Marla Jones, Managing Editor
FORT PAYNE, Ala.- The Fort Payne Board of Education held its first meeting of 2023 on Thursday, January 26.
The Board approved the purchase of two (2) school buses through Sourcewell, a pre-approved Cooperative Purchasing Agreement approved by the ALSDE, in the amount of $309,962.00. The new buses will be 2024 Blue Bird T3FE 3909 84-passenger buses with Valeo Rooftop AC, at a price of $154,981.00 each to add to their existing fleet.
The following Resignations were approved by the Board:
• Madison Dodd, First Grade Teacher at Wills Valley Elementary School, effective December 14, 2022
• Janet Thomas, System-wide SPE Aide/LPN, effective January 20, 2023
• Angela Jeffery-Grizzard, System-wide EL Teacher, effective January 26, 2023
• Misty Harmon, Bus Driver, effective January 31, 2023
• Brandi Battles, RSIT Team Member at Wills Valley Elementary School, effective February 1, 2023
• Nancy Williams, System-wide CNP Worker, effective January 20, 2023
The following transfers were approved:
• Stormy Stevens, Science Teacher at Fort Payne High School, to Assistant Principal at Little Ridge Intermediate School, effective date pending upon a qualified Science Teacher being hired at Fort Payne High School
• Malcolm Rufus Daniel, Half-time Bus Driver, to a Full-time Bus Driver, within the Fort Payne City School System, effective February 1, 2023, and non-renew his contract on May 25, 2023
• Carole Waites, CNP Manager at Wills Valley Elementary School, to an Assistant CNP Manager at Williams Avenue School, effective January 23, 2023
• Brandy Rosson, System-wide CNP Worker, to an Assistant CNP Manager, effective January 23, 2023, and non-renew her contract on May 26, 2023
The board approved the following personnel recommendations, as submitted
: • Heath Shaddix, as an Assistant Track Coach at Fort Payne High School, effective for the 2023 Track Season
• Luis Ramirez, as a Volunteer Varsity Boys Soccer Coach at Fort Payne High School, effective for the 2023 Soccer Season (Pending suitable ABI/FBI Background Check)
• Alba Contreras Molina, as a First Grade Teacher at Wills Valley Elementary School, effective January 30, 2023, and non-renew her contract on May 26, 2023
• Mallory Debter, as System-wide Special Education Aide, effective February 1, 2023, and non-renew her contract on May 26, 2023 (Pending WorkKey Test scores)
• Kim Lands, as a 2nd Grade RSIT Team Member, effective February 1, 2023
The additions to the following substitute personnel list, effective for the 2022-2023 school year, were approved:
• Bus
• CNP
• Nurse
• Teacher
The following Out-of-state travel was approved:
- Patrick Barnes, Athletic Director/Principal at FPHS •
- FPHS – Kristi Clifton/FPCS Career Coach – Interested Seniors Feb 8, 2023 - South East Lineman Training Center, Trenton, GA
- FPHS – Winterguard February 18, 2023 – Mill Creek High School, Hoschton, GA
- FPHS Varsity Baseball February 23, 2023 – Chattooga High School, Summerville, GA
- FPHS Track & Field March 3-4, 2023 – Rome Invitational Track Meet, Rome, GA
- FPHS – Robotics March 15-18, 2023 – FIRST Magnolia Robotics Competition, Laurel, MS
- The Following items were approved by the Board:
- Fort Payne Middle School 9 Weeks Text Exemption Requirements for the 2022-2023 school year, as submitted.
- Noon Pre-School Special Needs Bus Route Driver Salary Schedule be a minimum of 2 hours per day, retroactive to December 5, 2022, as submitted.
- Textbook Committee Members, as submitted.
- Fort Payne City Schools 2023-2024 Academic Calendar, as submitted.
