NATCHEZ — His contract expired Thursday, but today will be the sixth date for the continuance of a hearing to determine if Natchez-Adams School District Superintendent Anthony Morris will keep his job.

Interim Superintendent Joyce J. Johnson is expected to take over the top administrative position starting today for six months, pending the outcome of the hearing.

If the board decides, as a result of the hearing, to renew Morris’ contract, he will resume his duties after the board makes their decision.

The board decision will be based on a transcript composed by a court reporter after the hearing concludes, and Morris will then have an opportunity to make a closing statement before a vote is taken, board attorney Bruce Kuehnle said.

If the board decides — pending an ongoing hearing — to keep Morris on as superintendent, Johnson, a former NASD teacher, principal and administrator, can choose to either be released from her contract or fill another position with the district until December, Kuehnle said.

The closed hearing was scheduled to be continued Thursday, but a scheduling conflict with lawyers pushed it back to today, NASD school board President Harold Barnett said.

The hearing commenced for two days in April, was continued for two more days in May, a day in June and could possibly conclude today.

Morris requested the hearing after the NASD school board voted at its Jan. 20 meeting not to renew his contract, which expires June 30 of this year.

Kuehnle said it is the right of Morris, like any licensed employee of the state, to request a hearing urging reconsideration of the termination of his contract.