Update 2011: Health & Education

UPDATE Health & Education

THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 13, 2011

A look back ....

A look ahead

2— THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 13, 2011

health & education

AIDB’s goal: Providing quality service

By AZIZA JACKSON Home staff writer

The Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind in Talladega has worked to ensure that dedication to providing quality service regardless of the economic downturn is a top priority.

“There’s been one option available to us over the last two years and that’s to do more with less,” AIDB President Terry Graham said.

Graham said AIDB staff members have seen the big picture, and that is to keep programs growing and thriving.

“I’m proud of AIDB’s harmony and approach to the economic crisis,” he said.

About two years before the economic downturn turned into a crisis, Graham and his staff had to make several difficult decisions.

Personnel was reduced and AIDB continued to downsize through a hiring freeze “I feel like we put in place good strategies and made some hard decisions early on that have helped us through a difficult time,” Graham said.

AIDB receives no federal stimulus money nor any funds from the federal Recovery Act. The option of raising tuition is not plausible because the institute can’t legally charge tuition, therefore there is no money to cover monetary losses.

“We’re not asking for more money, we’re asking for equal treatment for Alabama blind and deaf students,” Graham said.

He said AIDB is mostly dependent on money from the Alabama Legislature, and can’t do what local schools can with a tax defi-

Bob Crisp/The Daily Home

Improvement projects at Alabama School for the Deaf include a solarium as part of the cafeteria, roof improvements to Grace Hall and the construction of a bus loading area by the cafeteria.

cit.

He said 35 school systems in Alabama have gotten stimulus money when their funds were low, but AIDB has not had that option.

So for now, Graham said AIDB will stay conservative with its spending and continue to manage its budget.

AIDB reported a 13 percent reduced workforce over the past few years that is due in part to the fact it has not had to fire any of its employees, but instead has remained cautious and conservative with spending by leaving positions unfilled after employees leave or retire.

“Overall at AIDB, we employ, as of today, 1,083

employees,” Graham said.

Although they will continue to use caution while spending, Graham said AIDB is beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

“We are beginning to see gradual improvement in the economy,” he said.

Graham said that once employment picks up, sales tax and income tax revenue will grow in the Education Trust Fund.

“At AIDB we place great emphasis on accountability,” he said.

AIDB received good feedback from its state auditor, with a perfect score and no findings on the auditor’s report.

The foundation budget was described as “squeaky

clean,” and has been for the past 10 years.

Graham said AIDB will continue to grow and improve through its facility improvement projects at Alabama School for the Blind, Alabama School for the Deaf, Helen Keller School of Alabama, and E.H. Gentry Technical Facility.

The facility improvement projects include the construction of an increased amount of nursing stations, and a new bus loading station at ASB. The Hillcrest Foundation also committed $9,500 for an Assistive Technology Lab at ASB. New audiological equipment was also purchased with federal funds and has

provided a way for audiological screenings to take place for ASB and Helen Keller School students in addition to providing them with digital hearing aids.

ASD’s projects include a new solarium as part of its cafeteria, several roof improvements to Grace Hall on its campus, and the construction of building a new bus loading area by its cafeteria.

The Deaf Services Department at E.H. Gentry was selected as a supersite for interpreter certification testing.

In the blind services department, the DeafBlind Technology Lab was opened and is being funded by an ADRS stimulus grant for the second year.

Bob Crisp/The Daily Home

Gentry was also awarded funds for the second year from a biodiesel grant, also known as Project Green, in the amount of $300,000.

Gentry’s other projects include a new nurses station and exercise room on campus.

As indicated by Graham in AIDB’s quarterly Board of Trustees meeting Nov. 16, 2010, AIDB has been progressing with plans to acquire land for the future expansion of AIDB facilities in Talladega, Birmingham and Mobile.

At that meeting, Graham shared with the board data from the Council of Schools for the Blind comparing ASB to 14 other COSB schools.

The data showed that 79 percent of ASB students graduated in comparison to 13 percent of students from the 14 other COSB schools.

Forty-three percent of ASB students were reported as reading at a ninth-grade level or higher in comparison to 26 percent of students from the 14 other COSB schools.

Sixty-four percent of ASB students were reported to be at a ninth-grade or higher level in math in comparison with 43 percent of students from the 14 other COSB schools.

Enrollment for ASB increased 17 percent and the school has also initiated a two-week additional and new summer camp that focuses on independent living skills for students in public schools.

ASD and the Helen Keller School are working on accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

AIDB’s Office of Advancement received a $163,200 contract for the Alabama Instructional Resource Center from the State Department of Education.

A $47,500 broadband grant was also awarded from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to work cooperatively with Auburn University and the Central Community Colleges of Alabama.

The grant is a part of a larger award to promote broadband and Internet usage particularly to rural residents and economically vulnerable populations.

This grant will be specifically directed to training for individuals with disabilities and will involve regional centers.

Amidst a poor economy, AIDB has managed to stay afloat and stay funded through its resources, something that has prevailed alongside a limited amount of funding from the government and a hiring freeze.

“We survive because we are good managers of our resources,” Graham said.

“We do what a lot of people preach about.

“We’re going to do what we have to do to still provide high-quality services.”

On the campus of Alabama School for the Blind, facility improvement projects include more nursing stations and a new Contact Aziza Jackson at bus loading station. The Hillcrest Foundation has committed $9,500 for an Assistive Technology Lab. ajackson@dailyhome.com.

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THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 13, 2011 — 3

Enrollment at Jefferson State Community College’s Pell City campus rose by 10 percent, according to a report released on Jan. 20, 2011.

Jeff State works to meet community’s needs Home staff writer

“The Pell City campus is growing,” said David Bobo, Jefferson State Community College media relations spokesman. The last three fall semesters, Jefferson State has enrolled a record number of students. Last fall, it had its largest number of enrolled students in school history.

A report released on Sept. 7, 2010, states the number of enrolled creditseeking students at all four Jeff State locations totaled 10,186. This number does not include students who were taking non-credit or community education courses. The number of students enrolled at the Pell City campus was 689, according to the report.

A report released on Jan. 20, 2011, illustrated the increase in enrollment.

The enrollment for all locations of Jeff State grew by 7 percent, However, the growth for its Pell City campus rose by 10 percent.

Bobo said Jeff State is “always looking for part-time instructors.”

Positions that Jeff State are in need of the most include instructors qualified to teach upper-level

math and speech classes.

Jeff State will be continuing its partnership with Montgomery’s Huntingdon College and Jacksonville State University that allows students to earn a four-year degree from either school.

Students can take classes needed to graduate from these four-year schools at the Pell City campus.

Bobo said Jeff State offers students an opportunity to get credit hours toward an associate degree or a transfer.

Jeff State offers a dualenrollment program for high school students who want to earn college credits. To be eligible, the student must attend a public high school or a private school that is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Bobo said that more than 200 students are involved in the program. Most St. Clair County students can take these college courses at the school they attend.

However, students at Pell City High School, Victory Christian and home school students take the courses at Jefferson State’s Pell City center.

“It’s a fantastic program,” Bobo said. He said that by enrolling in the

dual-enrollment program, many high school students are saving a lot of money that would otherwise be spent on room and board, food and travel costs.

He also said that some of the program’s students have already completed their first year of college by the time they graduate high school. Jeff State will register dual-enrollment students on the Pell City campus Wednesday, Aug. 4, 1-4 p.m.

Also, Jefferson State will offer an ACT preparation course at its Pell City campus later this year. The course will be held every Tuesday and Thursday, Jan. 25-Feb. 10. It will also be offered Tuesdays and Thursdays, March 22April 7.

Jeff State also has courses to offer to non-creditseeking students who want to learn a specific skill.

Examples of these courses would include cooking and photography courses, as well as a beginner’s computer class. Jeff State’s website lists course schedules and times for noncredit courses.

Most of these courses take place at the school’s Jefferson, Shelby and Hoover locations. They include digital photography, American sign lan-

guage, conversational Spanish, several classes dealing with Microsoft and a class dedicated to professional voice-overs. Bobo said Jeff State plans to make more non-credit courses available to students at the Pell City campus. “It’s kind of an ongoing thing,” he said. “Wherever there is a demand, we’ll try and meet that demand.”

Jefferson State’s corporate education program offers non-credit courses that provide fast training for careers in medical and legal fields, among others.

Corporate education training courses are available that teach skills needed to prepare students to work in the following fields: administrative medical assistant, dental assistant, emergency medical technician, paralegal and many more.

Through a partnership with ed2go, Jefferson State provides many community education courses online.

While these classes are non-credit courses, many of them can earn students certification in certain fields. Each online course is listed under one the following headings: health care and fitness, business and professional, IT and software development,

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American Red Cross training is also offered at the Pell City campus.

Courses offered are CPR and community safety.

About the community’s use of the facilities at Jefferson State’s Pell City Center, Bobo said, “The facility there at Pell City, it really is a community building. If there is a group that can use that building, we encourage it.”

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management and corporate, media and design, hospitality and service industry, skilled trades and industrial or sustainable energy and going green. Jeff State’s website lists prices of the online courses.

