Nov. 5--C EDAR RAPIDS -- The Grant Wood Area Education Agency handles payroll for 57 different school systems. When the main office took on water in the June 2008 flood, computer services was one day late processing one rural district's payroll.

All other payrolls were delivered on time.

That was one fact the agency shared Tuesday during an open house at its main office at 4401 Sixth St. SW.

Staff members provided tours of the renovated facility, which took on a foot of water last year. All drywall was removed up to a four-foot height. Carpeting and flooring also were replaced.

Some staff stayed in the building during the renovation. Others worked out of AEA's building at 1120 33rd Ave. SW. Some worked from home. Professional development services were relocated throughout Cedar Rapids, wherever meeting space was available.

"We had a lot of churches, a lot of banks, help us with meeting space," spokesman George Held said.

While the first floor of the building took on water, it's the second floor that changed the most. Individual cubicles were removed and replaced with "hot spot" desks, where staff members can plug in their laptops and program telephones to ring to their extensions.

"Our staff is out so much, we found that we had a lot of wasted space," said Myra Hall, an associate regional administrator.

The new design resulted in more space for conference rooms, guaranteeing privacy when needed. Staff members who wanted desks of their own could request them -- a few did -- and all workers have drawers to store materials.

"We're collecting data on the new design -- how it's being used, what works, what doesn't," Hall said.

The agency has submitted $3.176 million in claims to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for cleanup, contents, building repairs and temporary facilities costs.

FEMA is expected to cover 90 percent of the flood recovery costs and the Iowa Department of Homeland Security will provide the remaining 10 percent.

-- Contact the writer (319) 398-8434 or meredith.hines-dochterman@gazcomm.com

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