. >> after fleeing katrina hearn hearns -- alexander wen-alexand. >> up to speed on what was going on. >> what kind of info were you finding out? >> the first the thing they told us, they asked if you intended to return to the new orleans public schools please indicate so and i did. and you could also call, you about i called. >> you got a different sort of word. >> yes, i got the word i was fired. >> how did it feel that you were terminated by letter? >> it felt like i was kicked to the curb. the school and the children in that community. >> this is mcdonald 35. >> stan smith was named interim superintendent, he works for the local public school board. it was the board that fired those 7,000 employees. >> we would have preferred not to do any of it but we didn't have the students, there were a lot of uncertainties. >> smith said beyond that the public schools were in need of change. before katrina 65% of students were in failing schools according to state ratings. >> i don't think anyone is going to sit here and say the performance of orleans school system prior to katrina was adequa