// this is called by my httpXMLRequest with the action=update_timers...

if( isset( $_GET['action'])  ){

  $inter = new interface_handler();

        ignore_user_abort();

        $action=$_GET['action'];
        $id=$_GET['id'];

          switch ($action)
          {
            // each of these functions ends with an echo function

            case 'update_timers':
                 $inter->update_teachers();
                 $inter->update_recruiters();
                 $inter->update_schools();
                 $inter->show_reminder();
                           exit ;
            break;