LAWRENCE — School Committee member James Vittorioso stormed out of last night's meeting, protesting that proper procedures weren't followed in the recent medical leave taken by Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy.

"We are in violation of the law," declared Vittorioso, who questioned why the committee was not fully briefed on the illness that led to Laboy taking a six- to eight-week medical leave for work-related stress earlier this month.

The school committee should have been involved in the decision to grant Laboy such an extended leave, as well as well as the temporary designation of Mary Lou Bergeron as acting superintendent while Laboy is away from his $200,000-a-year post, Vittorioso said. He also asked whether Laboy had submitted a doctor's note and demanded to see it.

"Procedures were not followed for this gentleman to take six to eight weeks," Vittorioso said, calling for an emergency vote on his motion "that the School Committee vote to uphold the rules."

Bergeron, who attended her first meeting last night as the acting superintendent, insisted that proper procedures were followed. She added that a note from Laboy's doctor was on file in the School Department's Human Resources office.

Vittorioso left the meeting a short time later, before the committee could vote on his motion. "Stay, stay, stay," chanted a group of teachers, urging the veteran committee member not to leave.

Reached at home last night, Vittorioso said he bolted "because I was getting frustrated" and he felt that Mayor Michael Sullivan — who chairs the committee — and other school officials were ignoring the issues he was raising.

"I think we have a right to know why the guy is sick and should have been allowed to see the doctors note — in secrecy of course," Vittorioso said later.

Mayor Sullivan said he would confer with the School Department's lawyer today to find out whether proper procedures were followed and to get a clarification on what information the committee is entitled to.

"We're treading on new water here," Sullivan said after the meeting.

"These are good questions, but this issue has never come up in my seven years as mayor. The fact of the matter, Mary Lou Bergeron has put in the acting role many, many times. We never before had to vote on anybody being put in that acting role," he said.

Sullivan disagreed with the argument about the doctor's note.

"Does the School Committee have the authority to override a doctor's note. I don't think so. But I'll check with the attorney," he said.

Committee Vice Chairman Greg Morris, a frequent supporter of the school administration, said he agreed with Vittorioso. The Committee should have had a chance to inspect the doctor's note in an executive session, he said after the meeting.

During the meeting, he expressed his own frustrations about the committee be kept in the dark in recent weeks.

"The time has come ... he works for us. ... we need some answers," Morris said.