School District Chief Taking Unpaid Leave
Supt. Reed Montgomery of the Laguna Beach Unified School District is on an unpaid leave of absence after the school board denied his request for a paid medical leave.
Trustee Susan Mas said the board rejected Montgomery’s request at a meeting last week because it needed more information. Following school policy, Montgomery will be examined by a doctor appointed by the school board Jan. 7, Mas said.
Montgomery’s last day on the job was Dec. 5. When reached at his home Monday, he declined to comment on the nature of his illness.
“I’ve never missed more than six days of work,” he said, “and that is usually for vacation.” He expects to return Jan. 5.
He started in Laguna on July 1 after a fiscal crisis prompted former Supt. Paul M. Possemato to retire.
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