Commission grants continuance for educator Calvin Smith; opposing counsel hospitalized

The commission granted a continuance April 22, 2025, for a subcommittee hearing in the licensure matter of educator Calvin Smith, license number 216675, postponing the hearing that had been scheduled for April 23, 2025.

Commission members were told the request was made by the educator—s attorney and that opposing counsel had been admitted to the hospital and expected to be unavailable for the hearing. "The recommendation is to approve the request," Attorney Dennis told the commission, adding that he had received an email that morning notifying them of the hospitalization.

A commission member asked how many continuances had already been granted in the case. Staff explained that the educator—s counsel had been granted one continuance, the Office of Educator Misconduct had been granted one continuance, and the commission had granted a subsequent continuance tied to a state of emergency declared by the governor. If the April 22 motion were approved, members were told, it would be the fourth continuance in the matter.

A motion to approve the continuance was made and seconded; the second was recorded as Commission member Tablin. Members voted in favor and the motion carried. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally by name or a rescheduled hearing date.

Attorney Dennis and Mr. De Jong, who serves as director of licensure and was present to answer questions, were available during the discussion. The commission moved on after the vote and adjourned at 10:07 a.m.

The transcript does not specify the new hearing date, nor does it name the opposing counsel who was hospitalized. The commission referenced Mississippi Code Annotated 25-41-5 when opening the special call meeting and noted that the meeting notice had been posted with date, time and purpose.