(WESTERN WAYNE NEWS) — Western Wayne Schools Superintendent Kelly Plank was placed on administrative leave after being charged Monday with a Level 5 felony battery count in Henry County.
Court records show the Henry County Prosecutor’s Office charged Plank on Monday, May 11, in Henry Circuit Court 2 with one count of battery resulting in serious bodily injury, a Level 5 felony. Judge Kit C. Dean Crane found probable cause for the charge and ordered a warrant for Plank’s arrest. Records show that Plank has a New Castle address.
In a news release, WWS legal counsel A.J. Sickmann said that after learning of the charge, the school board placed Plank on leave, effective immediately. He said the alleged incident reportedly occurred on a Saturday, off school grounds, while Plank was not acting in her role as superintendent.
The board issued a statement saying it takes the matter seriously.
“While the allegations do not involve school property, students, or staff, we believe this step is necessary to ensure the district remains focused on its primary mission: the education and well-being of our students,” the board wrote. “We are committed to a process that is both thorough and fair to all parties involved.”
Details of the alleged incident were not immediately available Monday. Plank does not yet have an attorney listed in court records. WWN has reached out to Plank for comment by phone and email.
Sickmann said the board is finalizing an interim leadership plan, and that school activities will continue as scheduled without disruption. He said the board would conduct its own review of the situation “as it relates to district policy and professional standards.”
The board canceled a regularly scheduled board meeting that had been planned for Wednesday evening.
Plank became WWS superintendent in July 2025 after previously serving in various roles at Northeastern Wayne Schools. She began working in Wayne County in 2018 when she became principal at Fairview Elementary School in Richmond. Before that, she was dean of students at Greenfield-Central Junior High School, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Court records show Plank’s bond was set at $7,500 surety plus $750 cash. In Indiana, a Level 5 felony carries a possible prison sentence of one to six years, with an advisory sentence of three years.
People accused of crimes are presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty in court.
Updated Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 7:40 a.m. to note that the board has canceled its previously scheduled Wednesday, May 13, 2026 meeting.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
