Our Mission

To improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth by providing services and leadership in partnership with families, schools and communities.

Our Goals

• Increase learning growth for students
• Decrease the gap in achievement
• Increase annual graduation rates
• Increase gateways to post-secondary success

Chief Administrator Paula Vincent to Retire June 30, 2017

Heartland AEA Chief Administrator Paula Vincent has notified the Heartland AEA Board of Directors of her intent to retire, effective June 30, 2017. Preliminary plans for succession to a new chief administrator have begun.

In a communication with employees, Vincent said, “It has been my privilege to spend the majority of my career working in Iowa schools and AEAs. My career has been enhanced through the talented and caring colleagues everywhere I have worked, especially here at Heartland AEA! Thank you for the opportunity to serve alongside you. For the next several months I will be focused on contributing in whatever ways I can to assure a smooth transition. I am confident the Board will establish a well-considered process for hiring a new administrator.”

Prepare Your District Budget During The ISFIS Budget Workshop

Each year, ISFIS partners with Piper Jaffray and Iowa's Area Education Agencies to provide face-to-face budget workshops for business managers and superintendents.
The ISFIS budget workshops at Heartland AEA are Jan. 23 and Feb. 15. Cost to attend is $250 per district. Register online.

These hands-on workshops are an opportunity for leaders from each district to prepare their individual budgets in just one highly productive day. This year there will be an additional hour at the end of each session for districts who would like to stay and complete their 5-Year Financial Projection.

Workshop participants will receive information about:

• Budget process, changes for the upcoming fiscal year, legislative update and other items of general budget interest.
• Unspent Authorized Budget portions reserved for categorical purposes and strategies to fully utilize categorical resources.
• Completed Certified Budget and strategies to set maximum certainty of property tax rate if SSA is not set by the publication deadline.
• Data and tools related to the budget process.
• Access to a district specific PowerPoint presentation based on the district’s certified budget file.
• District Specific 5-Year Financial Projection Plan including a Sample Working Line Item Budget Template.
• Unlimited phone and email support about the Certified Budget.
• Complimentary assistance if a district’s budget is appealed to the State Appeal Board.

For more information, contact Marissa Gaal at marissa@iowaschoolfinance.com or (515) 251-5970 ext. 4.