Health Forces Taft High Principal to Step Down

Taft High School officials have announced that Principal Ron Berz will be stepping down because of a medical condition.

On Tuesday, school officials would not comment on Berz’s condition, departure or possible return, but students said that on Monday, Assistant Principal Sue Lepisto was named acting principal.

Berz, 60, underwent a brain biopsy last week, school officials said. Berz has served as Taft principal for 14 years.

Students at the Woodland Hills school said they were saddened by the news of Berz’s abrupt departure.

“Mr. Berz was a very nice man,” said Mario Gil, 16, a 10th-grader. “He was a very friendly person and very kind. I’m going to miss him.”

While Berz was principal, Taft won the Academic Decathlon twice--in 1989 and in 1994.

Eleventh-grader Mary Meyer, 15, a member of the Taft Academic Decathlon team, referred to Berz as a good principal, who cared about the school’s academic achievements.

“Mr. Berz was very close to the Academic Decathlon team, and since I happen to be on the team, I’m one of the people that got to know him,” Mary said. “It was devastating. . . . We’re all going to miss him.”

In the main office at Taft, a notice on the counter read: “Mr. Berz would enjoy receiving any cards, notes or ‘well wishes’ you may want to send now that he is home.”

Berz could not be reached for comment.