Published: September 17, 2008 10:50 pm      

Meeting on accountant’s fate moved to Sept. 25

A special meeting of the Fayette County Board of Education to determine the employment fate of the county school system’s chief financial officer and treasurer has been rescheduled at her request, a school board member and a central office employee confirmed Wednesday.

The meeting, which had been set for this evening, has been moved to 6 p.m. Sept. 25 at the board office in Fayetteville.

Annette Hughart was informed Sept. 4 of her immediate suspension, effective Sept. 5, and her employment could be terminated by the school board on Sept. 25.

Fayette Schools Superintendent Chris Perkins informed Hughart by letter that she was “immediately suspended” without pay and that he was “forwarding a recommendation for (her) termination from employment ... based upon (her) insubordination and willful neglect of duties.”

At the special hearing before the board next Thursday, Hughart “may appear, present evidence, cross-examine witnesses, be represented by counsel and otherwise fully participate, if you care so to do,” Perkins wrote.

West Virginia Education Association field staff representative Ben Barkey confirmed Sept. 4 that the organization would provide Hughart with legal counsel.