(a) Upon receipt of a request for a hearing, the school district board of directors shall conduct a hearing in accordance with the following provisions:
(1) The hearing shall take place no fewer than five (5) nor more than ten (10) days after the written request has been received by the superintendent, except that the employee and board of directors may, in writing, agree to an earlier or later hearing date; and
(2) The hearing shall be public or private at the request of the employee.
(b) The employee may be represented by persons of his or her own choosing.
(c) In hearings held concerning a recommendation for the termination of an employee's contract, either the board of directors or the employee may elect to have a record of the hearing made at the board of director's expense.
(d) In hearings held concerning a recommendation for the nonrenewal of a full-time non-probationary employee, either the board of directors or the employee may elect to have a record of the hearing made, and the expense for the record shall be shared equally between the board of directors and the employee.
(e)
(1) After the hearing, the school district board of directors may terminate the employee or continue the suspension for a definite period of time.
(2)
(A) The salary of a suspended employee shall cease when the school district board of directors sustains the suspension.
(B) Otherwise, the employee shall be reinstated without loss of compensation.
(f) The decision of the school district board of directors shall be made within ten (10) calendar days of the hearing.