Principal to have surgery this week

Seizure revealed brain tumor in PSHS principal

By MICHAEL ERB, merb@newsandsentinel.com
PARKERSBURG — Parkersburg South High School Principal Tom Eschbacher will undergo surgery this week to remove a brain tumor.

Eschbacher, 47, was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital Friday after collapsing and suffering a seizure during a conference with a parent. Eschbacher said Monday he recently had been having occasional memory lapses and speech problems and had made an appointment to meet with his doctor Friday afternoon for tests.

“I never made it,” he said from his hospital room Monday.

Eschbacher will have surgery Wednesday to remove the tumor, a process that will take about four hours, he said.

“We won’t know anything further about it until they get it under a microscope,” he said. “I feel I am in very good hands.”

As for now, Eschbacher said he is well and is in good spirits.

“I feel fine,” he said. “I hope to be back as soon as they will let me.”

Officials have brought in John Flint, former athletic director at South, to help with administration at the school. A temporary principal has not been named for the school, but Eschbacher said he believed most of the duties would simply be handled by different members of the staff.

“Everything at the school is in capable hands,” he said.