School Community

Andrews Osborne Academy is looking for an assistant softball coach.

Previous high school coaching experience is a plus.

Interested parties can contact athletic director Vance Linamen at or Vance Linamen, Andrews Osborne Academy, 38588 Mentor Ave. Willoughby 44094.

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — It will be another year of doing more with less for the Madison County school system.

“Lots of needs. Little money,” Dr. Terry Davis, superintendent of the system, said Thursday during the district’s first budget hearing for the 2012 fiscal year.

Karen O’Bannon, chief financial officer for the system, explained that the system’s proposed $180 million budget will include $96.7 million in funds from the state. That is about $843,000 less than the system got from the state for fiscal 2011 – and that’s after the 3 percent across-the-board cuts in March that reduced the district’s budget by about $3 million.

“We’re starting in the hole,” O’Bannon said.

O’Bannon said the main cause of the decrease in funds is the loss of federal stabilization dollars. Madison County’s schools got about $3.8 million in stimulus money last year, Times records show.

The floundering economy leaves systems across the state with the threat of another round of cuts in 2012. O’Bannon said a meeting with state education officials in September should give a better indication of whether proration is anticipated for the fourth year in a row.

The system has already begun the school year with personnel cuts stemming from changes in the state’s divisors, or the number of students it takes for each local school system to earn a teacher. The system lost 24 state-funded teachers, O’Bannon said.

The news was not all bad, however.

For the first time in several years, the system will receive state funds to help purchase student materials. The state is anticipated to allocate about $165,000 to Madison County.

Transportation funds are also anticipated to be slightly higher, in part because of cuts of about $1.7 million in fringe benefits, including health insurance and retirement benefits.

The district’s child nutrition program is also expected to end the 2011 fiscal year with an extra $1 million in its account. That could be beneficial if the governor does declare proration at some point over the next year.

“We can potentially retain that extra million for general expenditures,” O’Bannon said.

What’s not in the budget, the CFO said, is the money needed to properly maintain the district’s facilities. Some of the schools need new roofs and others need new HVAC systems.

The district was also in a cycle of computer upgrades when the economy crashed and those upgrades were not completed.

Board member Rich McAdams said that when the economy does rebound, the district will be paying more than it is used to for maintenance and technology.

“We’ve been kicking that can down the road for three years,” McAdams said.

It will be another year of doing more with less for the Madison County school system.

“Lots of needs. Little money,” Dr. Terry Davis, superintendent of the system, said Thursday during the district’s first budget hearing for the 2012 fiscal year.

Karen O’Bannon, chief financial officer for the system, explained that the system’s proposed $180 million budget will include $96.7 million in funds from the state. That is about $843,000 less than the system got from the state for fiscal 2011 – and that’s after the 3 percent across-the-board cuts in March that reduced the district’s budget by about $3 million.

“We’re starting in the hole,” O’Bannon said.

O’Bannon said the main cause of the decrease in funds is the loss of federal stabilization dollars. Madison County’s schools got about $3.8 million in stimulus money last year, Times records show.

The floundering economy leaves systems across the state with the threat of another round of cuts in 2012. O’Bannon said a meeting with state education officials in September should give a better indication of whether proration is anticipated for the fourth year in a row.

The system has already begun the school year with personnel cuts stemming from changes in the state’s divisors, or the number of students it takes for each local school system to earn a teacher. The system lost 24 state-funded teachers, O’Bannon said.

The news was not all bad, however.

For the first time in several years, the system will receive state funds to help purchase student materials. The state is anticipated to allocate about $165,000 to Madison County.

Transportation funds are also anticipated to be slightly higher, in part because of cuts of about $1.7 million in fringe benefits, including health insurance and retirement benefits.

The district’s child nutrition program is also expected to end the 2011 fiscal year with an extra $1 million in its account. That could be beneficial if the governor does declare proration at some point over the next year.

“We can potentially retain that extra million for general expenditures,” O’Bannon said.

What’s not in the budget, the CFO said, is the money needed to properly maintain the district’s facilities. Some of the schools need new roofs and others need new HVAC systems.

The district was also in a cycle of computer upgrades when the economy crashed and those upgrades were not completed.

Board member Rich McAdams said that when the economy does rebound, the district will be paying more than it is used to for maintenance and technology.

“We’ve been kicking that can down the road for three years,” McAdams said.

It will be another year of doing more with less for the Madison County school system.

“Lots of needs. Little money,” Dr. Terry Davis, superintendent of the system, said Thursday during the district’s first budget hearing for the 2012 fiscal year.

Karen O’Bannon, chief financial officer for the system, explained that the system’s proposed $180 million budget will include $96.7 million in funds from the state. That is about $843,000 less than the system got from the state for fiscal 2011 – and that’s after the 3 percent across-the-board cuts in March that reduced the district’s budget by about $3 million.

“We’re starting in the hole,” O’Bannon said.

O’Bannon said the main cause of the decrease in funds is the loss of federal stabilization dollars. Madison County’s schools got about $3.8 million in stimulus money last year, Times records show.

The floundering economy leaves systems across the state with the threat of another round of cuts in 2012. O’Bannon said a meeting with state education officials in September should give a better indication of whether proration is anticipated for the fourth year in a row.

The system has already begun the school year with personnel cuts stemming from changes in the state’s divisors, or the number of students it takes for each local school system to earn a teacher. The system lost 24 state-funded teachers, O’Bannon said.

The news was not all bad, however.

For the first time in several years, the system will receive state funds to help purchase student materials. The state is anticipated to allocate about $165,000 to Madison County.

