DeMotte files for Greater Jasper School Board District 4 seat

Jasper native Tim DeMotte announced he will run for the Greater Jasper School Board District 4 seat representing Bainbridge Township. The spot is currently held by Nancy Habig, who is not seeking re-election.

“I have been considering filing for school board for several years now,” DeMotte said. “My primary focus was to diversify the board with members of the public who have children actively enrolled in public school at the present time. Only one of the five current school board members has children enrolled at Jasper.”

Demotte and his wife Beth have a daughter, Ilana, who just started in kindergarten at Fifth Street Elementary last year. His son, Simon, will enroll in kindergarten in the fall of 2017.

“Having went to kindergarten at Fifth Street and attended Jasper public schools for the entirety of my primary education, I cannot help but think about my time there when attending my daughter’s school functions,” he said.

Demotte said his experience as an attorney in Jasper has caused him to be concerned about the social issues affecting children these days.

“As an attorney I have had the opportunity to represent many juveniles involved in the justice system. I have sat through hours and hours of private interviews between the probation department and these children,” he said. “What has become evident is that our kids are under an extreme amount of pressure coming from all directions. It also has become clear that bullying and social/economic dividing lines exist today just as much as they did when I was a student. I am interested in looking at ways to help ease tensions between the student body.”

Regarding the budget issues, DeMotte said he will be cognizant of the financial burdens placed on the taxpayers throughout the school corporation; including those that don’t have children attending school.

“How much can we ask them to devote the school’s needs?” he said. “How much property tax should someone on a fixed income have to pay to fund the school board’s desires as opposed to the school board’s needs?”

He added that difficult choices are facing the school corporation as they deal with aging infrastructure.

“I would like to be a part of that process, both as a father and as a taxpayer,” DeMotte said.

He added that the skills he has as an attorney will be a valuable addition to the school board.

“By practicing law for over 14 years, I have gained invaluable skills negotiating disputes between parties,” he said. “Obviously, negotiating issues related to teacher salaries and benefits will be an important part of being a board member.”

DeMotte graduated from Jasper High School in 1995. He completed a bachelor’s of arts in criminal justice and history at Indiana University in 1999. He received his law degree from Indiana University-Indianapolis in 2002 and joined his father, Jim DeMotte, at his Jasper law practice.