A judge has ruled that Evelle Thomas-Dillon is eligible to serve on the McComb school board after the school district contested her appointment by the previous McComb city board.
The district went to court after Thomas-Dillon was appointed to the school board in April, contending that she could not serve since she does not live inside city limits.
Pike County Chancery Judge Debbra Halford said the city board can appoint a board member who lives outside city limits, as long as that person lives inside the school district.
She cited Mississippi Code Section 37-7-201, which says trustees of any school district must be a resident and qualified elector of that district.
The school district had cited Section 37-7-203, which limits the municipal school board’s makeup to one member from outside a city if less than 30% of a district’s student body lives outside the city. The district says 16% of its students live outside McComb.
The city board appoints four of the school board’s five members. The fifth member is an elected position chosen by people who live inside the school district but outside the McComb city limits.
“The geographic and numerical restrictions imposed by 203 apply only to the trustees who are mandatorily required to be elected, once the student population from the added territory reaches the threshold amounts of 15% and 30%,” Halford wrote.
Thomas-Dillon said, “I’m pleased that the McComb School District received a clear and concise understanding of Section 203. The court ruled that my appointment was valid and that the city board was within their authority to appoint me.”
City Administrator David Myers initially recommended the board appoint retired teacher Adolph Holbrook to the school board in April, three months before the current board took office.
Selectmen voted down that nomination, as well as two others, Kosheya Johnson and Dante Bradberry.
Former Selectman Devante Johnson then nominated Thomas-Dillon, who was appointed by a 4-2 vote.
Thomas-Dillon took office in May, a month after her appointment, as the school district questioned her eligibility. She replaced Eliece Rayborn, who stepped down from the school board.
City officials also unanimously voted Tuesday to pay board attorney Marcus Williams $7,600 for representing the city in the lawsuit.
“ I did ask the city attorney to see if the judge would go back and grant us attorney fees, but that didn't happen, so here we are,” Lockley said.
Lane Reed of Franklin County represented the McComb School District in the lawsuit.
