Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Stephen Benbow

Board approves sick leave

Leave of absence becomes day-to-day

By Shari Kaplan

Los Gatos Union School District Superintendent Stephen Benbow's three-month medical leave of absence is now a day-to-day sick leave, according to Steve Peck, acting superintendent.

Peck explained that in lieu of an official board action (such as the decisions the board made to grant Benbow's earlier leave) if employees of the district don't return from a medical leave after the length of time they specified, they may go on day-to-day leave as long as they present a note from their doctor and have sick-leave time available.

The nature of Benbow's leave remains confidential.

Benbow had originally requested a leave of absence for medical reasons during the Board of Trustees' closed session on Nov. 2. The board announced at the regular Nov. 8 meeting that Benbow would be excused through Jan. 2, 1996. At its Dec. 13 meeting, the board approved extending Benbow's medical leave another month, to Feb. 2.

"The board has simply allowed him to continue [on leave], with a doctor's note," Peck said. Neither he nor the board have an exact date yet for the return of Benbow, who has served as LGUSD superintendent for 11 years, the same amount of time Peck has been assistant superintendent.

In his position as acting superintendent, Peck assumes the "overall leadership" of the district. He attends board meetings and works with the many groups Benbow dealt with, such as the Los Gatos Elementary Education Foundation, Art Docents of Los Gatos, the Los Gatos-Saratoga Department of Community Education and Recreation and various home and school clubs.