Ex-Hancock superintendent sues school district and gives her take on why she was fired
A lawsuit that former Hancock County School Superintendent Teresa Merwin has filed against the school district for the first time offers a public explanation of why she was abruptly fired a year ago.
Merwin says the County School Board wrongfully fired her because she shared public records, without charge, with former sister-in-law Karen Necaise. In responding to the records request, Merwin said she was careful to follow the district’s customary practice of providing a small number of records without charge.
The board then fired Merwin abruptly for “malfeasance” because she failed to charge for the records, her lawsuit says. However, the board offered the public no explanation for Merwin’s dismissal. The action led to “a media maelstorm” and widespread speculation, especially on social media, about what had happened, her lawsuit says.
She claims in the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Gulfport, that her constitutional right to due process was violated when she was fired without legitimate cause or notice and denied a hearing. Merwin had 22 months remaining on a three-year contract that paid her $125,000 a year.
Former Hancock superintendent wants damages
She is asking that a judge order the district to reinstate her, with back pay, and also order district officials to stop offering reasons for her termination beyond what the board attorney initially told her in a telephone call.
Documents filed with the lawsuit show the district maintained Merwin could be fired immediately under the terms of her contract because she violated board policy, state law or regulations.
Board attorney Mark Alexander said he could not comment on the ongoing lawsuit.
Merwin is asking for a hearing to determine how much she is owed in monetary damages. She is also requesting attorney’s fees.
Merwin says she is now working under a one-year contract as a principal in the Hattiesburg School District and is unlikely to secure a position similar to the one she held in Hancock County because of her termination.
She said that she has “been smeared on social media” by school board member Danita Holladay and Michael Seal, the husband of school board president Jennifer Seal.
This story was originally published August 17, 2023 at 6:50 AM.
