alt@uiowa.edu.
The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.
Friday, December 13, 2013
Happy Holidays!
Click here for an e-card (with sound) from chief administrator Paula Vincent wishing you all a happy holiday season.
ISFIS School Budget Workshop to be Held Jan. 29
The AEAs have once again partnered with Iowa School Finance Information Services (ISFIS) to provide school budget workshops for public school district administrators. The Heartland AEA workshop will be held on January 29, 2014. Click here for more information and to register.
Like in past years, the workshop day will be split into two sessions:
Morning Session: New Budget Managers
The morning session will run from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and are reserved for newer superintendents and business managers that haven't been through the budget process or need a little extra guidance. You are not required to have anything completed prior to attending.
Afternoon Session: Veteran Managers
The afternoon session will run from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and are reserved for superintendents and business managers that have been through the budget process several times. Participants must complete the following worksheets BEFORE the session:
Like in past years, the workshop day will be split into two sessions:
Morning Session: New Budget Managers
The morning session will run from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and are reserved for newer superintendents and business managers that haven't been through the budget process or need a little extra guidance. You are not required to have anything completed prior to attending.
Afternoon Session: Veteran Managers
The afternoon session will run from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and are reserved for superintendents and business managers that have been through the budget process several times. Participants must complete the following worksheets BEFORE the session:
- FY13 Worksheet 1 and Worksheet 2
- FY14 Re-estimated Worksheet 1 and Worksheet 2
Iowa Educators Consortium (IEC) Winter 2013 Statewide Paper Buy
Paper copies were sent to schools via AEA van mail during early December.
Order forms are posted online for immediate download. Order Deadline is January 10, 2014. Complete ordering information is available at: http://www.iec-ia.org/pages/IEC/Office_Classroom/Paper/Winter_Buy
Bid Features Include:
Order forms are posted online for immediate download. Order Deadline is January 10, 2014. Complete ordering information is available at: http://www.iec-ia.org/pages/IEC/Office_Classroom/Paper/Winter_Buy
Bid Features Include:
- Wide variety of paper weights, colors and sizes
- Additional discounts for orders of 440 cartons or greater
- Letter and catalog envelopes
Holiday Office and Van Schedule
All Heartland AEA offices be closed December 24, 25 and 31 and January 1 of the holiday season. Please take note of the following schedule as you plan to send and receive items through our van mail.
- December 20-January 3 No Van Delivery
- January 6, 2014 Regular Van Delivery Resumes
Additional Early Literacy Guidance/CBE Final Report
Message from Iowa Department of Education
Dear Administrator:
I am writing to notify you of two items regarding recently enacted Iowa Code Section 279.68 on Early Literacy Progression. Both items require action on your part. First, in order to obtain your district’s share of the $8 million appropriated by the legislature for implementation of the Early Literacy Progression law, you need to submit a brief application at www.iowagrants.gov. This process is similar to the process used to distribute the Teacher Leadership and Compensation planning grant funds earlier in the school year. The grant opportunity is currently open, and I urge you to submit your information as soon as possible. Instructions for accessing the grant application are attached in the link below.
Second, due to the scope of the law, the Iowa Department of Education will be offering a series of technical assistance opportunities throughout the next year to support districts with implementation. The first installment will occur in the next two weeks. The Department will sponsor one face-to-face meeting and two webinars during which representatives from the Department will review new guidance on Iowa Code §279.68 and the rules recently noticed by the State Board of Education in IAC 281—62. Two guidance documents, both attached in the link below, include information on the new requirements for Iowa’s school districts and tips on how districts may wish to use the funds allocated for the purpose of fulfilling the requirements. There will be ample opportunity for questions. Dates and times offered are below.
December 18
Webinar: http://iowa.adobeconnect.com/r6o0lfof3zc/
2:00-4:00 p.m.
December 19
Webinar: http://iowa.adobeconnect.com/r6o0lfof3zc/
7:30-9:30 a.m.
December 20
Grimes Building, 400 E 14th St., Des Moines (Room - Basement 100)
2:00-4:00 p.m.
