By Bonita Wilborn
In a meeting of the Fort Payne City Board of Education several personnel actions were taken and retirees were recognized for their years of service and their many contributions to the school system and students.
The three retirees in attendance were presented plaques were Melinda Horton retired from the central office after 26 years with the school system, Coach Heath Vincent retired after 24 ½ years in education, and Bus driver Pamela Whitely retired after 29 years.
Other retirees were: Michael Kean – 10 years, Jesus “Jessie” Gamez – 22 years, Sharon Brown – 12 years, Kala Kirby,- 25 years, Susan Hollingsworth – 25 years, Patricia Brown – 26 years, Sammy Joe Hill – 13 years, Masha Phillips – 25 years, and Jerome Carter – 10 years.
In other business the board:
- accepted the resignations effective May 26 for: Tammy Trotman – Wills Valley Elementary School, Kellie Poe – Pre-K teacher at Williams Avenue, Miriam Nallely Elorza – system-wide EL teacher, Cora Young – system-wide SPE teacher, Paige Brown – system-wide SPE teacher, Angela Kirby Wright – system-wide SPE aide, and Donye Richardson – system-wide SPE aide.
- approved transfer: Kathy Landry – from receptionist/accounts payable to special education secretary effective June 1.
- support staff employees were non-renewed: Nicolette Waller – vocational rehabilitation job coach, Fort Payne High School (the position was grant funded and the grant did not renew), Mary Williams – custodian – Little Ridge Intermediate School, Victoria Francisco Jose – system-wide CNP worker, Mary Darwin – system-wide CNP worker.
- certified staff members were non-renewed: Nathan Waites – Health, Fort Payne High School, Alexandria Carter -first grade Wills Valley Elementary School, and Kelsie Green – system-wide special education teacher.
- approved employees within the school system – effective June 1: Jamie Fleming – summer reading program bus driver, Cassandra Hester – summer reading program bus driver, Miranda Simmons – summer reading program substitute bus driver.
- approved employees within the school system – effective August 1: Jacob Martin Peek – P.E. teacher at Fort Payne Middle School, Timothy Elijah White – elementary teacher at Little Ridge Elementary School, Jessica “Hope” Hoge – elementary teacher at Little Ridge Elementary School, Amanda Taylor – elementary teacher at Wills Valley Elementary School, Stevie Potts – elementary teacher at Little Ridge Intermediate School, Elizabeth Rider – system-wide special education teacher, Victoria Thomas – system-wide special education teacher, Lauren Kreuze – system-wide special education teacher, Cynthia Keith – system-wide special education aide/LPN (pending ABI/FBI background check results), John David Willoughby – system-wide SPE aide,
- effective for the 2023-2024 school year: Kaitlyn Veal, co-cheerleading sponsor at Fort Payne High School, Lacie Davis, co-cheerleading sponsor at Fort Payne High School,
- approve non-renewal of contracts for certified and support personnel, not detailed in the board’s agenda, and approved renewal of one-year contracts for certified personnel and support personnel not detailed in the board’s agenda.
- approved additions to the CNP and teacher substitute personnel list for the 2023-2024 school year.
- approved changing the date of employment for Jacob Phillips as a mechanic assistant in the transportation department to May 22, 2023. Jett said Phillips was badly needed in the department, and was being brought in to work earlier than originally planned
- approved an updated job description for AP bookkeeper/receptionist
- approved a request for out-of-state travel for FPHS Principal Patrick Barnes for FPHS TV Production-Photography and Editing to Skills USA Nationals June 19-23 to Atlanta.
- approved the revision employment contract of Jamie McClung, Pre-K director at Williams Avenue, from a 10-month to a 12-month contract effective July 1, to have personnel at the school for activities during the summer months, including conferences scheduled there.
- approved awarding a bid to the lowest sole bid substantially in compliance with specifications for one Dragonflyer Commander3 XL Drone to Dragonflyer Innovations Inc. for FPHS. Jett said with a move to use drones to carry payload, getting this drone will allow students to get learning experience using it to delivery inter-office mail at the school.
- approved purchase of cafeteria furniture for Fort Payne Middle School through TIPS, a pre-approved purchasing cooperative by ALSDE. Description of the furniture and plans for the cafeteria will make it look less like an institution, with tables of different shapes and colors.
- approved a budget amendment for FY 2023 and the financial statements and bank reconciliation reports for April 2023.
- elected Carolyn Martin to continue as board president, and Neal Blaine to continue as vice-president of the school board for the 2023-2024 school year.
The board’s next meeting will be Thursday, June 15, at 6:00 PM in the conference room at the central office.
Mountain Valley News (MVN) is your trusted source for weekly hometown news, serving the vibrant communities of DeKalb and Jackson Counties in the heart of Alabama. We're here to bring you the latest stories, events, and happenings, all available conveniently both online and in print.
At MVN, we believe that community engagement is essential. We want to hear from you, our valued readers! Share your opinions, insights, and thoughts on our articles by adding a comment below each story. Your perspective matters, and your comments contribute to the rich tapestry of discussions in our community.
Together, we can foster meaningful conversations and build a stronger sense of community. Join us in shaping the narrative of DeKalb and Jackson Counties. Your voice is important, and we look forward to reading your comments. Let's make our community news a truly interactive experience!
Have a story idea or a topic you'd like to see covered? Feel free to suggest it in the comments or reach out to our dedicated team. We're here to serve you, and your feedback helps us tailor our content to your interests and needs.