At the May 18 Fort Payne City Council meeting, Council member John Smith suggested the city should give first responders a one-time bonus and proposed that the city name a street leading into the new school after the superintendent who managed its construction. The city attorney also gave an update on efforts to demolish the old DeKalb General Hospital.
Smith said the city should dedicate the $1,063,000 in CARES Act money it has received toward $1,250 bonuses for full-time employees of the police, fire and E-911 departments and $625 for part-time employees of the same.
âOur first responders worked through this every day, never had a day off,â Smith said. âWe received updates about how many of them got COVID or had to quarantine. Iâd like to take this first payment and reward them.â
The Fort Payne Board of Education reluctantly accepted Superintendent Jim Cunninghamâs announcement that he plans to retire, effective October 1.
Board members offered their gratitude for his 36 years of service to the city schools, including the past 18 at the helm, as they began the search for a successor.
âThis has been the best thing thatâs ever happened to me because we have a great school system in a great community, working with outstanding board members, and I really appreciate that,â Cunningham said. âOur employees are fantastic, as you know.â
Board attorney Rocky Watson and Board President Jimmy Durham offered comments praising Cunninghamâs forward-looking leadership to build campus facilities and tech infrastructure that have resulted in academic and athletic excellence, including success in keeping children learning and reopening schools despite the many challenges of doing so during a pandemic.
Fort Payne City Schools to go virtual on Friday for staff members to get first vaccine dose waff.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from waff.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.