Please forward this information to others in your district who may need to know.
I look forward to working with each of you as we continue to improve literacy results for all of our children. I hope this note finds you well and that you and your family enjoy a wonderful holiday season.
Cordially,
Dave Tilly
If you have never attended an Adobe Connect meeting before:
Test your connection: http://iowa.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm
Get a quick overview: http://www.adobe.com/products/adobeconnect.html
Link to attachments: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0ByfBML663TIENExxNHdOOERwSEk&usp=sharing
Dear Administrator:
I am writing to notify you of two items regarding recently enacted Iowa Code Section 279.68 on Early Literacy Progression. Both items require action on your part. First, in order to obtain your district’s share of the $8 million appropriated by the legislature for implementation of the Early Literacy Progression law, you need to submit a brief application at www.iowagrants.gov. This process is similar to the process used to distribute the Teacher Leadership and Compensation planning grant funds earlier in the school year. The grant opportunity is currently open, and I urge you to submit your information as soon as possible. Instructions for accessing the grant application are attached in the link below.
Second, due to the scope of the law, the Iowa Department of Education will be offering a series of technical assistance opportunities throughout the next year to support districts with implementation. The first installment will occur in the next two weeks. The Department will sponsor one face-to-face meeting and two webinars during which representatives from the Department will review new guidance on Iowa Code §279.68 and the rules recently noticed by the State Board of Education in IAC 281—62. Two guidance documents, both attached in the link below, include information on the new requirements for Iowa’s school districts and tips on how districts may wish to use the funds allocated for the purpose of fulfilling the requirements. There will be ample opportunity for questions. Dates and times offered are below.
December 18
Webinar: http://iowa.adobeconnect.com/r6o0lfof3zc/
2:00-4:00 p.m.
December 19
Webinar: http://iowa.adobeconnect.com/r6o0lfof3zc/
7:30-9:30 a.m.
December 20
Grimes Building, 400 E 14th St., Des Moines (Room - Basement 100)
2:00-4:00 p.m.
Please forward this information to others in your district who may need to know.
I look forward to working with each of you as we continue to improve literacy results for all of our children. I hope this note finds you well and that you and your family enjoy a wonderful holiday season.
Cordially,
Dave Tilly
If you have never attended an Adobe Connect meeting before:
Test your connection: http://iowa.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm
Get a quick overview: http://www.adobe.com/products/adobeconnect.html
Link to attachments: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0ByfBML663TIENExxNHdOOERwSEk&usp=sharing
Iowa students encouraged to apply for State Board of Education position by Jan. 31
The State Board of Education is seeking applications for its student member position. The application deadline is Jan. 31.
Each year, the Governor appoints a student to serve as a non-voting member of the State Board of Education.
The next one-year term runs from May 1, 2014, through April 30, 2015. The State Board of Education meets at least seven times during that term, with most meetings taking place in Des Moines.
Applicants must be full-time 10th or 11th grade students enrolled in a public high school. Eligible students also must have:
- A grade-point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or 3.75 on a 5.0 scale.
- Attended their present high school for at least the past two consecutive semesters (or equivalent thereof).
- Demonstrated participation in extra-curricular and community activities, as well as an interest in serving on the State Board of Education.
- Student applications must be approved by their school districts. The number of applicants from any one school district is limited as follows:
Each year, the Governor appoints a student to serve as a non-voting member of the State Board of Education.
The next one-year term runs from May 1, 2014, through April 30, 2015. The State Board of Education meets at least seven times during that term, with most meetings taking place in Des Moines.
Applicants must be full-time 10th or 11th grade students enrolled in a public high school. Eligible students also must have:
- A grade-point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or 3.75 on a 5.0 scale.
- Attended their present high school for at least the past two consecutive semesters (or equivalent thereof).
- Demonstrated participation in extra-curricular and community activities, as well as an interest in serving on the State Board of Education.
- Student applications must be approved by their school districts. The number of applicants from any one school district is limited as follows:
- If district enrollment for grades 10 through 12 is fewer than 400 students, there may be no more than one applicant from the district.
