School board hires Corwin

Jay School Corporation has a new leader for its transportation department.

Jay School Board during a special meeting Thursday morning approved the hiring of Mitch Corwin as transportation director.

The 1992 Jay County High School graduate will take over for Melissa Stephen, who submitted her resignation earlier this month. Her last day will be today.

“This is a big win for the schools here,” said Jay Schools superintendent Jeremy Gulley. “Our transportation is complicated and it’s getting more so … We need good people out there.”

He touted Corwin’s experience both as the current assistant transportation director for New Albany-Floyd County School District and as a former Jay School Corporation employee. He served as a bus technician for Jay Schools from 2011 through 2018.

Corwin’s first day in his new position will be Oct. 23. Josh Nibarger will fill in as interim transportation director between Stephen’s departure and Corwin’s arrival.

In addition to his work the last four years for New Albany-Floyd County, Corwin has also been an adjunct instructor for Ivy Tech Community College and a parts manager for AutoZone.

Prior to his seven years with Jay Schools, he was a heavy truck technician for Moser Motor Sales for about a year and assistant pastor at Fellowship Baptist Church for four years.

School board members Ron Laux, Donna Geesaman, Vickie Reitz, Jason Phillips, Marcie Vormohr and Chip Phillips unanimously approved his hiring. Phil Ford was absent from the meeting.

Vormohr said she had a bus driver approach her recently to say she hoped Corwin would be hired for the role.

“He worked for us before and had a good rapport with us all,” said Laux. “He’s a great guy.”

Corwin earned a technical degree in automotive technology from the University of Western Ohio, a diploma in Biblical studies from Liberty University and an associate’s degree in Christian ministries from Indiana Wesleyan University.

In addition to welcoming Corwin, Gulley expressed well wishes for Stephen and thanked her for her work as transportation director. 

She has held the position for about five years.

Also Thursday, Gulley asked board members to plan for an executive session Oct. 16 prior to its 5 p.m. regular meeting and a special meeting Oct. 23 to discuss and then vote on an agreement with Jay Classroom Teachers Association. He said a tentative agreement is in place, adding that collective bargaining with the teachers’ union went smoothly.

JCTA is scheduled to vote on the agreement ahead of the school board’s Oct. 23 special meeting.