By Joseph M. Morgan
joseph@southerntorch.com
RAINSVILLE, Ala.— The DeKalb County School Board announced at a school board meeting last week that former Fyffe Head basketball Coach Neal Thras
h will receive a court-ordered hearing before the board on March 17 to discuss the circumstances surrounding his dismissal as Fyffe’s coach in April 2014.
Ninth Circuit Judge Jeremy Taylor ruled last month that Thrash be granted a hearing before the full board. Judge Taylor ruled that Thrash should have been given the opportunity of a hearing before the full board. Superintendent Hugh Taylor dismissed Thrash as Fyffe’s head coach, citing allegations of misconduct and bullying that he said were uncovered by an internal investigation following one of the most successful seasons in school history.
Superintendent Taylor placed Thrash on administrative leave. Traditionally, such a matter would be taken before the full board of DeKalb County Schools for a hearing, allowing the employee in question an opportunity to defend themselves and have their voice heard. As he was not given such an opportunity, Thrash filed a civil suit against the superintendent and the BOE for improperly placing him on leave and depriving him of the right to a hearing before the board.
Judge Taylor also presided over the original case in 2014, Thrash vs. DeKalb County BOE. After hearing the case, Judge Taylor ruled that Thrash was improperly suspended gave an order that he be given a full hearing before the board and set an official hearing date for Nov. 17, 2014.
BOE attorneys immediately filed an appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court, asking for a dismissal and delaying any court proceedings pending the higher court’s decision. It would take almost an entire year for the Alabama Supreme Court to make their ruling, eventually dismissing the BOE’s appeal in late 2015. The case was recently sent back to Judge Taylor in the Ninth Circuit where he heard oral arguments from attorneys on both sides last week in a summary judgement proceeding.
After hearing arguments from each side, after almost two years of legal wrangling and waiting, Judge Taylor announced that his original ruling would stand and Thrash would be given the opportunity to state his case before the full BOE. If the board rules in his favor on March 17, Thrash could be reinstated immediately as Fyffe’s head coach.