- f district enrollment for grades 10 through 12 is from 400 to 1,199 students, there may be no more than two applicants from the district.
- If district enrollment for grades 10 through 12 is 1,200 students or more, there may be no more than three applicants from the district.
Friday, December 6, 2013
Happy Holidays!
Click here for an e-card (with sound) from chief administrator Paula Vincent wishing you all a happy holiday season.
Changes Made to Agency Website—New Special Ed Tab Created, About Us Content Shifted
Based on feedback we’ve received, a new Special Education tab has been added to the main navigation bar on our agency website. Check it out at www.heartlandaea.org!
The name of the tab is “Special Education Services” and in the drop-down menu under it are four main categories:
With the creation of the new tab, we have shifted the “About Us” information down on the page. Click on the “About Heartland AEA” link for information about agency leadership, board of directors, office locations and schools we serve.
We hope you find this change helpful. Please contact the Communications Department at comms@heartlandaea.org if you have any questions.
The name of the tab is “Special Education Services” and in the drop-down menu under it are four main categories:
- Getting Started With Special Education
- Guidance Documents
- Program Supports to Schools
- Student & Family Services
With the creation of the new tab, we have shifted the “About Us” information down on the page. Click on the “About Heartland AEA” link for information about agency leadership, board of directors, office locations and schools we serve.
We hope you find this change helpful. Please contact the Communications Department at comms@heartlandaea.org if you have any questions.
Substitute Authorization Updates
Effective November 10, 2013, individuals with a Substitute Authorization may sub no more than 10 days in one month in one classroom. This is in addition to the rule of no more than five consecutive days in one classroom.
Busteed to Focus on Gallup Research and “Economics of Human Development, Feb. 4
After decades of focus on standardized testing and school accountability, American schools still trail much of the world on international measures of student performance. Amidst a time of globalization, disruptive technology and new demands in the workforce, are we educating our students in the right way?
Learn what Gallup research has to say about the “economics of human development,” and what should become a New Bill of Rights for All Students. Brandon Busteed, Executive Director of Gallup Education, will take you through a whirlwind of the most important research informing how we can get our education system back on the path to winning again. Gallup’s insights will change everything you think you know about education.
February 4, 2014
Time: 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA Johnston REC, Rooms 13A & B
Audience: Superintendents, principals, district administrators and curriculum directors. It will be a great opportunity for superintendents or principals to bring in school teams.
Activity Number: AD015292111401
Additionally, Mr. Busteed will hold a presentation for superintendents during the Heartland Administrators’ Association Meeting that morning.
Learn more about Mr. Busteed here.
Learn what Gallup research has to say about the “economics of human development,” and what should become a New Bill of Rights for All Students. Brandon Busteed, Executive Director of Gallup Education, will take you through a whirlwind of the most important research informing how we can get our education system back on the path to winning again. Gallup’s insights will change everything you think you know about education.
February 4, 2014
Time: 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA Johnston REC, Rooms 13A & B
Audience: Superintendents, principals, district administrators and curriculum directors. It will be a great opportunity for superintendents or principals to bring in school teams.
Activity Number: AD015292111401
Additionally, Mr. Busteed will hold a presentation for superintendents during the Heartland Administrators’ Association Meeting that morning.
Learn more about Mr. Busteed here.
English Language Learner Task Force Report Now Available
The ELL Task Force Report has been finalized and vetted through the Iowa Department of Education. The final report is published on the Department of Education website and is available here.
Heartland AEA Provided Internet Connectivity and Security
Heartland AEA area schools are relying more and more each year on Internet connectivity to provide a 21st Century education to their students, and their need for bandwidth is growing exponentially. An important service provided by Heartland AEA is Internet access, which is offered free to all of our districts. While some districts choose to use other providers, Heartland AEA and the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) work together to provide Internet access to 42 of our school districts and several of our private schools.
By aggregating through Heartland AEA, participating schools save close to $1 million in connectivity costs. We place a high priority on reliable service and quick response time when contacted about problems. We know our districts rely on their Internet working efficiently 24/7/365.
