The members of the Board of School Trustees are pleased to announce we have appointed Jud Wolfe to complete the term of retiring 23-year board member Scott Flood.
Stability in leadership is more important than ever. Mr. Wolfe’s ability to join the board with no learning curve is vital to continuing our focus on preparing students for a successful future by instilling the joy of learning while remaining dedicated to using a prudent financial approach to be good stewards of tax dollars.
A 37-year resident of Plainfield, Mr. Wolfe began his education career as a business teacher at Plainfield High School in 1981. After serving in administrative roles in Brown County, Decatur Township, and Center Grove Schools, he rejoined Plainfield in 2004 as our district’s assistant superintendent for business and finance and retired in 2022. He was named Indiana’s top school business official that year.
In 18 years in that role, Mr. Wolfe oversaw finances and more than a million square feet of facility construction and management, while guiding the district through several major changes in state and federal funding. Today, Plainfield maintains the lowest school tax rate in Hendricks County.
Mr. Wolfe’s knowledge and experience will provide valuable insight to the board and district as we begin the PHS 2.0 project and deal with uncertainty about state funding. He has already earned the trust of the board and the community, and we’re excited to serve alongside him.
Additional information:
Doesn’t the law require school boards to use an application and interview process when choosing replacements?
State law only requires the board to appoint a replacement within 30 days. It’s up to boards to decide how they’ll make that selection. In the past, Plainfield has made direct appointments for some vacancies and accepted applications for others. This time, the board believed the departure of an experienced board member created the need to choose someone who could immediately bring a similar level of knowledge to the board.
Were Mr. Flood or Supt. Olinger involved in the decision to appoint Mr. Wolfe?
No. The choice was made solely by the remaining four board members.
How long is Mr. Wolfe’s appointment?
He will serve the balance of Mr. Flood’s term, which ends in December 2025.
How much will Mr. Wolfe be paid?
Indiana law sets the salary for all school board members at $2,000 per year (with a per diem allowance for meetings).
When will Mr. Wolfe’s first meeting be?
Mr. Flood’s final meeting will be the August Board of School Trustees meeting. Mr. Wolfe’s first meeting will be the September Board of School Trustees meeting.