LIBERTY &045; The Amite County School Board will ask the Mississippi Supreme Court to uphold its firing of Amite County High School Principal Charlie Floyd.

The school board voted Thursday to appeal the Oct. 21 decision by Chancery Judge Hollis McGehee to overturn the board’s firing of Floyd. McGehee ruled the school board made its decision to suspend, then fire Floyd, without properly considering the testimony of key witnesses.

Board president Jimmy Burns said the decision to appeal was in the best interest of the school district.

Despite McGehee’s ruling, Floyd has not returned to campus, said School Superintendent Charles Kirkfield.

Floyd’s attorney, Greg Spyridon of Metairie, La., said the board had no choice but to appeal.

&uot;They put themselves in a corner,&uot; Spyridon said. &uot;They have a principal on board and an order to reinstate coach Floyd. The only choice they have is to appeal.&uot;

Floyd was suspended without pay last October amid an investigation of alleged irregularities at Amite County High School, including unexplained changes to students’ grades and unauthorized fines for student tobacco use.

The school district also alleged Floyd neglected his duties as principal by becoming involved in non-school sanctioned sporting events that made him inaccessible in times of need.

At a four-day hearing in April, no evidence was produced that Floyd changed any grades or pressured others to do so.

Witnesses testified it was common for students’ grades to be altered by the school counselor, a position formerly held by Superintendent Charles Kirkfield.

Witnesses also said the tobacco violation fines pre-dated Floyd’s administration and some of the private track and field events Floyd allegedly held on school property were approved by the board in the past.

The board upheld Floyd’s dismissal in July.