Ex-school trustee Barrett appeals case after it’s upheld

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, November 10, 2004

[11/10/04]A trial judge has ruled in favor of the Vicksburg Warren School District in the discipline given to a child of a former school trustee, but the case has been appealed.

“The judge upheld the school district’s expulsion decision,” said Jackson attorney Ben Piazza, who has represented the school district in the lawsuit filed by former District 1 Trustee Chad Barrett nearly a year ago.

Circuit Judge Isadore Patrick heard the case on appeal from the school board and had ordered the file sealed, meaning the exact nature of the accusation could not be known.

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Barrett’s son Tyler was a student at Warren Central High School. At the time he left, Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace confirmed a drug-related investigation had been under way. No criminal charges were filed.

“This court finds that the decision of the Board of Trustees was not arbitrary and capricious and that substantial evidence existed,” the order signed by Judge Patrick said. “Therefore, the decision of the Vicksburg Warren School District is hereby affirmed.”

Barrett, who was elected to a six-year term in 1998, continued to serve on the school board, but resigned in July and did not seek re-election. Voters in the district chose Jerry Boland as their new school board representative on Nov. 2.

While the case records were sealed, the judge’s ruling was made public.

Barrett has deferred comment to his attorney, Mark Prewitt, who did not return calls.

Notice of appeal has been filed to the state Supreme Court, which will likely assign it to a panel of the Court of Appeals.

“I’m pleased that the judge has rendered a decision that favors the school board, but it appears that the issue has not been ultimately resolved,” said Superintendent James Price.