Bobo said a lot of potential exists for nursing students with the nearby addition of St. Vincent’s St. Clair hospital. While Jeff State has expanded the nursing program several times in the past, it still has to turn away some students. A delayed enrollment is an option for those denied.

JSCC also offers a program called the Icademy program. Bobo said Icademy is “a partnership between private industry, government and education entities, in order to train students to become part of the workforce.” Icademy partners include St. Clair County schools, Pell City schools, Leeds School System, the St. Clair County Commission, the St. Clair County Economic Development Council and Jeff State.

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4 — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 13, 2011

health & education

Children get a Head Start with federal program

By GARY HANNER Home staff writer

Head Start does just what it says: gives children a head start toward school.

Head Start is a federally funded child development program. The pre-school agency exists as an institution of higher learning for pre-kindergarten children who qualify for the program.

St. Clair County Head Start The St. Clair County Head Start operates from a budget of just over a million dollars, serving 217 3- and 4-year-old children from low-income families.

Ten percent of the available slots are reserved for children with disabilities.

For the past four months, the St. Clair County Head Start has been under a new administration.

Stephanie R. Stinson and Susan Bradt were named interim directors.

Stinson is also chief fiscal officer, while Bradt is also training and resource specialist, Stinson said the program enhances children’s growth and development in preparation for later academic and social pursuits, impacting child outcomes all the way up to third-grade.

Students are encour-

aged to attend daily to receive full benefit of the program and to maintain funding status. The program maintains at least 85 percent attendance each month.

Stinson said a tri-annual review is conducted on the program to ensure quality service is provided to the children and their families.

“We collaborate with all St. Clair County area schools while observing confidentiality procedures and concerns for issues such as special needs, ethnicity and health information,” Stinson said. “There is no fee for Head Start children.”

Transportation is also provided for children who live beyond a 5-mile radius of the center, Stinson said there are four buses operating on a daily basis.

Registration is held in March at the St. Clair County Head Start facility.

Required information includes: • Social Security card for all family members.

• Birth certificate (official by the state) for the child.

• W-2 tax return or latest check stub.

• Blue immunization slip.

• Medicaid or private insurance (if applicable).

• Food stamp, TANF, or other public assistance

(if applicable).

• If you child is accepted to attend Head Start, a physical and dental screening will be required.

“St. Clair County Head Start’s mission statement is being dedicated in providing services for children and their families in order to empower them to succeed,” Stinson said. “I love St. Clair County Head Start. I fully believe in its mission statement. By empowering these children to succeed, we are impacting the community.”

Stinson said with any transition, there are challenges.

“The greatest reward, though, is how St. Clair County Head Start is still shaping young minds, still making a difference,” Stinson said.

Bradt said having a Head Start in the community is so important because there are so many low-income families.

“They trust us with their children and they know we are preparing them for kindergarten,” Bradt said.

Cheaha Regional Head Start Cheaha Regional Head Start began 27 years ago with funding for 92 children and families. The Head Start Program (a federally funded program through the Office of Head Start in Washington,

Gary Hanner/The Daily Home

St. Clair County Head Start interim director Stephanie R. Stinson talks to one of her students in her office. Stinson has been interim director, along with Susan Bradt, for the past four months.

D.C.) began in 1965 under President Lyndon B. Johnson as part of the war on poverty. The Head Start program has been assessed, evaluated and researched and is one of the social programs that have been successful for more than 45 years.

Dora Jones began working for Cheaha Regional Head Start in 1995 as health coordinator and a

licensed nurse. She became Head Start director in 1998.

“Since that time, I’ve more than doubled the enrollment,” Jones said.

“I’ve been successful in getting grants to expand service to children in underserved areas as well as provide services in unserved areas.”

Cheaha Regional Head Start provides services in

six counties — Talladega, Clay, Randolph, Coosa, Calhoun and Cleburne — for 898 children and families in 16 centers.

Jones said there are 346 children and families receiving services from Cheaha Regional Head Start at this time in Talladega County alone, in six different locations.

See Head Start, Page 5

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health & education

THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 13, 2011 — 5

Head Start From Page 4A

Jones said having a Head Start program is vitally important.

“It is the only program of this nature that provides comprehensive services for low-income children to allow them the opportunity to gain essential skills needed in order to be prepared to learn upon entry to school,” Jones said.

Head Start is a comprehensive program that provides children and families service, assistance and support in the following areas: • All children enrolled in Head Start receive a com-

plete health exam within 45 days of enrollment to include hearing, vision and other sensory areas, and follow-up care is provided as needed.

• Full dental exams and treatment follow-up as needed.

• Developmental screenings and assessments are conducted within 45 days and individualized education plans are developed and implemented accordingly.

• Full nutritional assessments and developmental plans are developed for each child as appropriate and follow-up as needed

for overweight or underweight and other nutritional needs.

• Complete mental health and behavioral screenings are conducted on each child with followup as needed.

• Educational assessments and plans are developed that are age and developmentally appropriate.

“Our mission statement is to set the pace today to improve tomorrow for Head Start families,” Jones said. “Our vision statement is innovative in leading the way, providing a comprehensive program

of quality through respect and nurturing of children and families while setting Standards of Excellence.”

Jones said in the next five years, she hopes to see twice the funding available to serve the hundreds of thousands not being served today.

“The need to assist children is great and the rewards are a better future for them and a better America for all,” Jones said.

Contact Gary Hanner at ghanner@thestclairtimes. com.

Brian Schoenhals/The Daily Home

Talladega College President Billy C. Hawkins said his number one plan is to get construction started on an existing dormitory.

College is looking toward future

By LINDSEY HOLLAND

Home staff writer

Talladega College is making plans for the future — big plans.

Construction on an existing dormitory is set to begin soon, plans are being discussed for a student center, and enrollment is at an all-time high. New courses of study and a new vice president for institutional advancement complete the list.

Although the year just started, TC President Billy C. Hawkins said his No. 1 plan is to get the construction started on the dormitory.

“That is a high priority for us,” he said. “We’ve been slow getting started because it’s a historic preservation.”

Hawkins said historic preservation committees have to meet and discuss what can and can’t be done to the building.

“It’s the first dormitory that was ever built on this campus so you have to go through all your regulations,” he said. “We expect next month we will begin to see some action. It’s going very well and we hope a year from now that project will be completed, so that’s certainly high priority for us.”

Another high priority is construction of a student center — something Talladega College has never had before, which Hawkins wants to change.

He said the student center would be a gathering place for students.

“All higher education institutions have a student center and our board has approved to move forward with that project,” Hawkins said. “It was approved at our November meeting and we’re working on securing funding.”

The student center would be the first new facility to be built on the campus in more than 20 years.

“We’re looking forward to that and the students are looking forward to that because we really need a gathering place outside of the classrooms,” Hawkins said.

The student center is still in the planning process. The students will have an opportunity to have their input in the decisions pertaining to the construction of the center.

Hawkins said he hopes to see a groundbreaking ceremony by next fall.

“That’s an exciting project for Talladega College,” he said.

Another exciting goal for the college? Have student enrollment reach 1,000.

“Right now we have over 700 students,”

Hawkins said. “With the See TC, Page 6

Bob Crisp/The Daily Home

Eastside Head Start in Talladega is part of the Cheaha Regional Head Start, which began 27 years ago with funding for 92 children and families.

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6 — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 13, 2011

Health & education

TC From Page 5

spring count we don’t know yet. They’re still finishing up the registration process. Our goal is to continue to move toward the 1,000 student mark.

Our admissions office has set that goal. I just started my fourth year here and we’re on schedule to move this enrollment to 1,000 within a five-year period.

We’re on track with that but the other goal that ties to that is recruitment and retention.

“That’s a high priority for this administration.

It’s probably a high priority for every institution in the country. Certainly we understand that and so we’re really expressing that to the faculty and staff to be on board with that.

Recruitment is everyone’s business, including the community. We’re really pleased with the growth of our institution and even the diversity. Talladega College does not look the same from an ethics standpoint from when I arrived Bob Crisp/The Daily Home three years ago.”

Hawkins said the perThe Talladega campus of Central Alabama Community College is partnering with the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind cent of white students and E.H. Gentry Technical Facility to provide the opportunity to visually impaired students to earn college credits. attending has risen, and that has never happened before. He also said Talladega College has Puerto Rican students, as well as students from Europe and Asia.

As the number of students attending grows, so does the staff. A new vice president for institutional advancement was recently hired. She will be responsible for fundraising for the college. Hawkins said he is excited to have Casandra D. Blassingame, an alumna of Talladega College, on board.

“So we’ll continue to grow,” he said, “we’re going through a strategic planning process and that’s another goal to complete — our new strategic plan. Our board will approve that this spring.

We’ve really gotten our board engaged with the strategic planning process along with the faculty and staff and students and that’s our road map for the future of Talladega College.

