GIBSON CITY, Ill. (WCIA) — It’s been three weeks since the Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley school board made the decision to suspend and terminate a teacher due to allegations of sending inappropriate messages to a student. However, on Tuesday, the GCMS Superintendent was informed of an appeal request against this decision.

According to WCIA’s partners at the Ford County Chronicle, Superintendent Jeremy Darnell received the written appeal from Robbie Dinkins on May 13. The appeal was postmarked for May 9, which was within the required 17-day period following his dismissal.

The appeal hearing will be conducted with an impartial hearing officer, and the school district will cover the costs. The hearing officer must commence within 75 days and conclude the proceedings within 120 days of being appointed.

After selecting a hearing officer, a pre-hearing conference will take place and a schedule will be set. The schedule will include a deadline for Dinkins to file his response to the board’s charges against him, the deadlines of the discovery and disclosures phases, and time and locations of any other pre-hearing conferences.

The hearing will be closed to the public unless one of the parties requests that it be open. Both parties will make their case to the hearing officer. 30 days after the hearing ends, the officer will make a decision on whether Dinkins should be dismissed or not. 45 days after the hearing officer’s recommendation, the board will write an order, regarding Dinkins’ future with the district.

You can read more details on the Ford County Chronicle’s website.