Peters school officials say they expect administrator Tom Hajzus to return from sick leave today. But the ex-principal says he's not coming back -- yet. "I'm going to stay out until at least July 2 and longer, if they don't change their behavior," Hajzus said of Superintendent Diane Kirk and other district administrators. Hajzus, upon the advice of his psychiatrist, said he took accrued sick time for the past month. He had planned to be back at work today, but contacted the district Wednesday to find out how much sick time he has left. He said he planned to notify the district Thursday about taking more sick time, through July 2. But district spokeswoman Cara Zanella said, "We expect him in on Friday, unless we hear otherwise. That's all we know." Hajzus said the work environment at the school is too hostile for him to return. "This is something I'm not going to be able to respond to, because it is a personnel issue," Zanella said. Hajzus was reassigned from high school principal to a new central administrative job last year. He claims he was forced to take a three-month leave with pay while he was being treated for depression and anxiety. Even though his annual pay remained $92,000, Hajzus labeled his new post -- director of special programs and projects -- a demotion, which he said was a response to his backing of challengers to school board incumbents in 2001. After a series of public hearings, the board ruled that the change wasn't a demotion. Hajzus appealed, and is awaiting a decision from state Education Secretary Vicki Phillips. He said a pair of reprimands during the past month led to his decision to go on sick leave. "One was for not attending a (May 1) meeting set up to discuss my doctor's suggested accommodations for my illness," Hajzus said. Hajzus said he also was reprimanded for making too many copies on a copy machine.

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