“Our core is delivering quality instruction to students at a time that’s convenient, and at a cost that’s affordable,” said Brian Gann, Central Alabama Community College director of institutional advancement. “That’s why we’re here. We want to do our very best to serve our students. That’s why the doors are open, and that’s why we come to work every day, to serve them and help them be successful.”

CACC has recently started a new initiative, partnering with the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind and E.H. Gentry Technical Facility to provide the opportunity to visually impaired students to earn college credits.

“AIDB is such an important part of this community,” Gann said. “I think there’s a real opportunity for us to work together to serve their students that are interested in earning a college degree.”

In the new initiative, students are simultaneously enrolled at E.H. Gentry and CACC. Gentry’s students attend regular classes at CACC, but are provided with aides, such as interpreters.

“It’s a lot of work for both organizations, but we do it because we want them to be successful, and to give them an opportunity,” Gann said. “It’s just a matter of giving them the support services they need to be successful.

“We are glad to have that program off the ground, and looking forward to growing,” he said.

CACC is seeking licensed or permitted interpreters for the program. Anyone interested can contact Gann at 256-480-2069.

Also, CACC faculty is involved in a training program that deals with deaf etiquette, deaf culture and conversational sign language. The program is designed to help employees feel more comfortable when communicating with students who have hearing impairments. The Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services is providing this service to CACC at no cost.

Later in the semester, CACC will offer another training program to faculty members concerning students with visual impairments. E.H. Gentry is involved in this process.

In the future, CACC plans to provide assistive technology to visually impaired students.

CACC is also working with AIDB to provide Braille training to students who need it.

At C A C C ’s Childersburg campus, renovations are being made to an existing building to transform it into a multipurpose facility. Building G is the site of the renovations. When work is complete, Building G will seat around 350 students in a stadium-seating classroom environment, and it will be able to seat 200 at a sit-down dinner-type function.

The renovations are currently taking place. Uses of the renovated building will include: classes, dinners, meetings. It will also be available for community use. A conference room will also be added. Brett Prichard, Childersburg campus director of Public Relations, said the renovations would be complete by fall, if not earlier.

Nancy Tyson was hired

as a full-time biology instructor for the Talladega campus in January. Her position was a brand new position at CACC. “We were excited about that, to have a full-time science instructor here, which we had not had in the past. We had offered biology in the past, but it was with adjunct instructors,” Gann said.

While Tyson only teaches biology now, she is also qualified to teach anatomy and physiology, chemistry and physical science. “One thing that encouraged us to hire her was her qualifications,” Gann said. “She can teach in a lot of different areas.” In the future, Tyson’s other qualifications will be utilized. By fall, CACC is hoping to offer either physical science or chemistry.

Tyson came to CACC from Oak Mountain High School. She earned Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees from

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“We want to be accessible to community groups that want to utilize the facilities here in Talladega.”

CACC has opened its doors to several groups in the community. The Talladega County Retired Teachers Association meets at CACC periodically.

The Leadership Talladega group has also met on the campus of CACC. “We want to be here to serve the community,” Gann said.

CACC held its first voter registration event in the fall. It registered more than 50 first-time voters in two days. The Retired Teachers Association assisted with the process.

CACC will participate in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event for Talladega County. This is a first for the Talladega campus. The event is Friday, May 13.

See CACC, Page 7

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She had done some adjunct instruction for CACC’s Childersburg campus in the past. She had also been an adjunct instructor at Jefferson State Community College.

Gann started with the college in November 2010.

He had a similar position at Bevill State Community College for eight years before coming to CACC. At Bevill State he was also director of Institutional Advancement. He also oversaw the public relations department. He began his Bevill State career as director of Human Resources.

Gann earned an associate degree from Bevill State, and Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Alabama.

“I was glad to have the chance to come here,” he said.

CACC hopes to add a new English instructor by the fall, and will begin its search for the new employ-

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Home staff writer

Leighton

“Our board has approved several new academic programs.

One actually started this semester. We have a new major in criminal justice and we’re moving toward elementary education. We have an education major here but it’s secondary.”

The elementary education major is expected to be offered at the college next fall. As Talladega College continues to update its curriculum, it will continue to move forward, Hawkins said.

“This institution is very much a part of the community,” he said. “Talladega College has always had a stellar academic reputation. It has always prided itself on sending the students — once they complete their undergraduate degree — on to graduate school. We continue to say that to the students — that they have a responsibility as a Talladegan when they go out of here and go out into the professional world to represent. As we develop our young people we want them to grasp that and understand that they have a responsibility to represent this institution.”

By KENNY FARMER

i

“We’re beginning to build the type of student body we would like to see, which is a more diverse population,” he said.

As student enrollment reaches 1,000, Hawkins said looking toward construction of a dormitory would not be out of the question.

“That’s certainly at the forefront,” he said.

CACC provides quality instruction that is convenient and affordable

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THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 13, 2011 — 7

CACC From Page 6

CACC also stays active with local high schools.

“We have a dual-enrollment program that’s really growing,” Gann said. CACC has dual-enrolled students from Talladega High School, Talladega County Central High, Hope Academy, Lincoln High School, Munford High School and Alabama School for the Blind. The program is open to any high school student.

However, there are GPA requirements, and students must have approval from their school, as well as the superintendent. CACC also visits local high schools many times throughout the year.

“This is an area that we’re headed,” Gann said, “just to offer some personal interest courses that local residents might be interested in.” Gann said he’s been talking to people in the community, trying to find out what they might be interested in taking.

“We’ve had some interest in photography, genealogy and sign language,” he said. ““I’m open to ideas.

I’m open to topics, too,” Gann said. Concerning the addition of non-credit courses, CACC staff hopes to have things ready for the spring.

Gann said the challenge then becomes finding someone who can instruct those courses. “I’m open to someone who has a particular hobby or passion that they want to teach,” he said. “It would be a paid position.” A degree is not necessary of prospective instructors, just expertise

Bob Crisp/The Daily Home

Renovations are being done to an existing building at Central Alabama Community College’s Childersburg campus to transform it into a multi-purpose facility.

and a willingness to teach.

“We’re always looking for programs to add that will benefit students in the community,” Gann said.

“We are looking at programs to bring to campus that would engage students in science and technology fields.”

“We want people who are interested in getting an education for the first time, or for the first time in a long time, to come and talk to us. There’s a lot of funding available right now. Different grant programs and loan programs are available. There’s a lot of opportunity for someone who’s interested.”

Contact Kenny Farmer at kfarmer@dailyhome.com

‘We want to do our very best to serve our students.

That’s why the doors are open, and that’s why we come to work every day ...’

— Brian Gann, CACC director of institutional advancement

Superintendent, BOE make sure students can compete globally

By AZIZA JACKSON Home staff writer

See Schools, Page 8

Biology professor Nancy Tyson at CACC’s Talladega campus talks with Taylor Gurley about dissecting an earthworm.

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The concept of project-based learning has been a major focus for Talladega County Schools Superintendent Suzanne Lacey for several years, and continues to be a main focus for the Board of Education.

“Project-based learning will always remain such an important part of the instructional part of Talladega County schools,” Lacey said.

“Project-based learning has become a complement to what we do in the classroom.”

Since 21st Century Skills were incorporated into the curriculum three years ago, students in the Talladega County School System have been applying knowledge to real-life situations, connecting to technology, and becoming more responsible with their own learning.

“I think the area we have grown most in is the technology to support instruction,” Lacey said.

Equipment has made a significant difference in both teaching and learning taking place in 21st Century classrooms.

“Students are more engaged in their work and they see their work as more purposeful. It makes them want to be in school,” Lacey said.

“They really become owners of their learning, so to speak.”

Students are also becoming more responsible for their learning, and have acquired the ability to articulate what they are learning.

Lacey has worked with

Talladega County Board of Education members to ensure that system schools have the necessary tools so that students will be able to compete globally and acquire workplace and collaboration skills for the future.

Winterboro High School, in particular, has

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8 — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 13, 2011

health & education

Schools From Page 7

served as a model for other system schools in their approach to 21st Century learning.

“Of course, Winterboro is the flagship model for project-based learning but the concept is spreading to all of our schools,” Lacey said.

Childersburg and A.H. Watwood elementary schools have begun to implement project-based learning in their classrooms and will continue to do so throughout the spring.

Other schools have filtered in the concept of project-based learning through different projects and research assignments.

Stemley Road Elementary, for example, researched Christmases around the world and presented the findings to Lacey and their peers.

Winterboro High School sixth-graders and Lincoln Elementary thirdgraders also collaborated on a project where they worked together on a plan and budget for a party.

The project involved teamwork, mathematic and presentation skills, just to name a few, and incorporated the components of project-based learning by applying a real-life situation to a classroom setting.

On Feb. 9, Winterboro High made a special presentation about project-based learning that engaged an element of business.

Lacey also said there will be a 21st Century showcase Thursday, April 14, at Childersburg High School, equipped with an interactive lab with teachers and students.

There will be a part where students will be presenting projects and presenting their work through various levels of work “The fourth annual showcase has expanded each year and become more reflective of the work we have accomplished with our students,” Lacey said Aside from projects and presentations, teachers are the people who facilitate project-based learning in county school classrooms every day.

