The Roanoke School Board is expected to make a decision at tonight's regular meeting regarding William Fleming High School Principal Susan Willis' future as an employee of the city's public schools.

Willis was put on paid leave in June after a scathing state Department of Education report blamed her for a schedule-manipulating plot that kept dozens of special education students out of Standards of Learning tests.

School officials in recent months reported the problem was much more widespread, affecting hundreds of students in both the special and general education curriculums.

The board met behind closed doors for more than two hours Monday evening to discuss an unspecified personnel matter at a special meeting called last week -- on the same day board members received a written recommendation from a fact-finding panel and the massive transcript from Willis' nine-day grievance hearing.

School board Chairman David Carson declined to comment after Monday's executive session and directed questions to the board's attorney. That recommendation has not been made public.

"I anticipate the board will amend its agenda to take action at the beginning of the meeting [today]," said Tim Spencer, the city's assistant attorney who represents the board.

He declined to disclose what kind of action it may be. The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at Fleming.

State education laws entitle Willis the right to a grievance hearing. She opted to have a closed hearing before a three-person fact-finding panel. Willis chose one member, Superintendent Rita Bishop selected one member and the third was picked from a list of potential members compiled by a Circuit Court judge. The panel's recommendation was due to the board 30 days from the end of the hearing.

Tonight the board may decide to follow the recommendation, go against it or do something else entirely. Willis, by law, is permitted to appeal the board's decision in Circuit Court, an avenue she has said was not out of the question.