Among a number of routine actions last week, the Fort Payne Board of Education approved a school calendar for 2024-2025, with one change they expect to be welcomed by teachers.
Superintendent Brian Jett explained the calendar will give teachers a professional development day in July that they can spend getting their classrooms ready for the coming school year. He said teachers would not have meetings that day, and it could be taken at any time during the month, as arranged with the school administrators.
“We think it will be good for morale and for getting ready for the first day of school,” Jett said.
Otherwise, he said, it’s a typical calendar. School will start for students Aug. 7 and last day will be May 22. Fall break will be Oct. 14-15, he said, to correspond with the dates of the DeKalb County Fair – something that had been requested. School will be out for a week at Thanksgiving and two weeks at Christmas, he said, and of course, a week for spring break.
The board approved a number of personnel actions:
Termination – Jacob Phillips, mechanic’s assistant, effective Nov. 7, 2023
Retirement – Daphne “Didi” Barron, ELA teacher at Fort Payne High School, effective Jan. 13
Resignations:
Gary Culberson, bus driver, effective Nov. 28, 2023
Lisa May, CNP worker at Fort Payne Middle School, effective Dec. 21, 2023
Kim Lands, Reading School Improvement Team member at Wills Valley Elementary School, effective Jan. 15
Recommendations (Each recommendation is made pending a background review which meets suitability criteria, clear employment drug screening and valid Alabama certification in the area being taught.):
Shana Talley, ELA teacher at Fort Payne High School, effective Jan. 8
Seal of Biliteracy
Team Personnel, effective for the 2023-2024 school year – Katherine Kilby, Fort Payne High School; Sumer Chesnut, Fort Payne High School
Alisha Stephens, Reading School Improvement Team member for Wills Valley Elementary School, effective Jan. 15
Sadie Long Stone, fifth-grade teacher at Little Ridge Intermediate School, effective Jan. 8
Lauren Gibbs Everette, fourth-grade teacher at Little Ridge Intermediate School, effective Jan. 8
Jennifer Cole, Central Office receptionist/accounts payable, effective Jan. 8
Nicholas Brooks, mechanics assistant within the transportation department of the FPCS, effective Feb. 1
Christianne Kalish, system-wide SPE aide within the FPSC system, effective Nov. 15, 2023
Randy Justice, bus driver, effective Nov. 13, 2023
Michael Banks, half-time bus driver, effective Feb. 1
Kayla Mitchell, Social Media Communications within the Fort Payne City School System, effective Dec. 1, 2023
EDP teachers – Kim Traylor and Elizabeth Rider
In other action, the board:
Approved additions to the substitute personnel list for the 2023-2024 school year
Approved out-of-state travel for FPHS Principal/Athletic Director Scott Timmons for Fort Payne Baseball Team trips Feb. 17 to Pickens High School in Jaspar, Ga. and Feb. 22 to Dade County High School in Trenton, Ga; and FPSH Girls Soccer Team trips March 5 to Coahulla Creek High School in Dalton, Ga. and April 9 to Dade County High School in Trenton, Ga.
Approved the updated salary schedule for the position of mechanic’s assistant
Approved updates for the Fort Payne City Board of Education Policy Manual effective Jan. 26 as submitted.
Approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Rejas Business Solutions and the FPCS System for digital communications and community relations services effective Jan. 2024 through June 2024
Approved extending the low bid with Wallace Construction in the amount of $34,110 susbstantially in compliance with the required specifications, effective March 1-Feb. 28, 2025 for lawn care and maintenance at Little Ridge Intermediate School, Williams Avenue Elementary School, Wills Valley Elementary School, and Bus Barn Maintenance
Approved extending the low bid with Thrive Outdoor in the amount of $33,164 substantially in compliance with the required specifications, effective March 1-Feb. 28, 2025 for lawn care and maintenance at Fort Payne High School, Fort Payne Middle School, and the central office
Approved financial statement and bank reconciliation reports from November 2023 and December 2023
In the superintendent’s report, Jett congratulated FPHS Girls Basketball Coach on his 500th win, which occurred Dec. 22 when the Lady Wildcats defeated Sardis during the Wills Valley Shootout.
“Fort Payne High School along with myself appreciates Coach
Sparks and all his hard work and dedication to our school and to coaching,” Jett said. “We look forward to the next 500 wins.”
Jett congratulated the FPHS Wrestling Team on being region champs, and the JROTC varsity 3-Position Air-Rifle Team for remaining undefeated which 5-0 wins over Columbia and Brookwood. He said the team posted a team high score of 955 in the win over Brookwood. The JV team is 4-0 with their win over Cullman and awaited results from its week 5 match with Sparkman.
Jett congratulated Alex Gonzalez for placing 4th in the Microsoft Office Specialist Fall Alabama State Championship in Microsoft Word and Giovani Rocha who came in 8th in the Microsoft Office Specialist Fall State Alabama Championship in Microsoft PowerPoint. “Great job in representing Fort Payne High School,” he said.
The superintendent congratulated Caleb Wigley for being selected as the Elementary Teacher of the Year and Angela Evans as the Secondary Teacher of the Year for the Fort
Payne City School System. “I wish them the best of luck as they move into the competition for Alabama Teacher of the Year,” he said.
Jett told board members the final inspection for the BEAT Center was slated for Tuesday.
He also thanked the Culinary Department for a delicious meal honoring board members.
Jett thanked the School Board Members for an outstanding job and being invested in the future of our students and school system.
The board’s next meeting will be 6 p.m. Feb. 2.