“I can say with a lot of

pride that our teachers and administrators are doing an excellent job tending to the work throughout the system,” Lacey said.

She said teachers and administrators are being trained throughout the spring and summer to take on the demands of a 21st Century classroom, and to help guide future 21st Century learning projects.

“We feel teachers need to be on the cutting edge of their craft,” Lacey said.

“Without that training, I don’t think we would be able to do that job.”

Principals in the system’s elementary schools are also beginning to implement a concept of “The Leader in Me” by Stephen R. Covey.

“This series aligns with 21st Century learning,” Lacey said. “‘The Leader in Me’ is a philosophy that develops the skills and self-confidence to exceed as leaders.

“It’s basically developing leadership with our young students.”

Lacey also said “The Leader in Me” philosophy helps promote the selfconfidence it takes to succeed as leaders.

The process promotes character and leadership development by developing essential life skills that students will need to flourish in the 21st century.

“It’s so important to start at a young age,” Lacey said. “It sets the tone and builds the foundation for leadership skills.”

In addition to improving academic ability, the process is also meant to increase engagement and accountability in learning.

“The focus is to make sure students are engaged,” Lacey said. “We must prepare for that task when students enter kindergarten.

“It really just builds from grade level to grade level.

“The byproducts are tremendous in building respect and credibility with your peers,” Lacey said.

In addition to implementing programs and processes, Lacey has also sought information and experience from what other schools are doing in their classrooms.

Lacey recently visited schools in Decatur and took note of the success

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Talladega County Schools Superintendent Suzanne Lacey watches as Winterboro students Brady Kissic and Audrey Jemison do work on computers.

other students are having with the 21st Century classroom philosophy.

She has also been looking at other schools like George Hall Elementary School in Mobile, which has one of the highest poverty rates in the state, and also has students performing at the highest rates in the state.

She went to share information with them and see what they were doing to make their students successful in order to reflect and make changes to schools within the Talladega County School System.

“We can learn from what others are doing,” Lacey said. “We’ll learn from that and bring it back to our students.”

The school system’s CareerTech program has been implemented in county high schools with the purpose of leading students down their respective career paths.

Through health classes, there are also nursing certification programs offered for high school students “CareerTech really fits in the umbrella of project-based learning,” Lacey said. “It fits in with our vision to prepare students with life after high

Bob Crisp/The Daily Home

Winterboro School student Josh Fluker gets help from Superintendent Suzanne Lacey.

school.”

Lacey said the school board is also being resourceful with its budget.

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Despite the economic hardships, she said she is intent on keeping sight of quality teaching and learning in schools throughout

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“That’s why we come to school every day, to provide teaching and learning for students,” Lacey said.

Contact Aziza Jackson at ajackson@dailyhome.com.

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health & education

THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 13, 2011 — 9

Pell City School System is growing

By DAVID ATCHISON Home staff writer

The Pell City School System is building to make room for the growing number of students.

“We’re in pretty good shape,” Schools Superintendent Bobby Hathcock said. “We’re a growing school system, and we have to deal with it with proper facilities.”

The school system has been in a building mode since Hathcock arrived in 2002. The system has two major construction projects under way, one at Iola Roberts Elementary and the other at Pell City High.

“We’re looking forward to the completion of the two renovation/addition projects at Iola Roberts and at the high school,” said Michael Barber, assistant superintendent.

He said the work at Iola Roberts Elementary includes four new classrooms, music room, library, gymnasium, offices and renovation of the older classrooms. “(Both projects) are addition and renovation projects,” Barber said, adding that the 50-plus-yearold Iola Roberts Elementary will look like a new school when the construction is complete.

“There’s a lot of great history attached to that school,” said Barber, who once served as Iola Roberts principal. “We’re looking forward to the future.”

The high school is getting a new front entrance, and workers are adding office space and a common area lobby.

Barber said the new high school construction project will include counselor offices and a meeting room.

“First impressions are so important,” he said, adding that the new front entrance to the high school will match the Pell City Center, which is adjacent to the school.

He said the new entrance will define the front of the high school and make is an easier place to access the facility. It will also make is less congested in the administrative offices.

The two construction projects are expected to be finished this fall.

“Those two projects are at a pretty good pace, especially Iola Roberts,” Barber said.

“We definitely need the school in shape to receive students by the fall and we have all the confidence it will be.”

Barber said the school system is gaining, on average, 60-80 students each year.

“That’s serious growth,” he said. “But we’ll work hard to meet the demands of the growth.”

Barber said the construction projects are part of the plan to gear up for the future.

“We are going to continue to grow,” Hathcock said, adding that the school system has done more with less because of back-toback proration.

He said the school system is bracing for its third year of proration, 3-5 percent.

“Kids don’t know what proration is,” Hathcock said. “They just want a normal school year.”

He said the school system has managed, despite three years of proration.

“I don’t know how some systems make it,” Barber said. “We don’t have a lot of fat in our budget. We

Bob Crisp/The Daily Home

The construction of a new addition to Pell City High School is just beginning.

run a tight ship here.”

Barber said the school system has not lost any student services, despite proration.

“Hopefully, the economy will turn around,” Hathcock said.

He said the sales tax increase passed by the city council last year has helped.

The school system is receiving a half percent from the 1 cent sales tax hike.

“That was such a blessing for the school system,” Barber added. “It came at a time that it was so definitely needed.”

Hathcock said the school system recently received $200,000 for technology.

Bob Crisp/The Daily Home

Contact David Atchison at datchison@dailyhome.

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10 — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 13, 2011

health & education

Preventing bullying school system ‘mission’

By MATT QUILLEN Home staff writer

Sylacauga City School System administrators are looking forward to changes in policy, technology and bricks and mortar in the upcoming year.

One of the “missions” locally and statewide is to stop something that occurs in nearly every school at some point in time, bullying or harassment. Dr. Kelly Lakey, student services coordinator, said they will stress the need to educate and communicate with students, parents and staff exactly what bullying is and how to deal with it.

She said bullying involves not just the two parties directly involved, but the witnesses or bystanders as well.

“A lot of times, their actions can contribute or they can diffuse a situation,” Lakey said. “But we have to do a better job of teaching kids how to respond when they are in that situation.”

She said they want to get the message across that “reporting” is different from “tattling.” While the purpose of tattling is to get someone in trouble, reporting is to help someone get out of trouble.

“We have got to teach kids to take responsibility for their environment,” Lakey said. “It is easy to look away and say, ‘It’s not my problem.’ But tomorrow it could happen to them. We expect them to be the leaders of tomorrow, and we have to teach them the necessary skills today.”

There are also concerns about the incidents nationwide of “cyber-bullying.”

School officials want to inform people of the dangers of bullying in all forms, whether in person or through texting, social media or other electronic means.

The Alabama Student Council voted Jan. 24 to take on the issue as one of the main goals for the year. Local student governments and council were also asked to pass resolutions on the matter.

Lakey said the school system had a speaker at the beginning of the school year to discuss bullying with staff. They also plan to have a national speaker in the spring to speak to students and faculty, and

Brian Schoenhals/The Daily Home

Nichols-Lawson Middle School holds grade-level meetings to discuss bullying with fifth- through eighth-graders, assistant principal Debbie Barnett said.

hold a parent workshop.

Part of the proactive approach they want to communicate with faculty is the need to build relationships. Lakey said they hope to create an environment where students are unafraid to speak with parents, teachers or other staff if they encounter bullying.

“Open communication is the key,” she said.

“If a parent feels like their child is being bullied, they need to feel comfortable approaching school officials about that and feel confident the school officials are going to address it.

The days of looking away, acting like it is not going on or just saying ‘quit tattling’ are over.”

Debbie Barnett, assistant principal at NicholsLawson Middle School, said they began holding grade-level meetings to discuss the topic with the fifth- through eighth-graders.

“Just since we had the first assembly, we are beginning to see the number of kids who are slowly beginning to filter in and let us know what is going on,” Barnett said.

She said some of the telltale signs that a child is a victim of bullying include an inordinate amount of worry or anxiety and an increased desire not to go

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She said the school also focuses on teaching staff what the proper responses are when faced with a child who may be a victim.

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Another focus of the school system is increasing the amount of technology available and taking advantage of its applications.

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THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 13, 2011 — 11

Bullying

Talladega city schools superintendent feels good about the future

By CHRIS NORWOOD

Home staff writer

Also, they hope to eventually have the capabilities and equipment to allow children who miss extended school time to view their classes from home. “It is not just sports,�

Robinson said. “If a teacher if doing a project in a classroom and parents can’t come, it is a great way for them to be able to watch it then or later on.�

enabling schools to participate in the Toys for Tots campaign and the Socks and Mittens Tree. “Several schools participated in these campaigns, allowing students to first hand participate in community service activities. “Over the past two years, students have had an opportunity to participate in the Greater Talladega Area Chamber of Commerce Student Ambassador Program.

