Nonprofit Mississippi News CLARKSDALE – After months of trying to get her $120,000 a-year job back, Xandra brooks-keys, ex-superintendant of the Coahoma Country School District, will finally get a hearing. She will also have an opportunity to present her side. Brooks-Keys was fired by the Coahoma County Chancery Court. The hearing has been set and the litigation has been halted until the end of the hearing. Brooks-Keys was fired by the Board of Trustees of Coahoma County Schools District at a special called meeting held on March 27. She was initially placed on a suspension of five days, but this was later lifted. Brooks-Keys retained Samuel Begley, a Jackson-based lawyer, to represent her after she was fired. Brooks-Keys’ contract gave her a property right protected by the Fourteenth Amendment. The firm filed a lawsuit. Her contract states that she would not be dismissed from her post unless there was a finding of gross negligence, malfeasance or commission of crime. According to the complaint, Brooks-Keys claimed that she had a property interest in her job and that she should be given notice of any charges against them, explanations of evidence from the employer, and the opportunity to present her side. Brooks-Keys was also accused of not being allowed a hearing by the board in response to her termination. This violated her constitutional rights. Brooks-Keys’ employment with the district was set to end on January 30, 2023. The contract was signed June 14, 2016. Brooks-Keys was not harmed by the district Board of Trustees’ decision to terminate the Plaintiff “for legitimate reasons, in conformity with her contract”. They noted that she had failed to create an alternative school program as required under the State and hired employees without the approval of the board. Brooks-Keys’ attorneys moved for partial summary judgment to address her claim that she had the right to a hearing and notice before her termination. The court granted her motion. The court granted Brooks-Keys’ motion. Each party must agree to a hearing officer. If no agreement is reached the court will appoint one. According to the order, the district will pay for the hearing officer. Brooks-Keys was appointed first as superintendent for the 2016-2017 school years. John Mac Curlee was appointed interim superintendent until June 30, following Brooks-Keys’s resignation. Dr. Ilean Ricks is now the interim superintendent of Leflore County schools.