- Extending the lowest bid with Wallace Construction in the amount of $34,110.00 substantially in compliance with the required specifications, effective March 1, 2023- February 28, 2024, as allowed in the bid options for a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th-year renewal, for Lawn Care and Lawn Maintenance at the following Fort Payne City School Locations, as submitted:
• Little Ridge Intermediate School
• Williams Avenue Elementary School
• Wills Valley Elementary School
• Bus Barn/Maintenance
- Extending the lowest bid with Thrive Outdoor in the amount of $33,164.00 substantially in compliance with the required specifications, effective March 1, 2023 – February 28, 2024, as allowed in the bid options for a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th-year renewal, for Lawn Care and Lawn Maintenance at the following Fort Payne City School Locations, as submitted:
• Fort Payne High School
• Fort Payne Middle School
• Central Office
- The McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison Job Description, as submitted.
Approved the Fort Payne City Schools McKinney-Vento Homeless Plan, as submitted.
Superintendent Brian Jett recognized the Fort Payne City Board of Education Members in honor of School Board Member Appreciation Month. He thanked the Board Members for their dedication to the students and staff of this system.
Mr. Jett recognized the following in his report
- Fort Payne High School Culinary students, Mrs. Thacker and Mrs. McClung for their outstanding performance.
- FPHS Wrestling Team and Coaches on a great season. The wrestling team competed in the Region 8 Dual tournament on January 3rd. Fort Payne came out as the region champs after going 3-0 and defeating Hazel Green (70- 12), Buckhorn(64-9), and Mae Jemison (57-24). This was Fort Payne’s first region championship since the state duals began in 2017. They competed at Athens in the 1st round of the playoffs and won (39-3), but fell short in the 2nd round losing to Hartselle. Fort Payne Wrestling has an overall Dual (team) record this year of 18-6. Sectionals will be held on February 10th. The State Tournament will be on February 16th.
- FPHS Drama Department. Their competitive one-act play Victor, placed 4th in State at the Alabama Conference of Theatre Trumbauer competition. They won Best Technical Show in the state and Cecilia Gifford, Savanah Shoemaker, and Gabe Hardinger won Best in Show acting awards. Victor was presented to Fort Payne in the Williams Ave theatre. Upcoming shows include Clue (presented by the Drama class) and Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (presented as the Senior play). Both of these shows will be at the Williams Ave theatre which is the new home for all things FPHS Drama.
- FPMS students and staff for their achievements.
VFW Patriots Pen Winners: • Lindsay Davis • Will Mauney • Dhara Patel
District Teacher of the Year Middle School: • Brandee Hughes
District Post 3128 Americanism Award: • John Elliott
Mr. Jett announced the Fort Payne Middle School Robotics Team competed on January 14, 2023. The team won the OVERALL CHAMPIONS AWARD. This is the second year the team has won this award at the State Qualifier.
The following 6th Grade students qualified for the State Robotics Competition at FPHS on February 18th:
• Caden Hairell
• Dana Francisco Jimenez
• Brylee Hunter
• Malachi Kemp
• Luz Perdo
• Alfredo Diego
• Ava Grace Walker
• Rebeca Rodriguez-Lopez
• Yaratzi Wong
The following students will compete at the Alabama State Invitational in March:
• Victoria Fowler
• Derek Shi
• Sophia Al-Halaseh
• Seanna Lance
• Atticus Sparks
• Nandini Patel
• Isa Iglesias
• Kaleigh Domingo
• Maura Roberts
• Parker Bates
• Edwin Francisco
Mr. Jett announced the 5th Grade Electro-Lights STEM Robotics competed on January 21, 2023. The team won the CORE VALUES AWARD (2nd place), qualifying their team for the State Robotic Competition at Fort Payne High School, on February 18, 2022.
The following 5th Grade students qualified for the State Robotics Competition at FPHS on February 18th:
• Hudson Davis
• Coshen Argo
• Jaden Martinez
• McKenzie Bynum
• Kate Kramer
• Bentley Henderson
• Annsley Pacini
• Hiedi Rojas
• ZaNiyah
• Stanton Mata
• Alejandro Mata
Mr. Jett announced that Jamie McClung applied and was selected for the following grants:
- Alabama Robotics Grant 2023 in the amount of $3,500 at FPHS
- Alabama Robotics Grant 2023 in the amount of $3,467 at FPMS
The next meeting of the Fort Payne Board of Education will be held on February 23, 2023, at 6:00 PM in the conference room of the Central Office.
