Nonprofit Mississippi News CLARKSDALE – Xandra Brooks Keys, a former superintendent who was paid $120,000 per year, is trying to get her job back. She also wants full back pay and reimbursement for her attorney fees. Samuel L. Begley of Begley Law Firm PLLC, based in Jackson filed a complaint against the Board of Trustees of Coahoma Country School District seeking to reinstate Brooks-Keys. Nathaniel Armistad, the school board attorney, could not be reached for comment. Brooks-Keys filed the complaint to seek judicial review of the district’s action to “allegedly terminate her employment” as well as her five-day suspension. Brooks-Keys was fired by the district on March 27. Begley stated that she was totally blindsided by this decision. Begley said, “It just happened out of nowhere.” She wanted to tell her side of the story. It was too stigmatizing, she thought. “I keep asking for a hearing to determine if we can resolve it, but we’re still waiting.” In January, Brooks-Keys was initially suspended without pay. Patrick Campbell, the president of the Board, wrote to Brooks-Keys explaining the reasons behind the decision. Begley stated that the reasons were: * Failures to communicate with parents regarding disciplinary actions or other incidents concerning their children; * Failures to properly supervise and hold your staff accountable for their actions/inactions. * Subordination: Failure to effectively communicate with Brooks-Keys about absences and failures to set up an alternate school as required by state law. Brooks-Keys stated that he was unsure that the board had the power to suspend her for five days. A letter from the school board on Jan. 23 informed Brooks-Keys of the suspension hearing, which was set for February 9 at the Coahoma county central office. Begley requested that the hearing be continued because Begley had just been appointed to represent Brooks Keys. Begley wrote to Armistad on February 1 to request the continuation of the hearing. Although the suspension hearing was originally scheduled for March 2, Begley requested that the hearing be opened to the public. On February 9, Begley also wrote to Armistad asking for the testimony of the five members of the board, which included Campbell, Lester Myles and Rico Smith as well as Edward Kinnard. Begley stated that she wanted to look at them and see how they came to the decision to suspend the superintendent. “Let’s hold the hearing so that all citizens can find out about it and, since you five gentlemen were decision makers on her termination, or on her suspension, rather than giving me an opportunity to ask you individual questions on the record under oath at what led you to make that decision? The complaint claims that Armistad stated in a telephone call that it would be difficult for a hearing to be scheduled if all members of the board had to testify. Brooks-Keys could have a pre-discipline hearing if she was suspended, but the board could terminate her. “When she became aggressive, counsel advised her and they decided to fire her. Begley stated that this was the best thing that could have happened. Brooks-Keys’ employment was set to end on January 30, 2023, according to her contract with the district. On June 14, 2016, the contract was signed. The contract states that the supervisor would not be dismissed unless there was a finding of gross negligence, malfeasance or commission of crime. She claimed that she had a property interest in her job and she should be given notice of any charges against them, explanations of evidence from her employer, and an opportunity to hear the employee’s side. Brooks-Keys was not given an opportunity to hear from the board before her termination. This violated her constitutional rights. John Mac Curlee is the interim superintendent of the district. He was the former conservator for the Aberdeen and Tate County Schools.