NATCHEZ — The Natchez-Adams School Board voted 3-0 Wednesday morning to accept the resignation of Deputy Superintendent Tanisha Smith.

Smith dropped off a letter before the meeting stating that she resigned effectively immediately. The resignation comes a day after the school board terminated Superintendent Frederick Hill’s employment contract.

Both Smith and Hill were present at the specially called school board meeting. Following the meeting, Hill dropped off a letter requesting a post-termination hearing of the school board to President Amos James Jr.

Hill had walked out with Smith, who was visibly shaken, to comfort her immediately after the resignation was accepted.

“I think she did what she thought was right,” James said. “I appreciate all that she has done for us.”

Board members Phillip West and Cynthia Smith were present along with James, while board members Benny Wright and Thelma Newsome were absent.

“They chose to not be a part of it,” James said. “They could have come in via teleconference.”

Wright has in the past made statements sympathetic to Hill’s leadership as recently as February’s joint meeting of city and county board’s of government. Education was a topic of discussion at that meeting.

Fred T. Butcher was appointed to replace Hill on an interim basis. James said it would be up to Butcher if he hired a deputy superintendent.

Butcher is a former athletic director for Natchez High School, where he also served as principal until May 2014, when he resigned under Hill’s leadership. Butcher currently serves on the Concordia Parish School Board.

James said the board has not set a timeline for hiring a permanent superintendent.

The decision to terminate Hill’s contract came approximately two weeks after West’s first school board meeting, in which he openly called for Hill’s resignation or termination.

West cited the September federal jury finding that Hill had violated civil rights laws by discriminating against a former principal, Cindy Idom, by creating a hostile work environment and forcing her into retirement. Idom is white; Hill and Tanisha Smith are black.

West also spoke about the fifth standard of the Mississippi Educator’s Code of Ethics, which includes a specific provision against discrimination or coercing a colleague, including along the lines of race.

Smith — who was also found liable in the Idom case — was hired in July 2012 shortly after Hill was recruited to be Natchez’s superintendent. Both had worked together in the Tupelo Public School District.