Cape Elizabeth Superintendent Alan Hawkins is taking a leave of absence for open heart surgery.

Hawkins announced at the Jan. 9 school board meeting that he would undergo the surgery within the next two weeks. He said he expected to be gone for about six to eight weeks to recover from the surgery. In the meantime, said school board member Kevin Sweeney, different school and town officials will take on various duties.

Sue Weatherbie, the director of community services, will take on the task of calling off school due to winter weather. Weatherbie, who is also the administrator of transportation, said she often consults with Hawkins and Robert Malley, the public works director, when school needs to be canceled. According to Weatherbie, she will be making any cancellation decisions with Malley.

Other responsibilities, said Sweeney, will be spread among different staff members. The Cape Elizabeth school department does not have an assistant superintendent, said Sweeney, but added that plans were already in place in the event a superintendent was absent.

“We’re very confident that everyone will do a superb job,” said Sweeney. “More importantly, we’re all thinking about Alan and his current troubles.”

Though Sweeney said that budget time is not “the best time” for Hawkins to be on a leave of absence, he is sure everything will work out.

“Personally, I have no worries,” said Sweeney. “I don’t think anyone is overly concerned.”

Mostly, said Sweeney, the biggest concern is for Hawkins to take the time he needs to completely recover. After the surgery, Hawkins expressed his intentions to work from home.

“I intend to be active as soon as possible,” said Hawkins at the meeting.

“He sort of reminds me of me,” said Sweeney, who underwent kidney transplant surgery last March. “The day after my surgery I was calling Alan saying, ‘What about the budget?'”