A due process hearing requested by Brookhaven High SchoolAthletic Director and Football Coach Andrew Hickman is set forTuesday, school district officials said.

The hearing, scheduled for 9 a.m. in the central officeconference room, will allow a third party to hear both partiesconcerning the non-renewal of Hickman’s contract in April for the2002-2003 school year.

“The hearing officer will be Pam Wescovich, an attorney fromLong Beach. She serves as hearing officer quite often,” said BobAllen, attorney for the school district’s board of trustees.

On April 3, the school board voted 3-2 to not renew Hickman’scontract for the next school year. During the meeting, held inexecutive session, Superintendent Dr. Sam Bounds did not recommendHickman’s contract for re-election.

After a detailed explanation, a motion was made by GwendolynSartin, and seconded by Dan Brown, to accept Bounds’recommendation. The motion carried with Sartin, Brown and Dr.Prentiss Smith voting in favor of the action and Carl Aycock andAmy Valentine opposed, according to the board minutes.

Hickman and his father-in-law Bob Massengill requested anaudience with the board during their regularly-scheduled April 23meeting. In a packed conference room that night, they said theybelieved Bounds had “misrepresented the facts” to the boardregarding Hickman’s actions during the past year.

The discussion during Tuesday’s due process hearing will takeplace behind closed doors unless otherwise requested.

“It is closed to the public unless the teacher wants it open,”Allen said.