WBRZ - Baton Rouge

NEW ORLEANS - A long-awaited trial in a class action lawsuit that could affect thousands of former New Orleans school employees who lost their jobs after Hurricane Katrina.

A former Orleans Parish School System official was the first witness called to testify Monday afternoon in civil court in New Orleans.

Dr. James Lloyd was asked about the Orleans school system's tenure policies as attorneys for the former employees began trying to build the case that they were denied their rights when they were dismissed after the 2005 floods that engulfed the city.

The trial is expected to last from four to six weeks. The Orleans school board and state education officials are defendants.