Superintendent will work at MV

Jay Schools will be getting a new superintendent.
Tim Long, who has led Jay School Corporation for nearly a decade, confirmed following Monday’s Jay School Board meeting that he will be retiring from the position. He was also approved Monday as the new director of operations for Mount Vernon Community School Corporation.
During its meeting, the board transferred Redkey principal Julie Gregg to become the new principal at General Shanks Elementary while also accepting former principal Craig Campbell’s resignation.
Long informed school board members about his career move during an executive session following Monday’s regular meeting. He then confirmed his decision to The Commercial Review.
He said the choice to retire and accept a new job came following a lot of introspection.
“I’m really excited. When I came to Jay Schools I told them I’ll stay probably until I can retire, which is 55,” said Long, 56. “The timing is right for me personally and professionally.
“What a beautiful experience I’ve had at Jay Schools.
“It’s time to take another step.”
While his official end date with Jay County has not yet been set, Long said he expects it to be no later than mid-September.
As director of operations for Mount Vernon, he’ll oversee facilities and transportation among other duties.
He’ll work under superintendent Shane Robbins, for whom he filled in when Robbins took a leave of absence from the same job at Monroe Central to serve in the military in Iraq.
Long noted that he feels Jay Schools is in a strong position and that there will be a lot of interest in the job.
“Right now, we were just at a point where I feel everything is clicking and it’s good,” he said. “It’s just the right time.
“A lot of great things are going on in Jay County and I want to see those things continue.”
Long has served as a superintendent for 24 years, first at Monroe Central and then at Anderson before coming to Jay County in 2006. He previously served as an elementary school principal and teacher.
During the board’s regular meeting, members Kristi Betts, Greg Wellman, Ron Laux, Cory Gundrum, Mike Shannon and Tammy Bennett, absent Beth Krieg, voted to transfer Gregg the principal job at General Shanks. She had led the Redkey staff for two years.
She will replace Campbell, who was hired last month as principal of Blackford County’s Southside Elementary School.
Moving Gregg leaves a vacancy in the leadership role at Redkey, which the board voted to temporarily fill with former Jay Schools administrator Tom Jerles. He had served as principal of the school for more than 20 years.
Jerles was hired on a 20-day contract at a rate of $350 per day to help get the school year started while the corporation looks for a new full-time principal.
Other personnel moves approved Monday included:
•The hiring of fifth grade teacher Kayla Martin (East Elementary), fifth grade teacher Kelly Rose (Redkey), Spanish teacher Diana Ulloa-Contreras (Jay County High School), driver education instructors Dennis Dwiggins and Ted Habegger, special education teacher Allena Campbell (East) and instructional assistants Breanna Dahlstrom (General Shanks), Amanda Burcham (JCHS), Caitlyn Fields (Westlawn) and Jill Ranly (General Shanks).
•The transfers of teacher Christy Shauver (to kindergarten teacher at East from special education teacher at East), Landra Fraley (to kitchen manager at West Jay Middle School from cook at WJMS), Jane Fraley (to full-time cook at WJMS from part-time) and Jennifer Herndon (to special education teacher at General Shanks from instructional assistant).
•Approving JCHS extracurricular assignments for Daniel Johnson (girls tennis coach), Kurt Hess (cross country coach), Butch Gray (boys and girls golf coach), Whitney Gray (assistant girls golf coach), Renae Laux (assistant girls soccer coach), Ryan Smitley (assistant football coach), Zach Fullenkamp (freshman boys basketball coach), Sue Brunson (assistant musical and drama director), Kristen Selvey (assistant cheer coach and competition cheer coach), part-time summer band assistants Aaron Helm and Lee Schneider, and part-time summer band guard directors Leslie Schubert and Sarah Ullom.
•Agreeing to contract for occupational or physical therapy services with Traci Clark ($27 per hour), Emily Reynolds ($50 per hour) and Rehabilitative Services ($78.50 per hour for a physical therapist and $48 per hour for a physical therapy assistant).
•Accepting the resignations of JCHS business teacher Timothy Clegg, JCHS science teacher Rene Haines, elementary school art teacher Stephanie Schieltz and General Shanks special education teacher Danielle Fritz.
•Approving a leave of absence for elementary school speech language pathologist Shalee Myron.