The superintendent was pleased to showcase the Talladega City Schools Key Club at a Kiwanis luncheon. The First National Bank’s program Cash for Class is another example

“We are going to use it with professional development as well, so teachers that can’t come can go later on and watch it.�

Robinson also discussed the statewide student database. The database will be used to keep better records of students and is easily transferable for students who move to a different system within Alabama.

Technology has also been a key discussion for the new additions and renovations planned for city

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The proposals for the first set of high school additions, which are scheduled to begin construction this year, include a two-story 55,600 square foot addition with as many as five Career Technology classrooms, five science suites and 16 general classrooms. Also, freestanding gymnasiums for Pinecrest and Indian Valley elementary schools could begin as soon as February.

Robinson said staff had met with architects to provide input on the technology accessibility needs for classrooms. “We are talking about where to put in the new wireless access points, where to put in the drops for the computers in the business lab and other rooms,� he said. “That is long-term planning that we need to get done now, bringing in vendors and seeing what is the latest

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Superintendent Renee Riggins said they hope to break ground on the high school additions in the spring. They also expect the gyms to be completed by the beginning of the next school year.

All projects, which include a new high school gym and projects at all school system buildings, are expected to continue through 2014. “I know it is going to be a benefit to this community, and they are going to be very proud of the building,� Riggins said. “We have the drawings here at the school board office, and people can come see what the final building is going to look like. They are welcomed to come see it, because this is part of the community.�

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Although proration continued in the 2010-2011 school year, the Talladega City School System continued to make progress Superintendent Doug Campbell said. “Despite the current economic climate, all Talladega city schools are committed to empowering students to reach their highest potential on an annual basis. (This) school year our district focused on teaching methodology, technology, student outcomes, communication and capital improvements,�

Campbell said. “As superintendent, I feel good about our district’s performance last year and our outlook for the future.

To use a football analogy, in the midst of proration, we are constantly making first downs and moving the chains to meet our goals.

Promoting communication and collaboration among our various stakeholders has been (the) key. The district places a strong emphasis on professional development, and has focused heavily on training parents and teachers.�

He goes on to cite several examples. “Last year, the district held the fourth annual Parent Extravaganza, which consisted of information sessions, workshops, exhibits and a keynote address from (District) Judge Ryan Rumsey. To top off the year, we conducted the district’s first Technology Fair.

We began 2010-2011 year with motivational speaker Jeremiah Castille, a former pro athlete and AllAmerican football player under Coach Paul “Bear�

Bryant. His message was inspiring and well received by our staff during Teacher Institute,� he said. “Our enrollment has been stable in most schools this year.

As a matter of fact, some enrollment counts have actually shown an increase.

The district continues to emphasize student attendance.�

Campbell also said, “The district’s first class pre-K program continues to thrive and generate great interest in the community.

The district is in the third year of the pre-K program.

This has been an excellent partnership between the Talladega city schools and the Office of School Readiness. “Administrators in our district have noted that students who participated in this program are ready for kindergarten and, in fact, serve as peer models for students who have not participated in structured learning programs. “The district also supports a Jump Start Program (provided by federal funds) each summer to offer incoming kindergarten students an opportunity to participate in a structured learning environment in the school setting,�

Campbell said. “The district has enjoyed good community support,� he said. “First Family Services has partnered with the district,

From Page 10

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12 — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 13, 2011

health & education

Bob Crisp/The Daily Home

The Talladega City Board of Education is taking steps to merge Northside-Hal Henderson Elementary School into Houston Elementary School, Superintendent Doug Campbell said.

Talladega From Page 11

of community support for our schools.”

Programs “In the Talladega city schools, we are fortunate to have a wide array of programs to offer our students and a fully functioning Career Tech Center on campus,” Campbell said. “In order to ensure a rigorous curriculum, students are offered advance placement courses at the high school, and/or dual enrollment classes with Talladega College and Central Alabama Community College.

Students have the opportunity to take online class-

es, music, drama, careertech classes and participate in several tutoring programs.”

Student and faculty participation and honors were not limited to the school district, he said.

“In 2010, our drama department performed “Sundown in T Town” at the Ritz Theatre, celebrating Talladega’s 175th anniversary. One of our students was selected to have her artwork showcased in the Alagasco Calendar competition. This was a statewide contest and this is quite an honor for our student and our district.

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III Secondary Alabama Teacher of the Year. Zora Ellis Jr. High School students participate in the State sponsored Model United Nations each year.

Students are given the opportunity to serve as members of this organization and act as representatives of various countries. Zora Ellis students (also) participate yearly in the Science Olympiad at Auburn University. And Talladega city schools continue to offer students opportunities to participate in band, athletics, honor societies and other extracurricular activities.”

“At the present time,” according to the statement, “Zora Ellis Junior

High and Houston Elementary School are (Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative) schools. The district also has a variety of other programs such as Accelerated Reader, Star Reading, computer labs, reading intervention and a fulltime reading coach for each elementary school.”

In addition, “the Talladega city schools (are) currently taking strategic action and full advantage of the Alabama Reading Initiative. The University of Montevallo In Service Department has been working with our district to implement the Strategic Teaching Model in our

at the Presbyterian Home

“The district is taking the necessary steps to merge the Northside-Hal Henderson Elementary School into the Houston Elementary School,” Campbell said.

Contact Chris Norwood at cnorwood@dailyhome. com.

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The district also completed several capital improvement projects, including new HVAC systems for Graham, Salter, Young and Ellis; new roofs for Salter, Graham, Young and Houston; renovation for Ellis and completion of a new maintenance and transportation facility in Bemiston.

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schools. This is a three phase project with the first phase, under the direction of Dr. Resia Brooks, being implemented in (last year) through the training of administrators, reading coaches and two teachers from each school. Nancy Clark is providing direction for the second phase (2010-2011), where the two selected teachers have model classrooms in each school where they showcase and train other staff members in the implementation of the program. Phase three will be next year (2011-12) when all classroom teachers in the district will be using this teaching/learning approach.”

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health & education

THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 13, 2011 — 13

Great doctors, great facilities at CVMC Home staff writer

Officials at Coosa Valley Medical Center in Sylacauga are focused on the present and future of serving the community’s health care needs.

Vanessa Green, chief business development officer, said the hospital will continue to grow its staff and technology. Also, they hope to fulfill area residents’ health care needs from the beginning of life on.

Green said the women’s center offers special parking and celebration meals to help make the process of childbirth “a family affair.”

“We have great physicians and great facilities,” she said. “We want to focus on that, to get people’s attention and get them to grow their family here.”

Last year featured the continuation of outreach activities, the addition of doctors and the implementation of new features at Coosa Valley Medical Center.

“The past couple of years we have built on the multi-specialty clinics, so people have the option to get the specialty care they need without having to travel,” Green said. “We are going to continue to search out the community needs that are out there and work toward building and developing the business.”

The hospital staff started 2010 on a positive note. They were recognized as the top hospital among 2,000 nationwide in two categories: “Pain

Well-Controlled” and “Discharge Instruction.”

The Voluntary Hospitals of America judged several categories based on surveys taken from all of the medical centers. Then, they sent a team of medical professionals to examine CVMC in order to implement their success into other hospitals.

Hospital staff also participated and initiated multiple community programs during the year. Some of the areas they participated in included the Retirees Fair, Relay for Life, March of Dimes, the communitywide Thanksgiving dinner and several programs through area school systems and the B.B. Comer Memorial Library.

Members of the staff held free skin cancer screenings, a Relay for Life concert and provided body mass index screenings to help fight childhood obesity. Also, the “Circle of Care” support group for families of seniors with mental illnesses was started through the CVMC senior behavioral unit.

CVMC sponsored the “Breast Cancer Awareness Extravaganza” as well in October. The program aimed to raise awareness of the disease and offer hope through stories from breast cancer survivors.

ABC 33/40 news anchor and cancer survivor Brenda Ledun served as the featured speaker.

Doctors also participated in CVMC Community Links monthly symposiums at Comer Library, offering timely information and knowledge of new services available locally.

Hospital management continued to increase the amount of services available to the community through new offices and doctors.

Dr. Keith Roberts, general surgeon; Dr. Sam Bowen, neurosurgery; Dr. Todd Bader, OB/GYN; and medical director for emergency Dr. Tom Ashar were among additions made to the staff in 2010.

And partnerships like Coosa Valley MRI (formerly Open MRI) brought new technology and service to the main campus to make it more convenient for patients.

Dr. Emily Rehberg, a pulmonologist and a critical care specialist, began working with the hospital.

Rehberg is board certified in internal medicine and pulmonary medicine and

Brian Schoenhals/The Daily Home

Coosa Valley Medical Center in Sylacauga will continue to grow its staff and technology, said Vanessa Green, chief business development officer.

board eligible in critical care medicine.

In January 2011, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Lawrence Lemak opened Lemak Sports Medicine and Orthopedics in Childersburg at the Coosa Valley Medical Building on U.S. 280. The Birmingham-based physi-

NO

Is Hospice for Cancer Patients Only?

50% of our patients are not cancer patients.

