By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com

FORT PAYNE, Ala. — Last Thursday, Fort Payne City Schools Superintendent Jim Cunningham announced his retirement, effective October 1, 2021.

"I want to thank you for the opportunity you've given me for the past 36 years of working for Fort Payne City Schools," Cunningham said. "This has been the best thing that's ever happened because of the great school system and great community."

Cunningham is a lifelong Fort Payne native and a 1975 graduate of Fort Payne High School. He completed a bachelor's degree in education at Jacksonville State University (JSU) in 1979 and began his career in Jackson County shortly after. He began work at his alma mater in 1984, and has held various positions within the school system ever since, including: assistant principal at Fort Payne High School, principal at Forest Avenue Elementary, principal at Wills Valley Elementary, principal at Fort Payne High School, and eventually, superintendent. 

During Tuesday's meeting, Cunningham also moved to reward school staff for going above and beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic with a one-time supplemental payment of $1,250 for all regular and certified employees if they worked during the 2020-21 school year.

Updates were not given on the process of finding Cunningham's replacement might begin.