The district office

POTTSTOWN PA – Technical details about the abrupt departure last month of former Ringing Rocks Elementary School Principal Michelle Bozzini from her position, but not the reasons, are revealed in the employment contract of her successor obtained Wednesday (Jan. 30, 2013) as the result of a right-to-know request, The (Pottstown PA) Mercury is reporting.

Pressed by the newspaper for the document it contends the Pottsgrove School District should have made publicly available, The Mercury said the labor agreement it received for incoming interim principal Barbara Guy – who was scheduled to begin her work Wednesday (Jan. 30) at Ringing Rocks – indicates that:

• Bozzini’s resignation from district employment is not officially effective until May 31, 2013;
• The district describes Bozzini’s departure as “unexpected,” creating an “emergency situation;” and
• It fails to specify whether Bozzini is being paid for what was termed as her “leave of absence,” or when district payments for her employment ended or will end.

The contract, relinquished by Pottsgrove following The Mercury’s request, also notes several limitations of Guy’s employment, which is scheduled to end July 31.

The district has not yet complied with an earlier Mercury right-to-know request for the district’s separation agreement with Bozzini. Any action on it may be delayed until Feb. 18, while district attorneys consider whether that document is publicly accessible.

• Read a story by reporter Evan Brandt, titled “Pottsgrove document sheds some light on principal’s departure” and published online Wednesday night by The Mercury, here.