We serve more patients with other diseases:

HOSPICE

Serving our community since 1986

dents are training at the hospital this year.

Dr. Mamoun Pacha, urologist, has headed the student program at CVMC for the past two years. The program is designed to give students a chance to work with seasoned doctors in See CVMC, Page 14

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14 — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 13, 2011

health & education

Always There keeps seniors independent

By ELSIE HODNETT Home staff writer

Always There In-Home Care Inc. provides a variety of services that allow seniors to retain independence and live at home for as long as possible.

“About 11 years ago, I was a registered nurse working in an adult day facility and also in area hospitals and home health care,” said Dee Harrell, president and founder of Always There In-Home Care. “I saw a need for a quality, private-duty inhome care for seniors.”

Harrell said she formed her company to address that need. The first office opened in Birmingham in 2000.

“We opened a Huntsville office about four years ago, and opened an office in Pell City in November 2010,” she said.

Harrell said the merger with Eldercare Solutions of Alabama in early 2010 positioned the company to become a member of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers and expand support for families to include professional geriatric care management.

“Even with the economy, the business has grown,” she said. “Our goal is to open an office every six months or so in Alabama.”

The company has approximately 350 employees, and serves 15 counties in Alabama.

Always There caregivers provide many medical and non-medical services.

“Not all of our caregivers are registered nurses, but they are all trained

by a registered nurse with oversight from a nationally certified professional geriatric care manager,” Harrell said.

The caregivers are required to receive introductory as well as ongoing training to ensure they are equipped to respond effectively to the needs of the clients and their families.

Non-medical services include companionship, bathing and grooming, care management, dressing, errands, escorts for shopping and appointments, laundry, light housekeeping and meal preparation.

Medical services include pharmaceutical consultation, registered nurse medication management, nursing services such as blood draws to check therapeutic levels (for patients on blood thinners, Digoxin and other types of medicine), wound care, weekly pre-fill of medicine, disease education for conditions such as stroke, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes, heart and lung disease, and other skilled nursing needs not covered by insurance.

Always There In-Home Care is available for clients needing assistance for a short period for recuperation, and also for longterm in-home care.

Free, in-home assessments are available. At the in-home assessment, the case manager will develop a comprehensive plan of care. Services begin as soon as the staffing department is able to staff the case (usually within 24 hours), and as soon as business matters are handled.

“Whatever support your family needs, we

Listening to clients is an important service Always There In-Home Care caregivers provide.

take care of all the associated administrative hassles,” Harrell said. “From recruiting and training qualified care providers to managing their schedules, and administering payroll, taxes and W2 forms for our licensed, bonded and insured employees, we do it all so all you need to think about is your elderly loved one.”

Harrell said these inhome care services are a common need everywhere.

“We have been very successful because of the quality of services we provide,” she said. “People are living longer and staying healthier, and they want to stay independent.”

Contact Elsie Hodnett at An Always There In-Home Care caregiver gives a client her medicaehodnett@dailyhome.com. tion.

CVMC From Page 13

real situations and serve as a recruiting tool for the hospital.

A significant addition to the CVMC Emergency Room is the Express Care

unit that opened in late August. People with minor injuries visiting the ER from Friday-Monday can expect shorter wait times to be seen by medical staff.

The facility features

Press Release for Golden Rehab Outcomes Success Story

“Meet Mrs Margaret Givens, a native of Virginia who came to Alabama in March 2010. Mrs. Givens fractured her ankle in early December 2010 and came to Golden Living Pell City in mid December.

Initially she was non weight bearing on her left leg, but that didn’t slow her down. Mrs.Givens continues to give 110% at every physical therapy session. Her therapist, Rebecca Sweezey, wishes all patients would put forth the effort Mrs. Givens does towards their recovery.

Mrs. Givens is now able to put weight on her leg and has begun walking again. She is expected to return home soon.

Golden Living provides innovative PT/OT/and ST services to both short and long term residents in Pell City and the surrounding communities.”

four beds and is staffed by a registered nurse and a physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner, with a physician overseeing all patients. A multi-skill technician handles tasks including taking vital

signs, transporting patients and drawing blood.

The unit has the advantage of having everything on hand because of its proximity to the standard emergency facilities. It can also be opened any time

Expert Care For Your Eyes

should there be an influx of patients.

Hospital staff has recorded an average stay time of less than an hour for patients going through Express Care.

“It has really taken off

and is getting very positive comments,” Green said.

“The emergency department team is doing an outstanding job.”

Contact Matt Quillen at mquillen@dailyhome.com.

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Colon Cancer is a preventable disease. Colonoscopy is the most effective means of prevention and early detection of Colon Cancer. Screening colonoscopy should start at age 50, and earlier with patients who have a family history of colon cancer.

To Learn More About Colon Cancer Prevention Call 256-249-6050 or 256-362-0266

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health & education

THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 13, 2011 — 15

State-of-the-art health care for veterans

By WILL HEATH Home staff writer

City Mayor Adam Stocks and Ed Gardner Jr., then executive director for the EDC. “There was a slight delay in the project because of federal funding due to its size compared to the other renovations and smaller projects going on nationally that was competing for the same funds,” Smith said. “(Alabama VA Commissioner Adm. Clyde Marsh) and Stan Batemon were tremendous champions for this project and were the main reason it is taking place today.”

In addition to the hospital, the new VA home will share a campus with Jefferson State Community College’s Pell City campus.

Currently, the college is in the process of developing a nursing program; also, the iCademy program based there already offers college credit for prospective nursing students who are still in high school.

An artist’s rendering of the Colonel Robert L. Howard State Veterans Affairs Home being built in Pell City.

For Batemon, it’s a long way from the land’s original use.

“When we as a county stepped out to lend the money to the EDC to purchase that (property) … that was all timberland, contributing very little in

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A health care community is developing alongside Interstate 20 in Pell City.

Residents of the area and travelers on the highway have, for nearly a year, been able to witness the progress of the construction at the new St. Vincent’s St. Clair hospital. And soon they will be able to witness the next step in the area: a 27-acre state veterans home.

In September 2010, then-Gov. Bob Riley visited Pell City and formally announced a go-ahead for the project, committing $17 million in state money. In late November, officials broke ground on the approximately $50 million facility (the rest of the money came from the federal Veterans Administration board).

Work has already begun at the site of the new Colonel Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home, and completion is tentatively set for May 2012, according to Don Smith, executive director of the St. Clair County Economic Development Council.

“The groundbreaking ceremonies this year of both the new hospital and the Veteran Affairs Home signaled St. Clair County’s commitment to state-ofthe-art health care to its citizens and the state’s veterans,” Smith said. “The County Commission and the city of Pell City have been instrumental in transforming these projects from ideas into realities.”

First pitched to the VA board in January 2008, the veterans home will be the fourth such home in the state of Alabama. Smith

called it “one of the largest health care related project in the state currently under construction.”

According to its specifications, the home will feature 254 private rooms that include 174 skilledcare beds and 80 domiciliary units all integrated into residential neighborhoods.

Each neighborhood will have two to three houses with 12 to 14 private rooms, personal bathrooms and living rooms, as well as dining areas with complete kitchens for serving meals.

“The design of the facility is designed to provide a homey, neighborhood feeling and will be three to four times larger than the new hospital,” Smith said.

“When both of these projects are completed alongside the Jefferson State Community College campus, it will be an incredible sight for those traveling I-20.”

The project actually began in the state in 2006, when Riley called for a study to determine the long-term needs of Alabama’s veterans. That study showed there was a need for a fourth state veterans home in the Birmingham area.

“We can never do enough for our veterans,” Riley said in September.

“Every day we live in freedom is a day made possible

by America’s veterans.

“They deserve the best we can give them, and this new veterans home will be the best in the country.”

According to Smith, the state heard “the EDC’s vision of what could be possible for our veterans on the EDC property” in a 2008 presentation that featured St. Clair County Commission Chairman Stan Batemon, then-Pell

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tax dollars and employing zero people,” Batemon said. “(When the home is completed) it will employ a minimum of 400 people, and there are 50 more acres of developable land on the property, worth an estimated $35,000 per

acre, far more than the $1.2 million we paid to purchase it.

“It’s an amazing success story already.”

Contact Will Heath at wheath@thestclairtimes. com.

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16 — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 13, 2011

health & education

Health departments provide vital services

By LAURA NATION-ATCHISON Home lifestyles editor

When you think about a county’s health department, you may think only of immunizations or services for newborns and the elderly.

All that’s true, but the role of county health departments is much more far reaching.

The departments are broad in scope and handle a lot more than some might think.

Basically, throughout the departments, the services fall into five categories, said Ava Rozelle, administrator for the Talladega County Health Department.

The Talladega County Health Department has offices in Talladega and Sylacauga and the St. Clair County Health Department has offices in Pell City and Ashville.

The Talladega County Health Department offers services at its offices in Talladega.

uled to be open by the end John, office manager for of February, said Tanga St. the Pell City site.

Clinical services include overseeing the state’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, most often referred to as WIC, in which pregnant women and children through age 5 can receive vouchers for certain grocery products.

