Peters Township High School principal Dr. Thomas Hajzus said he is taking a paid medical leave until this summer due to a "severe" case of diabetes.

The school board at a special meeting Monday approved a leave for Dr. Hajzus, 54, retroactive from March 1 until June 30.

Dr. Hajzus said he collapsed at home in early February and temporarily lost his vision.

After spending three days in intensive care at St. Clair Hospital, he said medical tests showed he had diabetes, with dangerously high blood glucose levels, brought on partly by "inappropriate stress levels." Doctors advised him to leave work, he said.

As such, he and the district negotiated a leave of absence that is intended to give him time to get the disease to a manageable level. So far, he has lost 27 lbs. and stabilized his blood glucose levels.

"I need to get out of that environment so I can get stabilized and get this under control," Dr. Hajzus said.

Dr. Hajzus said he had no other diabetic symptoms before he collapsed.

Dr. Hajzus and the district several years ago fought a prolonged legal battle over a demotion he received after he reported being treated for depression and anxiety.

Two years ago, the parties reached a settlement calling for Dr. Hajzus to retain his job as principal until 2013.

He said he hopes to return to work after the leave of absence.

"I intend to go back to work but that will be up to the doctors and specialists that I'll be seeing," he said.

The school board appointed acting assistant principal Frank Brettschneider as acting principal at a rate of $300 a day.

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