Mom Jailed Over School Districting

[Richard]

This is an issue for all parents around the major urban areas here in Texas, too, especially for those who cannot afford to send their children to private schools but believe a good education is the way to a better future for their children in America.

An impoverished black woman broke the law to send her children to a rich white school. Is her punishment justice?

And so it goes...

Richard

Kelley Williams-Bolar: Mom Jailed For Wanting To Give Kids A Better Life
Salon, 25 Jan 2011

In case you have not yet heard about Kelley Willams-Bolar:

AKRON, Ohio – A Summit County woman will spend 10 days in jail after she was found guilty in a school residency case that could set a precedent for Ohio school districts.

Judge Patricia Cosgrove also placed 40-year-old Kelly Williams-Bolar on two years of probation and ordered her to complete 80 hours of community service.

On Saturday, a jury found Williams-Bolar guilty on two counts of tampering with records. She was also facing one count of grand theft, but the judge declared a mistrial on that charge after the jury couldn't reach a verdict.

"I felt that some punishment or deterrent was needed for other individuals who might think to defraud the various school systems," Cosgrove told NewsChannel5 after the sentencing.

Prosecutors said Williams-Bolar lived in Akron, but falsified enrollment papers in the Copley-Fairlawn School District so her two girls could attend schools for two years.

Prosecutors said the lies cost the district about $30,000. Copley-Fairlawn does not have open enrollment and out-of-district tuition is about $800 per month.
There are myriad responses to this case, ranging from the impassioned response of Boyce Watkins to the "fraud is fraud" response by Bob Dyer of the Beacon Journal. Titles all over the Internet have proclaimed "MOTHER IMPRISONED FOR SENDING KIDS TO WRONG SCHOOL!" implying that the only thing wrong was simply enrolling where she shouldn't have. Under the current laws of Ohio, Williams-Bolar committed a crime. This can't be argued. What can be argued is whether the actions by the court are right and appropriate for the defendant's situation.

My initial reaction to this was outrage. I sat at my computer, heart pounding, eyes tearing, because when you peel off all the layers, you have this: a woman (who works with special education children and was attending school for her teaching degree) is being vilified because she wanted something better for her children. And we can't possibly ignore the racial aspect of this situation. A poor BLACK woman on public assistance is being jailed for sending her kids to the rich white school. I'm not arguing whether this is how it should be looked at; I'm saying that is how it is looked at. It's questionable at this point whether the teaching degree she's been working toward will be allowed, because she has a felony charge against her. A family's life is in virtual ruins because of this situation.

And many say she deserves this.

Reading comments from residents of the town she "stole" the education from say that this is fair. They pay a lot of money for that school. Rules are rules. If you don't live there you have to pay $800 in order to attend and she did not do so. In black and white terms (no pun intended) this is true. But is anything black and white? Can we truly look at this situation and call it fair? Are we a country that would put a scarlet letter on this woman because of where she sent her kids to school? She didn't forge $20 bills and buy electronics and diamonds. She didn't pretend to be a victim of 9/11 and try to claim special funds.

She sent her kids to school.

To judge this simply as a case of fraud is to ignore the surrounding circumstances. Some say that, legally speaking, "circumstances" don't matter. But if you murder someone they specifically have to figure out if it was a crime of passion, was it self-defense or was it premeditated. Each crime receives wildly different sentences. The bottom line is that a person is dead. But somehow that's not black and white. They say Williams-Bolar was judged by a jury of her peers. Was she really? Was it a group of poor minorities trying to finally have a chance at the supposed American dream? Were these "peers" people whose families have tried for generations to rise from the injustice and inequalities that they -- literally -- had nothing to do with?

Show me these "peers."

I'm not saying Kelley Williams-Bolar was right. I'm not saying she shouldn't have to pay what she owes to the local government. I'm saying to make an example of a poor mother with a family on her first offense is unconscionable. To think this reasonable is to ignore the reality that we live in and the shades of right and wrong that appear in so many offenses.

By the way, America stole a lot of labor from my people. Are we going to get any of that "owed" money any time soon? No? Didn't think so.

http://www.salon.com/life/feature/20...m=/mwt/feature

[Guy]

Her kids are probably two years AHEAD!....

Stay safe.

[nousdefions]

This is why School Vouchers are a good idea. The parent gets the voucher and decides where their child goes to school. Under performing schools will either shape up or close down.

Cheers!

[Fonzy]

They lost all credibility to their argument when they brought up race.

It seemed to be going somewhere with a valid point until they played the race card. Then I just shut down. I'm tired of hearing it.

[craigepo]

That author, article, and perpetrator lost all credibility as soon as race became an issue.

[Richard]

I think the thesis of the entire OpEd piece worth pondering is to be found in the orange hi-lighted paragraph.

FWIW - I almost edited out the final paragraph before posting because I suspected there would be a tendency on first reading to lose sight of this forest of an issue for that 'lightning magnet' of a tree - an on-going controversy for America dating back to 1619 and the Trier, Treasurer, and White Lion.

