5:13 PM
Williamson County Schools director of communications Carol Birdsong confirmed to The Tennessean the story The Tennessee Star broke earlier in the day that Williamson County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney will be taking a medical leave:
Williamson County Director of Schools Mike Looney will take medical leave due to an upcoming surgery.
Looney has recently learned that he has a tumor in his pancreas, according to WCS Spokeswoman Carol Birdsong. Over the next several weeks, he will be having surgery and undergoing treatment.
The district does not know when exactly Looney will take medical leave, she said.
4:08 PM
Sources tell The Tennessee Star that embattled Williamson County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney will be taking a medical leave.
The Star has asked Williamson County Schools director of communications Carol Birdsong for comment, but has not yet received a reply.
According to a source, Looney sent this message out today:
I need to share a little bit of news so that you can learn it from me rather than another source. I would much rather not share things of a personal nature, but given my role in the district, it really can’t be avoided.
I very recently learned that I have a tumor in my pancreas. At this point, I am planning on having surgery toward the end of this month and unfortunately will need to take several weeks off for recovery.
The central office staff is wholly prepared to support your work without me. Jason Golden will act on my behalf during my absence. I will enjoy watching from a distance and will continue to cheer you on as our work progresses.
Another source familiar with the operations of the Williamson County Schools confirmed the report, but the Williamson County School Systems has not responded to voice messages or email requests about the report.
Looney is scheduled to appear in court on March 27 to face charges he assaulted a student at Franklin High School.
A recent medical study on tumors of the pancreas found the following:
Most of tumors found in the pancreas are adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. A small number of tumors in the pancreas, such as islet cell tumors or neuroendocrine tumors, papillary cystic neoplasms, lymphoma, acinar cell tumors, metastatic tumors to the pancreas often, have a far better prognosis, and the majority of these tumors are non-malignant or benign. The author reviewed the recent literatures, and summarized where the tumor comes originally in the pancreas, what is the type of the tumor, and how to treat the tumor.
DEVELOPING . . .
While he’s on medical leave, perhaps he’ll get a better fitting toupe.