The groceries are supplied according to family size and income.

“This is a very valuable program for our community and we believe there are residents who are eligible for it who are not using it,” Rozelle said.

Nonetheless, the WIC program is the largest in the clinic, and last year, there were close to 7,000 visits for the program, she said.

Family planning is Nurse practitioner Arlinda Wormely looks at a specimen at the St. Clair the second largest in the Talladega clinic, and had County Health Department in Pell City.

The Ashville site is under renovation and is sched-

close to 2,000 visits for services.

To receive the benefits, the woman or child must have a nutritional risk, Rozelle said.

The Pell City location of the St. Clair County Health Department has 2,429 Individuals enrolled in the WIC program, and the Ashville site has 182 enrolled.

Clinical services also include family planning, immunizations, TB testing and treatment, and cancer detection.

Childhood immunizations is another service Rozelle said she feels is underused at the Talladega County sites “Registered nurses administer all vaccines at the health department, and follow Centers for Disease Control guidelines for children under 19,” she said.

In another area, the department’s environmental services include on-site inspections of food service establishments, and this includes not only restaurants, but schools, daycares, mobile food concessions, hotels, jails and camps.

The department is also responsible for inspecting tattoo and body art facilities and operators and testing for well water, inspecting for septic and solid waste disposal, overseeing rabies control and taking environmental complaints.

Under the division of vital statistics, the county departments handle birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates for those events that take place in Alabama.

The department also offers home health and life care, which includes nursing, personal care, physical therapy, medical social work, case management, homemaker services, along with meeting other needs.

These services are provided according to meeting criteria that is set by the state and according to availability.

“Within each county health department, we offer home health services,” said Kim Gordon, Home Health Social Worker/ Outreach coordinator for the Department of Public Health.

“The Home Care Program uses a holistic approach to provide home health services prescribed by a physician,” she said. “Services are delivered to qualified homebound Medicare patients, Medicaid or commercial insurance recipients.

Services provided may include skilled nursing, See Health, Page 17

Let’s Make Every Month Heart Health Month Heart South Cardiovascular Group’s expanded coverage in the Sylacauga community now provides cardiology services four days per week. Dr. Cliff Vance provides consultative service at Coosa Valley and sees patients in clinic each Tuesday.

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health & education

THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 13, 2011 — 17

Talladega County Health Department in Sylacauga employees, from the left, Renee Jacobs, Lynn Phurrough, Lena Wiggins, Marion Threatt and Robin Merekel.

St. Clair County Health Department employees, from the left, administrative assistant Anna Turner, nurse administrator Kim Oliver, social worker Stephanie Lowery and Paula Barker, clinic administrator.

From Page 16

she said. “Options 1 offers homemaking, personal care aide, unskilled respite and care management.

These services are for clients who do not qualify for home health through Medicare or Medicaid but who, with such services provided, can avoid or delay institutionalization.

The fee for services is a set rate and it is a private pay only service.”

Health department locations also have Medicaid staff in the offices for assisting pregnant women and children under age 18 who are applying for Medicaid or for ALL KIDS, a low cost health care coverage program for children and teens under age 19.

Health

home health aide, medical social services, physical therapy, occupational therapy and/or speech pathology services.”

There are also medical criteria that must be met, Gordon said.

“There are home health benefits under the Medicare and Medicaid programs,” she said.

Most private insurance policies will also pay for home health care. Home health is also available to provide free blood pressure screenings at community functions such as health fairs and senior centers.

St. Clair County Home Health saw a total of 56 clients for the year 2010, Gordon said.

Most county health departments also have the Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program.

“This is also known as the E/D Waiver Program,” Gordon said. “There is also a Waiver Program that serves HIV and AIDS. These programs provide an alternative to nursing home placement for any individual in Alabama who is aged, has a disability or is diagnosed with HIV, Gordon said.

The Waiver Programs are funded through Medicaid and are based on income limits that are relatively high.

“Services provided may include homemaker, personal care, respite care, companion services, skilled nursing, case management services, home

delivered meals and adult day health,” Gordon said.

The Life Care Program works with the Waiver Programs to provide this service.

“This service assists them in maintaining their quality of life,” she said.

“You do not have to be homebound to receive Life Care services. Life Care can assist with homemaking, personal care, provide unskilled respite and care management. Clients must meet certain eligibility requirements.”

The He a l t h Department also offers an alternative type of home care for many frail and disabled people in Alabama, Gordon said.

“The Options 1 program is for those who may be over the eligibility limit for the Waiver programs,”

To receive ALL KIDS coverage, those covered

must be residents of Alabama, a U.S. citizen or eligible immigrant, not be covered by any group insurance, not be eligible for dependent coverage under state employees’ insurance and not be covered or eligible for Medicaid.

The cost is based on family size and income, and premiums range from $50 to $100 per child per year. The coverage includes checkups and immunizations, sick child doctor visits, dental and vision services, prescriptions and mental health and or substance abuse services.

Medicaid services for pregnant women and children under 19 can include many of the same services as ALL KIDS, but can include birth control.

Medicaid is available for those not eligible for ALL KIDS. Not all services are available based on income, Rozelle said.

“Vital statistics, environmental services, home health care, disease control and vaccines such as influenza are not based upon income,” she said.

Also, some services, such as family planning services, are available on a sliding fee scale, if the individual doesn’t qualify for Medicaid.

The Alabama Department of Public Health has a website that outlines its services throughout the state, adph.org.

Contact Laura NationAtchison at lnation@dailyhome.com.

TALLADEGA COLLEGE Founded in 1867

Talladega College is a private liberal arts institution, fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

The Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics conducts research to find a cure for diabetes. The research is funded as part of a $2M National Science Foundation Grant.

Dr. Billy C. Hawkins, President

The Princeton Review ranked Talladega “Best College in the Southeastern Region” in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

The College will offer Criminal Justice as a new major in the academic year 2011 - 2012.

Summer School Classes available Summer 2011.

The Bachelor of Arts Degree is offered in various majors by the Divisions of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Social Sciences & Education, Business and Administration and Humanities and Fine Arts.

For information about admission and scholarship opportunities contact The Office of Admissions: (256) 761-6235 Toll Free Number: 1-866-540-3956 278161

18 — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 13, 2011

health & education

CBMC focus: Patients, doctors, community

By CHRIS NORWOOD

seeing a shift away from in-patient treatment, and we’ve taken steps to reflect that. Most radiology is done out-patient, and so are a lot of surgeries.

People don’t just come to the hospital and get admitted. That’s not just here, it’s happening everywhere because of new technology and payment structures. Outpatient procedures are cheaper and are often what’s best for the patient, which is the most important thing.

Another of the major concerns is staffing.

“We have a great team on the ground, but we’re still in a period of transition with the medical staff. We’ve had doctors close or move their practices, but what we have is still solid. But we need primary care doctors and specialists.”

Home staff writer

Joel Taylor took over as administrator at Citizens Baptist Medical Center in Talladega in 2010, and he says has thoroughly enjoyed his time in Talladega so far.

“I can’t speak to what happened before I got here, but I had worked in Birmingham in the past, so I was familiar with the Baptist Health System. My wife has family in Birmingham, and I had worked with out chief financial officer in Tennessee before I came here. But when I first visited Talladega, I was just blown away. Everything exceeded my expectations.

The staff was very welcoming and wanted to work with me to continue the great service and make it better. It was very easy to get plugged into what is going on here, and that is not true of every town.”

There has been some progress in this area already, Taylor said.

“We’ve signed four new doctors in the last few months that will be joining us later this year. Dr. Phil Smith is back from the Navy, and will be practicing with Dr. Dayes. Dr. Martinez is an internist who will be starting in August, and Dr. Hector Caseres is an OBGYN who will be working with Dr. Jett in Lincoln. The service needs are continuing to grow there. We also have two new plastic surgeons who will be practicing in Anniston and Birmingham, and Dr. Tony McLeod is an ENT who will be practicing here and in Alexander City. And you will be seeing some more new names coming in the next few months.”

Taylor had previously worked for a hospital in Sparta, Tenn., a town near Nashville with a population of 5,000 in a county of 25,000. “It’s a good town, and it was close to my family, but coming here was the right decision,” he said.

Taylor said he has been meeting with all of the hospital’s department heads to shape a “vision” going forward.

“We’re here to provide excellent patient care and to see to the needs of the staff. We all want to see the hospital grow and improve, and everyone has been very supportive of that. Health care as a whole is changing. We’re

Bob Crisp/The Daily Home

In the emergency room at Citizens Baptist Medical Center, the Pegasus Group has been “working with the staff to shorten the overall length of stay and the time it takes to see a physician,” said Joe Taylor, hospital administrator.

Other new faces include Dr. Sara Sadiq, an internist, and Dr. Peter D’sa, a gastroenterologist practicing with Dr. Bashir Hakim.

“That gives us full-time gastroenterology coverage in Talladega,” Taylor said.

In the emergency room, the Pegasus Group has been hired to work at Citizens and three other Baptist Health System hospitals.

