Marla Jones, Managing Editor
marla@southerntorch.com
FORT PAYNE, Ala.-- The Fort Payne City Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, February 23.
Fort Payne Superintendent Brian Jett announced that Dr. Adkins applied for the FY22 National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance Grant and Subgrants and that the school's CNP department was awarded $337,267.000 in grant funds.
These funds will be used as follows:
• FPMS $ 61,000.00 Dishwasher
• WAS $ 29,000.00 Tilt Skillet
• WAS $ 75,267.00 Walk-in Freezer
• LRIS $ 66,000.00 Dishwasher
• WVES $106,000.00 Serving Lines
The Board accepted the following personnel resignations, as submitted:
• Hunter Pope, Pre-K Aide at Williams Avenue School, effective March 1, 2023
• Brooklyn Brown, 3rd Grade MSIT Team Member at Little Ridge Intermediate School,
effective February 28, 2023
• Stormy Stevens, Assistant Boys Basketball Coach, effective January 26, 2023
• Stormy Stevens, Assistant Tennis Coach, January 26, 2023
• Keri Garrett, RSIT Team Member at Little Ridge Intermediate School, effective
February 16, 2023
The following transfers were approved as submitted:
• Raylene Cruse, CNP Assistant Manager at Wills Valley Elementary School, to a CNP
Manager at Wills Valley Elementary School, effective February 6, 2023
• Kary Bobo, CNP Worker at Wills Valley Elementary School, to a CNP Assistant
Manager at Wills Valley Elementary School, effective February 6, 2023
The Board approved the following personnel recommendations, as submitted:
• Yuliana Cedillo, Pre-K Aide at Williams Avenue School, effective March 2, 2023, and non-renew her contract on May 26, 2023
• Rachel Abrams, as a System-wide CNP Worker, effective February 13, 2023, and non-
renew her contract on May 26, 2023
• Diaz Frost, as a System-wide CNP Worker, effective February 13, 2023, and non-
renew his contract on May 26, 2023
• Steven Goff, as an Assistant Tennis Coach at Fort Payne High School, effective for the
2022-2023 school year
The Board approved the following:
- Additions to the following substitute personnel lists, effective
for the 2022-2023 school year, as submitted:
• CNP
• EDP
• SPE Bus Aide
• Teacher
- Virtual School Day option for 9th, 10th, and 12th Grade Students on March 14, 2023, due to testing, as submitted.
- A 12-Month Certificate of Deposit to be opened at First Southern State Bank, in the name of the Fort Payne City Board of Education, with a renewal option each year, as submitted.
In the Superintendent’s Report, Mr. Jett recognized the following students for auditioning and securing a spot in All-State Band and District 2 Honor Band.
“This is a huge accomplishment for these students and our band program. Congratulations
to these students representing Fort Payne at the District and State levels” stated Jett.
District 2 Honor Band
• Brianna Chavez
• Sophia Shi
• Caleb Jacobs
• Aaron Trevino
• Rilee Smith
• Jorge Serrano
• Judson Guice
• Rebecca Clayton
• Samantha Keith
All-State
• Sophia Shi – Alternate
• Caleb Jacobs – Red Band
• Aaron Trevino – Blue Band
• Jorge Serrano – Blue Band
• Judson Guice – Blue Band
• Samantha Keith – Red Band
Mr. Jett congratulated the indoor track team on their performance at the state track meet. The
girls 4x800m relay team earned a bronze medal.
• Anahi Barboza
• Madison Wright
• Abigail Vega
• Kyndal Hughes
The boy's 4x800m relay team placed 4th
• Lane Pilotte
• Ian Norman
• Pablo Rodrigue
• Sam Moses
• Aubrey Evans placed 4th in the high jump
• Skyler Cody placed 4th in the 60m hurdles.
The girls 4x400m relay team placed 5th
• Ruthie Jones
• Anahi Barboza
• Sophia Trammell
• Lydie Varnadore
• Lydie Varnadore placed 6th in the triple jump
• Aubrey Evans placed 8th In the triple jump
Mr. Jett was happy to share that Laurel Shugart is one of 40 National Aspirations in Computing
Award winners. Laurel was the only student representing Alabama in this year’s awardees. She
has been invited to an awards ceremony in North Carolina where she will receive this award on March 11, 2023.
Mr. Jett was proud to announce that Jordan Binkley and John Riley Thompson have been invited to present their app, Dadify, from the Congressional App Challenge at the US Capitol in Washington DC.
Mr. Jett was pleased to announce that after winning their Qualifier for State, the Fort Payne Middle School STEAM Robotics 6th grade team was one of three overall Champions at State. They placed third overall. The following students make up the 6h Grade Robotics Team:
• Caden Hairell
• Dana Francisco Jiménez
• Brylee Hunter
• Malachi Kemp
• Luz Pedro
• Alfredo Diego
• Ava Grace Walker
• Rebeca Rodriguez-Lopez
• Yaratzi Wong
Superintendent Jett also announced that after winning 2nd place at their Qualifier for State, the Little Ridge Intermediate School STEAM Robotics 5th grade ROOKIE Team placed in the Top 10 out of 24 teams in the State Championships. They were recognized for Engineering Excellence. The following students make up the 5th Grade Rookie Team:
• Hudson Davis
• Alejandro Mata
• Cohen Argo
• Jaden Alexander Martinez
• McKenzie Bynum
• Kate Kramer
• Bentley Henderson
• Annsley Pacini
• Hiedi Rojas
• ZaNiyah Stanton
Mr. Jett congratulated the students and their coaches on their outstanding accomplishments. He also thanked Student Coaches Clark McClung, Kendall Binkley, Nandini Patel, Maura Roberts, Laurel Shugart, Kendall Binkley and Seanna Lance for their participation
Mr. Jett announced the FPHS Wrestling Team participated at the State Wrestling Tournament in
Huntsville on February 17.
• Carter Blalock-4h place
• Tucker Burkhead- 6th place
• Parker Wilson -6th place.
Mr. Jett congratulated the Real-World Design Team and their coach, Mrs. Chappell on winning the State Competition. They have been invited to compete in the National Competition in April. This year’s team members are:
• Caleb Jacobs
• Emily Landry
• Pablo Rodriguez
• Stephanie Rocha
• Preston Hunt
• Adamari Juarez
• Weston Hamilton
The next Fort Payne City Schools Board of Education meeting will be held on March 23, at 6:00 PM in the conference room of the Central Office.
