(AP) — The Kearney school board has voted to fire a teacher who took time off without permission to attend church events.

The board voted 5-1 on Monday night to immediately cancel the contract of Central Elementary teacher Candace Flavell.

She rejected a compromise her attorney had reached with the district. Under it, she would have remained on paid leave until Dec. 20, after which she would have quit. If she hadn’t found another job by the start of spring semester, she would have been hired as a paraprofessional at entry-level pay.

Her lawyer says Flavell decided against accepting the deal because it didn’t allow her to keep teaching at Kearney public schools.

Flavell intends to appeal her termination.