“They’ve been working with the staff to shorten the overall length of stay Administrator and the time it takes to see Joel Taylor a physician. Many of our patients interact with the Heinz Duffer has come hospital through the emeraboard as the ER director, gency room, and meeting their expectations is criti- and Taylor said he is “very pleased with his leadercal.”

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“We’re looking at land acquisition and building costs, and whether there is enough demand from the physicians’ standpoint.

We will be evaluating all of that going forward,” Taylor said.

“Our focus,” he concluded, “will always be on the patients, the physicians and service to the community.”

Potential poisoning by carbon monoxide is a serious issue, said Kristy of Affordable Heating & Air, LLC. “Carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas produced by faulty gas heating systems - and it can kill you.” she said.

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ship. He’s really made some great strides with the medical staff.”

Taylor said he will continue to focus on Citizens’ role as a community hospital. “We’ll be adding physicians and specialties that we need to serve this community,” he explained.

“We’re looking for a pulmonologist, and we have a good relationship now with Cardiovascular Associates.

We’re also talking with a neurosurgeon. He won’t be doing surgery here, but he will be here for imaging procedures and follow-up care in Talladega.”

In addition to physician recruitment, office space is also likely to become an issue. Right now, a pro-

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THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 13, 2011 —19

St. Clair ‘excited’ about new hospital Home staff writer

The new St. Vincent’s St. Clair Hospital will help better address the needs of county residents.

“Everyone is excited about the new hospital,” said Terrell Vick, chief transition officer for St. Vincent’s St. Clair.

The St. Clair County Health Care Authority, the St. Clair County Commission, the city of Pell City, the St. Clair County Economic Development Council and St. Vincent’s Health System are working together to build the two-story hospital, which will replace the existing St. Vincent’s St. Clair Hospital.

The new hospital will sit on a 20-acre site west of Jefferson State Community College’s Pell City campus.

The new hospital will be visible from the Interstate 20 corridor.

Commission Chairman Stan Batemon said the new hospital is essential to the county to provide indigent care.

“Under Alabama law, all counties must provide indigent health care,” he said.

Batemon said St. Vincent’s St. Clair provides that indigent care to county residents and absorbs the cost.

“If we didn’t have the hospital to provide indigent care, those residents would have to go to other area referral hospitals,” he said.

“If they did that, St. Clair County would have to pay up to $4 million a year for

identifiable indigent care.”

Batemon said the new hospital is worth an estimated $4 million a year in indigent care services, even though the county does not currently pay that amount to the hospital.

“That is not why we built the new hospital,” he said. “What drove me to support the new hospital is the future needs of indigent health care for St. Clair County government.”

Batemon said building a new hospital and getting it up and running is essential before the lease on the current hospital runs out.

An artist’s rendering of the new St. Vincent’s St. Clair Hospital.

“The health care authority doesn’t want to run a hospital, and no one will lease the old hospital,” he said. “And the new hospital won’t lose $4 million a year.”

Batemon said the new hospital will attract insured

patients, which will increase the number of people helping pay for health care.

“Another reason to build the new hospital is to start providing quality medical care in a quality setting to all citizens, not just indi-

Contact Elsie Hodnett at ehodnett@dailyhome.com.

Quality Healthcare

The 40-bed, 79,000square-foot hospital is scheduled to open in fall 2011. The total cost of the project is $31.4 million.

“One of the changes the new hospital will bring is to inpatient services,” Vick said. “The 40 beds will be all private rooms.”

Vick said the current hospital has both private and semi-private rooms.

“Many hospitals have transitioned to having all private rooms, and the new hospital will offer that,” he said.

Vick said the new hospital capacity of 40 beds should more than meet the current hospital patient load.

“The current average is 20 inpatient patients a day,” he said. “The new capacity is double that, with room for 40 patients a day.”

Vick said the new facility design continues focusing on improvements to the emergency department.

“There is a great need in the county for emergency services,” he said. “The new hospital has double the current capacity in the emergency department.”

Vick said doubling the units in the emergency department is expected to reduce wait times.

“We are in the process of streamlining and improving the department,” he said.

The ground floor of the hospital will house the emergency department, laboratory, dietary department (or cafeteria), administration, hospital chapel, lobby and other departments.

Surgery, same day surgery preparation and recovery/observation, waiting, critical care unit, inpatient rooms and the pharmacy are located on the second floor.

Vick said the new hospital will also feature a number of enhanced imaging services, including a 64slick CAT scan (CT), stateof-the-art MRI system and nuclear medicine.

“Another big thing is the hospital is going to attract specialty physicians, which will keep people from having to travel to Birmingham for those services,” he said.

“We hope to attract fulltime physician coverage, and also part-time, for specialties such as cardiology, orthopedics, oncology and others.”

Jason Goodgame, of Goodgame Co., who is the project manager for the hospital, said everything is on schedule.

“Construction is going extremely well,” he said.

The hospital was designed by architects at Birchfield Penuel and Associates and is being constructed by Hoar Construction LLC and Goodgame.

Goodgame said good preplanning has aided construction, and no speed bumps have arisen.

“It has flowed scarysmooth so far,” he said.

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gents,” he said. “And studies show that a new hospital will provide quality health care to many people who don’t go to an indigent care hospital.”

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20 — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 13, 2011

health & education

The Village a full service senior living community

By GARY HANNER Home staff writer

Located in a pastoral area just off Interstate 20, the Village at Cook Springs offers a unique setting for senior living. No matter if it is independent living, assisted living or specialty care assisted living, the Village is a full-service senior living community.

“It’s a retirement community in a rural setting,” said Sheryl Mulvehill, who has been marketing director at the Village for more than six years. “We’ve got the lake here and the barn, along with easy access to the outdoors.”

“Back years ago, Cook Springs was a resort hotel,” Mulvehill said. “The train ran through here and people would stop and bathe in the mineral waters. There

was a dance hall, swimming pool and all kinds of things. Later, the resort burned down, which was kind of sad.”

In the 1950s, it was nothing but a nursing home. Mulvehill said assisted living was started in the mid-1980s.

Currently, a total of 265 residents live in all the different areas that make up the Village at Cook Springs, with just over 200 employees there.

Noland Heath Services took over in 2001.

Following is a breakdown of what the Village has to offer today.

Independent Living Apartments There are one- and twobedroom plans available.

Apartments include complete kitchens, washers and

dryers, basic utilities, monitored emergency response system, and more.

Residents enjoy a meal plan and housekeeping as part of their monthly rent, with optional services available for reasonable fees.

At this time, there are eight residents living independently.

Assisted Living It’s called Springs Manor and accommodations include housekeeping, laundry and full meal service. Residents enjoy the independence of their own suite, while knowing they have special assistance from a caring staff when needed.

There are levels of assistance for activities of daily living, including medication assistance and bathing assistance available.

Temporary respite care is

also available.

Mulvehill said the difference between independent living and assisted living is independent living is just like folks renting an apartment.

There are 74 residents living in this area.

Specialty Care Assisted Living for Dementia Residents It’s called Wisteria Springs and is available in a separate and distinct area.

It is designed to promote security and comfort for residents in early to moderate stages of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

The experienced staff is trained to work with the physical, mental and emotional challenges of residents with memory impairment.

There are 15 residents living at Wisteria Springs.

“However, we recently got licensed for 37, so we have remodeled the downstairs,” she said. “We will soon be opening that area, which is a much larger area,” Mulvehill said.

Skilled Nursing Facility What is known as the nursing home portion of the Village, this facility has experienced, caring, aroundthe-clock nursing care for senior residents.

Semi-private and private rooms are available, with dining rooms located down the hall in close proximity for easy access.

Mulvehill said there are 168 residents in this area of the Village of Cook Springs.

Gary Hanner/The Daily Home

Village resident Peggy Hildreth enjoys entertaining people with her singing and playing the piano.

services to restore lost or diminished abilities after an illness or injury by treating the whole person.

“Our objective is to return each resident to his or her highest level of functioning,” Mulvehill said. “We achieve our goals by combining a highly qualified professional staff, state-of-the-art equipment and a restorative environment that encourages progress.”

Outpatient services are also available.

Mulvehill said the goal at the Village is to provide the best in senior living.

“We want them to feel Gary Hanner/The Daily Home secure, know their needs are met and at the same Cornerstone It’s known as the PET System and it stands for personal emergency time they are in the least Rehabilitation Center transmitter. Residents at the Village wear the transmitter around their This center provides restrictive environment,” necks in case of an emergency. From left are Marguerite Arnett, Betty short-term rehabilitation she said. “We want everyFordham and Ruby O’Donnell.

body to feel like this is their home.”

Working at the Village Mulvehill said it is the people who live at the Village who keep her coming back to one of the greatest jobs she ever had.

“It is the residents and the staff I work with,” she said. “I love getting the phone call from a person who does not know what to do with elderly parents.

Hopefully, we will be the answer but if not, I can tell that person the best place to go.”

For more information about the Village at Cook Springs, call 205-8143199.

Contact Gary Hanner at ghanner@thestclairtimes. com.

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