Franklin Community Schools (FCS) announced today that School Board Member Jake Sappenfield has submitted his resignation, effective January 1, 2025. Sappenfield has served on the FCS School Board since January 2023. His decision to resign follows a recent move to a residence outside the Needham Township boundaries. FCS School Board residency requirements mandate that members representing Franklin, Needham, and Union Township reside within their respective townships.

While stepping down from his official position, Sappenfield plans to remain actively involved in the district in a volunteer capacity. 

“We are grateful for Jake’s service to the students, faculty, and staff of Franklin Community Schools,” Superintendent Dr. David Clendening said. “He has a passion for education and is a steadfast champion for Franklin, and I look forward to working with him in the future.”

The School Board will begin the process of appointing a replacement for the Needham Township seat to serve the remainder of Sappenfield’s term, which ends 12/31/2026. Details about the application process and timeline can be found below.

Interested Needham Township candidates should send Dr. David Clendening a resume, cover letter, and responses to the posted questions at clendeningd@franklinschools.org. 

Thank you for your interest in the vacant Needham Township School Board position. 

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and personal response questions to Dr. David Clendening at clendeningd@franklinschools.org. 

Personal Response Questions

1. Tell us about yourself and why you are interested in becoming a school board member?

2. Are there aspects of your education or experience that will be especially helpful in preparing you to serve as a member of the school board?

3. What do you see as the board’s role vs. the administration’s in running the school system?

4. What is the greatest challenge facing this school system?

5. Are you currently serving on any other boards? If so, please list below. 

Timeline

January 6 - January 15 - Accepting applications

January 15 at 5:00 pm - Deadline to apply

January 16 and/or - January 21 - Interview school board candidates

January 30 - A public vote will be held to appoint a new school board member

Eligibility

Those interested must meet the following eligibility requirements: 

• Voter Registration - A person is not qualified to run for: 

  • (1) a state office; 

  • (2) a legislative office; 

  • (3) a local office; or 

  • (4) a school board office; 

unless the person is registered t unless the person is registered to vote in the election district the person seeks to represent not later than the deadline for filing the declaration or petition of candidacy or certificate of nomination. (IC 3-8-1-1(b)

• Felony Conviction - A person is disqualified from assuming or being a candidate for an elected office if, among other things, the person has been convicted of a felony that has not been pardoned, reversed, vacated, set aside, not entered because the trial court did not accept the person’s guilty plea, or expunged. (IC 3-8-1-5) 

• Residence - A candidate for a school board office must have resided in the school corporation for at least one (1) year before the election. If a candidate is seeking to represent an election district that consists of less than the entire school corporation, the candidate must have resided in the election district for at least one (1) year before the election. (IC 3-8-1-34) 

• Age - No person otherwise eligible to assume office as a member of a governing body shall be disqualified on the basis of age, if the individual is at least twenty-one (21) years of age. (IC 20-26-4-9)

• Property Ownership - Property ownership may not be a qualification for serving as a member of a governing body. (IC 20-26-4- 10)

• School Corporation Employees - An individual who is employed as a teacher or as a noncertificated employee of the school corporation may not be a member of the governing body of the school corporation. (IC 20-26-4-11)