ST. LOUIS – Former SLPS superintendent Keisha Scarlett says it’s not over, as she’s announced she will fight the school board’s decision to end her contract, saying in a statement, “I did nothing wrong.”

Scarlett was one year into her three-year superintendent contract when the school board began investigating millions of dollars in expenditures involving people Scarlett hired from Seattle. The school board ordered an internal audit, resulting in Tuesday night’s announcement: Keisha Scarlett is fired.

She’ll get a hearing in October to make her case. Under her appeal rights, she continues to be paid.

Scarlett was suspended July 25—drawing about five paychecks since that suspension—under her annual salary of $268,000.

“More money and time to be spent,” trial attorney Gary Burger said, as he explained what’s next. “The Board of Education has the burden of proof to prove the termination for cause was appropriate under the standards set forth in the document, so there’s going to be a trial.”

According to the contract, the same six board members who voted to terminate her will decide her appeal.

“They’ve already decided once,” Burger said, “They know the evidence. She is going to get her day in court, her due process under the agreement, but it’s still the same decision makers.”

The “mini trial,” he says, will not be open to the public.

Burger explained, “It’s our tax money being used, but you’re also dealing with employment matters and maybe some salacious allegations.”

We also asked Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education about the possibility of another state takeover.

A DESE spokesperson responded, “(We are) monitoring the situation and providing technical assistance to Saint Louis Public Schools in any way we can, as our agency does with all public schools. There are no additional plans for state intervention at this time.”

The public can expect an update next month in the controversial and costly standoff.