DeRome to fill interim slot

In the wake of the announcement of his retirement, Jay School Corporation superintendent Tim Long has named an interim replacement.
Long said in an email Tuesday morning to Jay School Board members and Jay Schools administrators that business manager Brad DeRome will serve in the interim as the school board conducts its search for a new superintendent.
The email also indicated that Jan McGalliard has been selected as the new principal for Redkey Elementary.
“As I work through transition, Brad DeRome will serve as the interim until a new Superintendent is appointed,” Long said in his email.
“Any time I leave the school corporation, by our school policy, I have to leave somebody in charge. This is no different,” Long added in an interview with The Commercial Review this morning. “At this stage of the game, school is going to be starting, things need done, buildings need maintained. … There’s a lot of decisions that need to be made. At this point in time I appointed Brad DeRome, as I always do whenever I leave …”
DeRome will start serving in that role immediately while McGalliard will begin along with all of the other elementary principals on July 27. The long-term status of both positions remain subject to school board approval, with a vote likely to come Aug. 8.
Long told the board about his retirement plans at an executive session following its regular meeting Monday evening.
He then confirmed his decision with The Commercial Review.
His last official day will be sometime in early September, though some of that time will be accrued vacation.
DeRome likened the situation to any time Long has gone on vacation or overseas during his tenure, during which time he has been left in charge.
He said he is preparing accordingly for teacher meetings Aug. 9, the first day of school Aug. 11, the budget approval process and the Aug. 1 through Sept. 30 collective bargaining period.
“I really like Jay Schools and I’ll do whatever I’m asked to do to help get us through this transition,” said DeRome. “I am just trying to do the best I can to get us ready to start school.”
He said he hasn’t decided if the full-time superintendent job would be something he’s interested in, while also complimenting the staff of Jay Schools and saying there would be several strong internal candidates if they choose to apply.
Long, 56, is retiring to allow himself to begin drawing his pension through the state’s teacher’s retirement fund. He was eligible for retirement at age 55.
He was also approved Monday evening by Mount Vernon Community School Board to become its new director of operations, a consultant job that does not impact his pension.
Jay Schools has made similar hires, including when Bob Lutton was brought in as its athletics director after retiring as the middle/high school assistant principal at Wes-Del in 2010.
The Redkey Elementary principal job officially became open Monday evening, when the school board transferred Julie Gregg to the same job at General Shanks. At that time, the board also hired former longtime principal Tom Jerles on a 20-day contract to help Redkey Elementary get its school year started. Jerles will help McGalliard with the transition process.