(1) Any final order of the board either upholding or invalidating the dismissal, demotion, suspension, or other penalization of a certified, equivalent, or unclassified employee may be appealed either by the employee or by the appointing authority.
(2) The party aggrieved may appeal the final order by filing a petition with the clerk of the Franklin Circuit Court in accordance with KRS Chapter 13B.
(3) If the appeal is from an order upholding the dismissal, demotion, suspension, or other penalization, the burden of appearing and defending the action of the board shall be upon the appointing authority. If the appeal is from an order refusing to uphold the dismissal, demotion, suspension, or other penalization, the burden of appearing and defending the action of the board shall be upon the employee.