School Board reinstates Walker-Bolls after disputed dismissal

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — After a special-call meeting of the Vicksburg Warren County School District (VWSD) Board of Trustees held on May 27, Marlena Walker-Bolls, Assistant Principal at Warren Central Junior High School, has been reinstated with the Warren County School District, three months after being terminated from what Kimberly Nailor, attorney for Walker-Bolls, called “a shoddy investigation.”

According to statements made by both a representative for the school district and Nailor, Walker-Bolls’ termination stems from a recommendation of termination letter dated Feb. 13, 2025, written by Superintendent Dr. Tori Holloway for neglect of duty, insubordination, intemperance, and other infractions.

Earlier this year, Walker-Bolls learned she was being transferred from her position as Assistant Principal at Warren Central Junior High School, and after hearing the news, requested to speak to the staff she was leaving, but clarified it was not her choice.

After a request was made by Nicholas Dotson, principal of Warren Junior, not to have these discussions in the hallway but instead during lunch or “something,” Walker-Bolls coordinated to have the meetings at that the appropriate time. According to Nailor, Mr. Dotson sent out an email telling teachers they were to remain with their students during lunch.

Walker-Bolls then broke the meetings into “pods.”

“If you look at all the teachers’ statements, they said that they were in position, that there was no neglect of duties,” said Nailor. “They were able to supervise their class while having this meeting with Mrs. Bolls.”

Another claim in Dr. Holloway’s letter of termination includes the use of extreme profanity.

“Vicksburg Warren School District has a policy, GAD, which addresses that ‘if any professional uses profanity, they are to be issued a written reprimand,'” said Nailor. “When I asked Mr. Dotson during cross-examination, ‘Did you give Mrs. Bolls a written reprimand for the profanity?’ he said, ‘No.’ When I asked Dr. Holloway, he said, and I’m pretty much paraphrasing, ‘I’m the superintendent. I can do what I want to do. I want her terminated.’ What is the purpose of a policy if it’s not being followed?”

The district also claims statements were collected defending the reasons for termination, but Nailor rebutted, saying that two statements collected on behalf of the district were made by VWSD staff members who not only did not work at Warren Junior but were not present at the time.

“There were two statements submitted on behalf of Dr. Holloway,” said Nailor. “One from Dr. LaToya Allen, principal at Vicksburg High School. She wasn’t even at the meeting, but yet she submitted a statement. Dr. Tonya Magee, she works at Warren Central Intermediate. She wasn’t there, but yet she was allowed to submit a statement. … This was a result of a shoddy investigation. Some of the teachers that were present, no statements were taken.”