GIBSON CITY, Ill. (WCIA) — It’s been three weeks since the Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley school board voted to suspend and dismiss a teacher for allegedly sending inappropriate messages to a student. But on Tuesday, the GCMS Superintendent received a written request for a hearing to appeal the decision.

WCIA’s partners at the Ford County Chronicle reported that Superintendent Jeremy Darnell received Robbie Dinkins’ written request on May 13. It was postmarked for May 9 — and within the required 17-day timeframe from his termination.

The hearing will be held before an impartial hearing officer and paid for by the school district. The hearing officer must be able to start within 75 days and finish the hearing within 120 days of their selection.

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.