And so it goes...

Richard

Explain to me the situation in how the school lost $30K, or was it a loss of "potential" revenue by another parent who could afford to send their child there?

Bet you the "other" parent(s) still sent their child to the school - the school is now just -1 student vs. +1 student.

The long term affect could have been, (1) child gets a better education, obtains a higher level of employment, get her mother off assistance. (2), with a higher education, learns NO FEAR and how to manipulate the system, becomes a public organizer and enters Chicago politics later in career, mom continues to receive assistance because, well, she can.

Any other scenarios?

[1stindoor]

Originally Posted by wet dog

Explain to me the situation in how the school lost $30K, or was it a loss of "potential" revenue by another parent who could afford to send their child there?

Bet you the "other" parent(s) still sent their child to the school - the school is now just -1 student vs. +1 student.

The long term affect could have been, (1) child gets a better education, obtains a higher level of employment, get her mother off assistance. (2), with a higher education, learns NO FEAR and how to manipulate the system, becomes a public organizer and enters Chicago politics later in career, mom continues to receive assistance because, well, she can.

Any other scenarios?

Playing the Devil's Advocate...there's plenty of Scenarios that could have been the result of this event.
The rest of the students at the school had to make do with less because two children were utilizing equipment/assets that they did not pay into. Therefore, others learn that it's okay to lie, cheat, steal in order to further your own means. Afterall, it's a public school and therefore anyone should have the same rights to it. They in turn learn that applying these same principles in college and afterwards will reward them with votes as Democrats.

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by 1stindoor

Playing the Devil's Advocate...there's plenty of Scenarios that could have been the result of this event.
The rest of the students at the school had to make do with less because two children were utilizing equipment/assets that they did not pay into. Therefore, others learn that it's okay to lie, cheat, steal in order to further your own means. Afterall, it's a public school and therefore anyone should have the same rights to it. They in turn learn that applying these same principles in college and afterwards will reward them with votes as Democrats.

You made cough, laugh and spew Lipton simultaneously, Bro!

Originally Posted by 1stindoor

Therefore, others learn that it's okay to lie, cheat, steal in order to further your own means. Afterall, it's a public school and therefore anyone should have the same rights to it. They in turn learn that applying these same principles in college and afterwards will reward them with votes as Democrats.

o.k., but don't make me laugh so hard, I assume we both agree then cheating is wrong, just wanted to get that right in my head.

Denver has several public schools, East High is known for being one of the better ones. It has all the familiar activities any HS might have, (sports, debate, drugs, sex, gangs, etc.), but also has high education scholar placement and a staff with history. Many families have moved to the neighborhood and then made application for children in open enrollment, (specific to time lines), just so they could attend Junior/Senior years before applying to college.

Kent HS, across town, (private) is another great school, but comes with a $$$$ price tag each year per student. No breaks for siblings.

But then again my lawyer went to NY City College and then some backwater law school for his degree. Advancement comes in many forms.

Cheating is still wrong......

[Dusty]

Well, then, let's not get pissed off at the illegal aliens who forge paperwork to get their kids in better schools either. Or car thieves who just want a better mode of transportation. Or anybody else who intentionally breaks the law.

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by Richard

[COLOR="Lime"]By the way, America stole a lot of labor from my people. Are we going to get any of that "owed" money any time soon? No? Didn't think so.http://www.salon.com/life/feature/20...m=/mwt/feature

lol to the google power-That's the weakest snivel in history. "America" doesn't owe anybody anything for slavery. "Your people"? What, Americans aren't your people? Racist.

[Pete]

Rent a cheap apartment in the school district.

Being outside the district means distance, means getting the kids to school, more hassle on everything plus you lie.

Every school system has "creative" living addresses for some.

I wonder, though, if the school system in question charges tuition for illegals?

[Dozer523]

Originally Posted by Pete

Rent a cheap apartment in the school district.

Being outside the district means distance, means getting the kids to school, more hassle on everything plus you lie.

Every school system has "creative" living addresses for some.

I wonder, though, if the school system in question charges tuition for illegals?

Pete (I love you man) that just pisses me off.
We picked our house because of the school district. And for that we pay some of the highest property taxes in the St Louis Metro area. something like 64% of our property taxes (before federal taxes, state taxes -- in two damn states!--, sales taxes, a fricking $200 parking fee so D (bright Center of My Universe) can park in the school parking lot) and all the other damn fees and taxes etc etc.
Yup We chose to pay the extra so our kids could get one of the best educations in this area. (Or I have the satisfaction of doing my "wrath of God" impression when I can show we didn't get what we paid for. > I am sure I will never be hired in my home district<)

So I'm sure not impressed when someone piggy backs (STEALS) from the tax/fee base I provide.

They ought to make her work fro free in the damn lunch room.

[plato]

Originally Posted by Dozer523

They ought to make her work fro free in the damn lunch room.

Wifout her fro?