Board Backs Superintendent On Firing

Board Backs Superintendent On Firing

By David Howell

Editor

WATER VALLEY – The Water Valley School Board voted unanimously Monday night to uphold superintendent Dr. Michael McInnis’ termination of Water Valley High School Principal Justin Geurin.

Geurin was dismissed on Sept. 14, 10 weeks into his contract for the 2015-16 school year, and appealed the decision. His hearing was held on Oct. 2 during a court-like atmosphere with testimony lasting over eight hours. Monday’s meeting at the district central office allowed closing arguments from both sides before the Board of Trustees made a final decision on the matter.  The meeting was held in executive session and lasted over an hour, with closing arguments from Geurin’s attorney lasting about half of the meeting, and deliberations from school board members taking the other half.

Geurin and superintendent Dr. Michael McInnis and their attorneys remained in the first portion of the meeting. Only the five school board members and school board attorney Trent Howell remained in the room for the second half of the meeting. A crowd of Geurin supporters waited in the lobby of the central office during the meeting, and were present when the meeting reopened for the final decision to be announced.

“This has not been an easy decision. But in weighing everything we had to weigh, and in reading the transcripts, the exhibits and other deliberations we have had among ourselves, the board has reached a decision,” Board President Tay-lor Trustee explained, before announcing the verdict.

In a three-page board order released Tuesday, the school board outlined their decision. (The complete order is published on Page 4 and 5) “After hearing the statements of the parties, reviewing the transcript, exhibits, and hearing officer’s report, it is the opinion of the Board that Mr. Geurin neglected his duties… specifically with respect to his failure to complete the I-Ready Diagnostics for 10th and 11th grade students within the designated time frame; failure to complete the Mississippi Principal’s Evaluation System (MPES) within the designated time frame; failure to distribute I-Ready codes to teachers at Water Valley High school; and failure to comply with additional deadlines set by Superintendent McInnis.”

The board order briefly outlines the neglected duties, and continues, “Board finds that Mr. Geurin failed to offer evidence rebutting the District’s reasons for termination. The Board finds the testimony of the District’s witnesses and documentation proves the reasons provided by the Superintendent are good cause to uphold the termination of Mr. Justin Geurin. Therefore finds that the termination of Mr. Geurin is properly supported by evidence.

Geurin’s attorney, Wendy Geurin Smith, released a statement to the Herald Tuesday morning regarding the decision of the trustees. 

“While we are disappointed in the Board’s decision to uphold the Superintendent’s recommendation for termination of Justin Geurin as Principal of Water Valley High School, we are mostly disappointed for the students and community of Water Valley,” Smith reported in the release.   “The Board’s decision to hear Mr. Geurin’s personal statement and summation in executive session denied the public the right to hear from their beloved principal.  We are reviewing this matter for possible further legal proceedings to address the legality of Mr. Geurin’s untimely and unsupported termination.  We thank the community for their personal support of Mr. Geurin and his family during this difficult season.” 

According to the board order signed by the school trustees, Geurin can appeal the decision in Chancery Court within 20 days of the decision.