Transportation funds are also anticipated to be slightly higher, in part because of cuts of about $1.7 million in fringe benefits, including health insurance and retirement benefits.

The district’s child nutrition program is also expected to end the 2011 fiscal year with an extra $1 million in its account. That could be beneficial if the governor does declare proration at some point over the next year.

“We can potentially retain that extra million for general expenditures,” O’Bannon said.

What’s not in the budget, the CFO said, is the money needed to properly maintain the district’s facilities. Some of the schools need new roofs and others need new HVAC systems.

The district was also in a cycle of computer upgrades when the economy crashed and those upgrades were not completed.

Board member Rich McAdams said that when the economy does rebound, the district will be paying more than it is used to for maintenance and technology.

“We’ve been kicking that can down the road for three years,” McAdams said.



When classes begin at Leith Walk Elementary School in Baltimore on Monday, teacher Robin Weems will meet her new first-grade students. And she won’t be alone: Her husband, a retired Marine, is her classroom assistant.

And just across the hall from the Weems’ first-grade class is their son Jason’s classroom, where he teaches kindergarten.

Recently, the husband-and-wife teaching team sat down to speak with Jason about their unique work arrangement.

“She does the teaching. I do the decorating, paperwork … whatever law enforcement’s needed,” Warren says with a laugh.

“You add an air of excitement,” Robin says. “Especially the boys, you know, they just hang on every word that you say. They love for you to read stories to them. Whereas if I was reading it, you know — ‘Mrs. Weems is reading, so what!’ “

“I tell them while they’re there, I’m their father, grandfather and whatever else. We have this thing on the wall, we call it the classroom family. And I have pictures of myself, my wife and Jason, and then I have a picture of all the children on the door, so they all feel part of the family, you know.”

“Pop, you’ve been a teacher to me, to countless other people, and it’s not always in the traditional sense of the word,” Jason says. “What brought you to teaching?”

“Well, I had a fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Lizt. And she wrote on my report card — I still have it: ‘Warren is severely handicapped,’ or something like that. And that made me so mad! I failed the fifth grade. And then Ms. Berbridge, she took me under her wing and showed me that I wasn’t severely handicapped. And I always will remember her.”

“What I do,” Warren says, is “I sit back and I figure out what each one of the children’s needs are.”

“I do it voluntarily now. For, what, seven, nine years — I haven’t missed a day,” he says. “I didn’t even miss a day when she missed a day, because I know if I leave the room for one minute, the class changes.” “So what keeps you doing it, year after year?” Jason asks.

“I guess what keeps me going at it is the way you and Jamal turned out. So if I can just do that for someone else … ” Warren says.

“Because I am just so blessed that I had the sons that I have,” he continues, “so I feel that it’s my obligation to give back, you know. And the rewards are worth it.”

Medical billing and coding profession has been around for many years and it was not until the fall in the job market that this particular field has been gaining quite a bit of attention from the masses, because let’s face it there will also be a need for professional coders and billers in the healthcare industry. Medical coding is a profession ripe with possibilities and some are taking their career to new heights by going into business for themselves by becoming an at home coding specialist.

Myth #1

“Medical Coding Is Easy Work”

Those that are actually in the field are often astounded when they hear this claim made. However, this myth is very common when people first hear about the profession and once they begin taking the courses realize that there is a lot more involved than they originally anticipated. Medical coders have to pay extreme attention to detail and display organizational skills. They also have to be proficient in medical terms, anatomy, polices set forth by insurance companies and abide by all HIPPA rules and regulation for ensuring patient privacy more so than those that work in a traditional work setting.

Myth #2

“I Can Work From Home Right after Graduation”

Many that hear they have the option of working from home as a medical coding specialist sign up for school with this being their main reason for entering the field. What they do not realize is that many of the at home coders actually worked in a traditional office setting to gain experience and to help build a reputation before accepting work from clients wishing to outsource. Many of the companies that hire coders who work from home typically for at least 2 years of experience in a medical office or other health facility.

Myth #3

“I can make great money right from the start!”

While the opportunity to make good money is there it is not something that should be expected by coders fresh out of school. Salary can vary depending on location, experience, specialty, education and of course the economy.

When medical coders get out of school an entry level position in which the pay is little.

If a new coder is able to stay with their position despite the pay for at least 2 years (3 years would be better) then they will have the experience that will allow them to move up at their current company or be hired by a company will to pay extra for the experience.

We all know the stress student go through just to have that desired diploma. Why would one be so lax with it? A diploma is one’s first step in getting his or her dream job. But with the economic situation that we have today, some are pushed to leave college and just pursue a job. Now, who said that you should completely turn your back on getting a diploma or degree if there is an easy and comfortable way for you to have it?

The answer is distance education. Yes, with the many individuals enjoying a good job with their diplomas, why wouldn’t you like to be counted in? Online or distance schooling has become very popular since anyone can ‘go back to school’ and study at her time preference. When online education was just starting, the courses offered were limited but now the programs offered are greater and better so no worries that you won’t be able to find a school that offers your desired course.

When we talk of range of course offered,  there are a lot that you can check on. Some of the courses offered are auto mechanic, fashion retailing, child care, computer programming, carpentry, Forensic Science, Hotel and Restaurant management, Floral design, interior decorating, health Science, gunsmith, landscape design, medical transcription and a lot others.

Besides these career program courses, correspondence schools also has a high school diploma online program for those who feel that homeschooling is the kind of environment that they prefer. A diploma is one of the best things that a person can earn for himself and schools online has made it easier. With programs that are well designed, one gets the kind of education that he wants, needs and deserves.

Now, a diploma is just few clicks away.  Yes, education could still be at its best online.