NATCHEZ — It could be mid-September before the verdict of a hearing to decide if Natchez-Adams School District Superintendent Anthony Morris will keep his job is reached.

The hearing concluded July 1, and the NASD school board will now review transcripts from the six-day hearing, school board attorney Bruce Kuehnle said.

Morris and his attorney Preston Rideout will make a closing statement at the Aug. 11 board meeting.

The board must base its decision solely on a transcript by a court reporter to conclude if the nonrenewal of Morris’ contract was “based upon a valid educational reason or noncompliance with school district personnel policies,” a statute on the hearing procedure says.

If the board finds in favor of Morris, he will be reappointed to his job for one year, at which point his contract would be up for renewal again.

If the board holds up its decision not to renew Morris’ contract, Morris has the right to appeal the decision to the chancery court.

A judge would then make a ruling based on the hearing transcripts.

If the judge ruled in favor of Morris, the judge would order the superintendent’s contract to be renewed for one year.

Kuehnle said if Morris returns to his job as superintendent based on the hearing’s outcome and the board voted not to renew his contract next year, it is possible for the process to repeat.

Interim Superintendent Joyce J. Johnson took over the top administrative position starting July 1 for six months, pending the outcome of the hearing.

If the board decides 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 hearing commenced for two days in April, was continued for two more days in May, a day in June and concluded July 1.

Morris requested the hearing after the NASD school board voted at its Jan. 20 meeting not to renew his contract, which expired 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.