By Patric Hedlund

El Tejon Unified School District Superintendent Shelly Mason was taken to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Valencia early Friday morning, May 1.

She is reported to have had a cerebral event, requiring brain surgery, but is improving rapidly. Mason is reported to be already dictating lists of “things to do,” including providing telephone numbers from memory for people to call to rearrange her schedule. Her family asks that the public not visit or call for now as she regains her strength. They plan to update the community about her progress “within the next few days,” district staff said. Cards and letters can be sent care of the ETUSD district office (P.O Box 876, Lebec, CA 93243).

“We are all very excited to hear that her progress is so encouraging,” said Frazier Mountain High School Principal Dan Penner. “ETUSD is operating well, with ‘business as usual’ and we are taking all the necessary steps for an interim superintendent in Shelly’s absence.” He said the ETUSD Board of Trustees and the county superintendent’s office have been advised.

This is part of the May 08, 2009 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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