Commitment to high quality service
Recent months have been particularly challenging. While the Agency’s network is “up” over 99% of the time, the networks in some of our districts have been the subject of attacks from hackers from various parts of the world, including China and Eastern Europe. These have generally been what are called “denial of service attacks.” For example, imagine you run a telemarketing firm, and one of your competitors programs their computers to call all of your phone lines every 3 seconds. That’s essentially what a denial of service attack does to an Internet connection. The network is working, but because of all of the extra traffic from hackers, it slows down considerably, sometimes to the point where it is essentially unusable. Attacks of this nature can slow down the network not just in the targeted district, but other districts as well.
In the past couple of years, service has also been interrupted or significantly slowed down due to Heartland AEA router issues, Internet filter issues and fiber optic lines being accidentally severed. Other AEAs and Internet service providers have also been the targets of denial of service attacks and similar problems, causing similar frustrations in their parts of the state.
In order to increase the reliability and security of our network, Heartland AEA is taking several steps, and considering the implementation of other safeguards. These include:
• Purchasing a new router and higher-capacity Internet content filter.
• Increasing bandwidth from the ICN from the current 3.0 Gb to 4.0 Gb after the first of the year.
• Hiring an outside firm to conduct a network penetration test - such a test identifies security holes in a network and leads to recommendations to strengthen it against outside attacks or hackers.
• Purchasing and implementing more robust network monitoring software than the Agency currently uses.
• Providing training in network security and troubleshooting for IT staff members at the AEA and district levels.
• Testing network circuits in each district/school to which the Agency provides Internet aggregation. Gathering these baseline data while the network is working well with help identify problems when troubleshooting is necessary.
We are confident these steps will help to improve our network performance, and we look forward to working together to strengthen our network security. If you would like additional information, please contact Lance Wilhelm, Director of Technology, at lwilhelm@heartlandaea.org or Tuan Dao, Network Administrator, tdao@heartlandaea.org.
By aggregating through Heartland AEA, participating schools save close to $1 million in connectivity costs. We place a high priority on reliable service and quick response time when contacted about problems. We know our districts rely on their Internet working efficiently 24/7/365.
Commitment to high quality service
Recent months have been particularly challenging. While the Agency’s network is “up” over 99% of the time, the networks in some of our districts have been the subject of attacks from hackers from various parts of the world, including China and Eastern Europe. These have generally been what are called “denial of service attacks.” For example, imagine you run a telemarketing firm, and one of your competitors programs their computers to call all of your phone lines every 3 seconds. That’s essentially what a denial of service attack does to an Internet connection. The network is working, but because of all of the extra traffic from hackers, it slows down considerably, sometimes to the point where it is essentially unusable. Attacks of this nature can slow down the network not just in the targeted district, but other districts as well.
In the past couple of years, service has also been interrupted or significantly slowed down due to Heartland AEA router issues, Internet filter issues and fiber optic lines being accidentally severed. Other AEAs and Internet service providers have also been the targets of denial of service attacks and similar problems, causing similar frustrations in their parts of the state.
In order to increase the reliability and security of our network, Heartland AEA is taking several steps, and considering the implementation of other safeguards. These include:
• Purchasing a new router and higher-capacity Internet content filter.
• Increasing bandwidth from the ICN from the current 3.0 Gb to 4.0 Gb after the first of the year.
• Hiring an outside firm to conduct a network penetration test - such a test identifies security holes in a network and leads to recommendations to strengthen it against outside attacks or hackers.
• Purchasing and implementing more robust network monitoring software than the Agency currently uses.
• Providing training in network security and troubleshooting for IT staff members at the AEA and district levels.
• Testing network circuits in each district/school to which the Agency provides Internet aggregation. Gathering these baseline data while the network is working well with help identify problems when troubleshooting is necessary.
We are confident these steps will help to improve our network performance, and we look forward to working together to strengthen our network security. If you would like additional information, please contact Lance Wilhelm, Director of Technology, at lwilhelm@heartlandaea.org or Tuan Dao, Network Administrator, tdao@heartlandaea.org.
