In 1995, the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency (AEA) led its partner districts and schools to form a wide area network (WAN) in order to consolidate services, facilitate communication between districts, and benefit from economies of scale. Today, data lines for the districts and schools aggregate at the AEA, which provides a connection to the Internet and firewall, DNS, filtering, traffic shaping, monitoring and data archiving services. The Mississippi Bend AEA provides services to districts and schools in Cedar, Clinton, Jackson, Louisa, Muscatine and Scott Counties; a client-base of approximately 50,000 students and 4,000 faculty and staff.

The WAN has become an integral part of education throughout the districts served by the AEA. Students and staff rely upon this valuable resource daily and therefore need a stable environment in which to learn, teach and communicate. Along with the increased demand for bandwidth has come increased use of the WAN outside traditional school hours. Parent portals, online learning resources, electronic grade books, one-to-one computer initiatives and other network intensive resources, require access to more bandwidth, and have also caused a shift in the operating model of the WAN. The previous acceptance of service from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, five days a week has now become an expectation of continuous 24 hour a day service with decreased frequency and duration of any unavoidable outages. This grant will help provide a firewall that should reduce down time where students and staff lose access to the WAN and Internet to minutes rather than hours.

The districts and schools count on the AEA Information Technology (IT) Department to maintain a network that can grow as their demands grow with as few interruptions of service as possible. This grant will not only help provide the stable, responsive network districts need today, but will also support future growth as they expand their one-to-one laptop initiatives and increase online learning opportunities.

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The Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency is one of nine AEAs across the state of Iowa created by the 1974 Iowa Legislature. It provides educational services, media services and special education services to approximately 50,000 students in twenty-two public school districts and twenty-two approved non-public schools in Cedar, Clinton, Jackson, Louisa, Muscatine and Scott Counties.

The Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender identity, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, socioeconomic status, or disability in its educational programs, services or employment practices. Inquiries concerning this statement should be addressed to Dr. Edward Gronlund, Equity Coordinator, at 563-344-6315.

If Congress fails to act, student loan interest rates will double in July

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today urged House leaders to begin working immediately to pass legislation to stop the looming increase in federally subsidized student loan interest rates.  Unless Congress acts, student loan interest rates will double to 6.8 percent on July 1, 2012.

Last month, Braley introduced a bill to indefinitely keep the interest rate for federally subsidized Stafford loans at their current rate of 3.4 percent.

"Iowa college graduates have the 3rd highest student debt load in the nation," Braley said.  "Piling thousands of dollars more in debt on them puts Iowa students even further behind at graduation. Our colleges and universities are avenues of economic opportunity, and we need to keep higher education affordable for every person who wants to attend.

"That's why I'm urging House leaders to begin working now to pass legislation keeping student loan rates low.  After witnessing the debacle over extending the middle class tax cut, we don't need college affordability to devolve into another down-to-the-wire partisan shouting match."

Braley made the request in a letter to House Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, which can be read below and downloaded at the following link: http://go.usa.gov/QrW

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February 7, 2012

The Honorable John Boehner                       

Speaker                       

U.S. House of Representatives               

H-232, U.S. Capitol                       

Washington, DC 20515                         

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi

Minority Leader

U.S. House of Representatives

H-204, U.S. Capitol

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Speaker Boehner and Minority Leader Pelosi:

As you may know, interest rates on subsidized Stafford loans are scheduled to double on July 1^st, 2012, unless congressional action is taken.  Please work together to pass legislation to prevent this drastic increase.

Currently, the interest rate for subsidized Stafford loans is set at 3.4%, as a result of legislation passed into law in 2007.  If this provision expires, then interest rates on subsidized Stafford loans will double to 6.8% on July 1^st.  This increase would add tens of thousands of dollars in extra cost for students trying to pay for college.  For example, a student taking out the maximum $23,000 in subsidized student loans would see an increase of $5,200 over a 10-year repayment period and $11,300 over a 20-year repayment period.

As college tuition continues to drastically rise, students cannot afford thousands of more dollars in bills because Congress failed to act.  After witnessing the debacle that occurred over the payroll tax extension, I would hate to see a similar scenario occur with this issue.  Please pass legislation to prevent an increase in student loan interest rates before July 1^st.  I stand ready to work in any way possible to make sure we keep student loan interest rates at their current level.

Sincerely,

Bruce L. Braley

DES MOINES, IA (02/07/2012)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald is looking to reunite owners this Valentine's Day with their lost and forgotten cherished treasures. The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt database contains names of more than one million accounts from individuals all over the state that have lost track of some money or treasure. "In addition to money, we have an assortment of sentimental items waiting to be reclaimed. These include safe deposit box contents such as pictures of soldiers' wives they had with them while overseas, engagement rings, lockets, cards and love letters," Fitzgerald said. "Some of these items may have been tokens of affection given from one of your family members on a past Valentine's Day."

Treasurer Fitzgerald encourages all Iowans to check the website for forgotten treasure. "Check regularly, check often and check for your friends and family," Fitzgerald advises. New property is uploaded every year, so even if you have claimed property in the past, there is a chance your name could reappear. "We want to return people's money," he stated. "That's our number one priority."

The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt program has returned over $143 million to more than 359,000 individuals since Fitzgerald started it in 1983. Companies and financial institutions in Iowa and from across the nation report millions of dollars in unclaimed property to the State Treasurer each year. Common examples of unclaimed property include money in forgotten savings/checking accounts, uncashed insurance benefit and payroll checks, IRA funds, lost stock and dividends, abandoned safe deposit box contents, gift cards, utility refunds or deposits.

Treasure seekers are encouraged to visit www.greatiowatreasurehunt.com and check to see if they have unclaimed assets waiting for them. Individuals may also send an email to foundit@iowa.gov. For those who prefer corresponding by mail, please write to State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald, Great Iowa Treasure Hunt, Lucas State Office Building, Des Moines, IA 50319. Please make sure to provide current name, previous names and addresses.

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WHEN: 2-22-12

TIME: 7 p.m.

WHERE: American Legion, 121 W. Bryant St., Walcott, IA 52773

WHAT: Dorris, a resident of Davenport, IA, will be available to sign copies of his Self-Help book, Life Is Too Short: Life Is What We Make It. He will also be speaking on the topic.

Fear not, for in Life Is Too Short: Life Is What We Make It, author David Dorris shows you how to approach life's problems and that making the right choices is easier than you think. Life is like a baseball game where the pitcher is constantly throwing you curveballs. As this is the case, do you want to simply be a spectator, or do you want to get in the game and face life head-on? Although it may sound simple sometimes, life is not an easy game to play. There are many challenges to overcome and many choices you have to make. None of you have a choice as to how you come into the world; however, you do have a choice as to the kind of life you live. Follow David in Life Is Too Short: Life Is What We Make It, and find out for yourself how you too can knock life's curveballs out of the park.

For more information, contact Jim Miller at 888-361-9473 or jim@tatepublishing.com

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