Get the Word Out about School Weather Closings!

As winter approaches, we’re all reminded that inclement weather is around the corner. Check out the notification systems available through the Iowa Educators Consortium at http://www.iec-ia.org/vnews/display.v/SEC/School%20Administration.

IEC purchases allow schools to take advantage of aggressive pricing based on the purchasing volume of many Iowa schools. Always remember to check in on the IEC website at http://www.iec-ia.org/ to take advantage of the newest available cost-saving services!

Check Heartland’s Facebook/Twitter, Website and Hotline for Weather Closings & Cancellations

Can you tell we have winter weather on the brain?! Heartland AEA has changed the way we communicate closings and cancellations to make sure the information is communicated correctly, consistently and in a timely manner. We will no longer broadcast closings via TV and radio stations, but through the following ways:

Website
We will post closing/cancellation information on the front page of the Agency’s website (www.aea11.k12.ia.us) at the top of the Latest News section.

Cancellation Hotline
We will record closing information on a “cancellation hotline” at (515) 270-0405 or (800) 255-0405 ext. 14041. When you call in, you will hear a recorded message that says the date and offices/classes that have been closed/canceled. If there are no closings/cancellations, the message will reflect that.

Social Media
We will post closing/cancellation information on the Agency’s Facebook and Twitter accounts at www.facebook.com/heartlandaea and twitter.com/HeartlandAEA, respectively.

I-ELDA Training for ESL Educators and Administrators

Districts are encouraged to send representatives to an I-ELDA training in December. The target groups for this training will include those who have not given the test before and those who need a refresher in the administration of this test. The primary focus of this training will be on building reliability on the speaking and writing tests.

Date/Time: December 2, 2011 from 12:00-4:00 p.m.
Location: 1917 Dean Ave., Des Moines, IA 50316
Training Lead by: Lynn Tiemann and Amy White

For More Information, contact John Scott, Iowa Department of Education, at john.scott@iowa.gov or (515) 281-3805.

Register here.