Training Sessions on E-rate Form 471 Announced
The deadline for filing E-rate form 471 applications for the 2014-2015 school/funding year has been announced. E-rate form 471 may be filed online starting at 11:00 a.m. CST on Thursday, January 9, 2014. The deadline for completing Form 471 is 10:59 p.m. CST on Wednesday, March 26, 2014.
Because form 470 MUST be filed no less than 28 days before filing form 471, this means that E-rate form 470 must be filed no later than February 26, 2014. However, you are strongly urged to file form 470 now! You don't need to wait until January or February to file for 470. If you missed the training webinar on filing form 470, contact Lance Wilhelm at lwilhelm@heartlandaea.org.
The Form 471 is being revised and all applicants are encouraged to participate in training. Training sessions for Form 471 are as follows:
Completing Form 471: (select one)
Wednesday, January 15, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Thursday, January 16, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Tuesday, January 28, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Wednesday, February 5, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
To participate in any of the above sessions, go to http://iowa.adobeconnect.com/e-rate/ and select “enter as a guest.” There is no need to sign up in advance for any session.
Because form 470 MUST be filed no less than 28 days before filing form 471, this means that E-rate form 470 must be filed no later than February 26, 2014. However, you are strongly urged to file form 470 now! You don't need to wait until January or February to file for 470. If you missed the training webinar on filing form 470, contact Lance Wilhelm at lwilhelm@heartlandaea.org.
The Form 471 is being revised and all applicants are encouraged to participate in training. Training sessions for Form 471 are as follows:
Completing Form 471: (select one)
Wednesday, January 15, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Thursday, January 16, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Tuesday, January 28, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Wednesday, February 5, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
To participate in any of the above sessions, go to http://iowa.adobeconnect.com/e-rate/ and select “enter as a guest.” There is no need to sign up in advance for any session.
Heartland AEA Website Goes Mobile
The mobile site is not a full recreation of our main website—it features those items that we know our clients use most often:
- Professional Development Catalog
- Reserve Materials
- Online Resources
- News
- Calendar (coming soon!)
- Careers
- Staff Directory
- Locations
- Contact Us
- Heartland AEA didn’t need to go through Apple or Android to have an app approved, and we don’t need to go through them to have it updated, so we have control over and easy publishing rights to the content on the site.
- Mobile sites are easier to find than apps that have to be searched for on the App Store or Android Market.
- A mobile site doesn’t have to be downloaded to your device as an app would, so it does not take up valuable data on your phone or tablet. Updates don’t have to be downloaded, either.
- Mobile websites are always available for users to return to them.
- Mobile websites are accessible across platforms and can be easily shared among users and search engines.
Agency Exploring Purchase of Full-Color, Short-Run Digital Envelope Printer
Heartland AEA is exploring the purchase of a digital envelope printer to enhance the products that Creative Services can provide. New features of this printer would include:
- Full-color printing on envelopes that will be an exact match to your letterhead
- Personalized addressing of envelopes
- No minimum order quantity
- Various envelope sizes and styles
Heartland AEA Creative Services Shaves Up a Good Incentive
Our creative services staff were able to help out Pleasantville Elementary with a reading incentive for students. Read more about the incentive below and don't hesitate to contact creativeservices@heartlandaea.org for things we can create to help motivate your students! Special thanks to Pleasantville Elementary for sharing your fun photos.
From the principal:
From the principal:
"Students earned a mustache each week they read a certain amount of minutes each week. The number of minutes read was recorded on a calendar. While we encouraged students to read at home daily, students had all week to meet the assigned number of minutes.
The goal was for each grade level classroom to earn a minimum of 60 mustaches by the end of the month. As a reward for meeting the goal of 60 mustaches, their teacher wore a mustache all day."
December 2013 School Leader Update
Click here to find a link to the December 2013 issue of the School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education.
SchoolReach Webinar on Teen Depression
Click here to register for a webinar with Dr. Scott Poland on teen depression taking place on Thursday, December 12. Dr. Poland, a former president of the National Association of School Psychologists and a school crisis prevention expert, will speak on the causes of teen depression and what school leaders can do to help teens who are struggling.
The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.
The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)