Camden Schools Superintendent is back to work

After missing 186 days of work in the last year and a half,  Bessie LeFra Young is back to work as superintendent of the Camden School District.

She reported to the district's administration building Wednesday morning to meet with a school board-contracted physician, who cleared her for work.

Young, who has not publicly stated what ailment prevented her from working for so many days, returned to her full-time $244,083 post amid some heavy pressure from district parents, employees, school board members, and Mayor Dana Redd.

Many have expressed disappointment in her leadership. Read my previous story HERE.

Hired 4 1/2 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.

Aside from district officials saying that a physician cleared Young for work, it is not known if she is well enough to govern the struggling district. Young, 61, did not return calls for comment. Her secretary said she was in meetings all day. I tried to visit her in her office, but I was stopped by the security guard at the entrance of the administration building. The guard stated she would be in meetings all day and I was not allowed up.

Young has returned to a district on the verge of serious state-mandated reforms, 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 has launched an investigation into reports of inaccurate accounting of violent incidents in the district. A report on that is expected to come out in the next few days.