WELDON, N.C. — Ted Gasper, Halifax Community College's heavily criticized president, has been fired.

The decision came Friday morning at a Board of Trustees meeting. Board members voted 6-3 to terminate Gasper immediately.

"This should have been done a long time ago, and the pathetic thing abut this is a man with his intelligence the good he could have done for Halifax Community College if he had traveled the other road," said former trustee Jack Moore.

Gasper was under investigation for financial problems and other mismanagement issues at the college. He has always denied the allegations.

Students learned of Gasper's firing in a Friday meeting.

"This would be a sad day, in some respects, that this action was need to be taken," said HCC trustee William White. "It will be a happy day in that it's gone, it's done, it's over and everybody can go forward."

Others disagreed.

"I really don't think it's over," said trustee Helen Brown. "I really think it's going to be a bigger mess than it has been."

Gasper's attorney tells WRAL that the termination violates the terms of a valid contract, so Gasper plans to sue. The only question is whether a decision from the courtroom will come any faster than the decision from the boardroom.

Faye Pepper, Gasper's assistant, was suspended with pay, along with Gasper in September. The Board of Trustees has deferred a decision on her future at the community college until later in January.