As expected, Bessie LeFra Young walked into the Camden School District administration building early Wednesday to resume her job as superintendent.
After being out sick since Aug. 15 - and for a total of 186 days, most of it paid time, in the last year and a half - Young was due to come back Wednesday. Had she remained out, she would have lost her district-paid health insurance coverage.
When reached at home on Jan. 22, Young said she would be well enough to come back to work Wednesday.
Young, who cited an unspecified illness for her prolonged absence, had to bring a note from her physician and be examined by a school board-contracted physician before commencing work on Wednesday, according to the district's labor attorney, Louis Lessig.
"I am not aware of any restrictions," Lessig said.
The district's human resources director, Deborah Estes, said the board's doctor, whom she declined to identify, approved Young's full-time return.
Young, 61, did not return calls for comment. Her secretary said she was in meetings all day.
Hired 41/2 years ago, Young has been out for 221 days during that time, though district records show she used 75 days of vacation and personal time toward that leave.
Young faces a struggling district on the verge of serious state-mandated changes and a possible takeover.
During Young's years as superintendent, students have continued to perform poorly on state standardized tests, and 23 of the 26 schools have been put on the new priority list of the 70 worst-performing schools in the state.
Most recently, the state launched an investigation into reports of inaccurate accounting of violent incidents in the district.
Contact staff writer Claudia Vargas at 856-779-3917, cvargas@phillynews.com, or @InqCVargas on Twitter.
