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CAT Tracks for January 28, 2011
SHE WAS WAITING FOR SUPERMAN... |
...but ended up in Supermax!
Viewer alert...
Remember the name Kelley Williams-Bolar. If you struggle at first, you will have plenty of reminders. Education reformers now have a new poster child('s mom) for their campaign against failing schools and those trapped within. This Ohio mom will have her pick of job offers. She will soon have the $30,000 (and much more) to pay the school district to allow her children to attend. (Oprah has probably already written the check!)
And, you know...
More power to her!
Hell...
After seeing the black and white striped jail uniform they made her wear, I'm ready to run out and buy my "Free Kelley" t-shirt. Plus...it's the new American Dream...the American Way. Celebrity, reality TV, a new American idol!!!
BTW: Kelley is actually "free", having been released after serving 9 of her 10-day sentence. The other penalties remain.
(There is a "Good Morning America" video on the original story website.)
From the ABC News Website...
Ohio Mom Kelley Williams-Bolar Jailed for Sending Kids to Better School District
Judge Sentenced Mother Convicted of Falsifying Residency Records to 10 Days in Jail
By ANDREA CANNING and LEEZEL TANGLAO
An Ohio mother's attempt to provide her daughters with a better education has landed her behind bars.
Kelley Williams-Bolar was convicted of lying about her residency to get her daughters into a better school district.
"It's overwhelming. I'm exhausted," she said. "I did this for them, so there it is. I did this for them."
Williams-Bolar decided four years ago to send her daughters to a highly ranked school in neighboring Copley-Fairlawn School District.
But it wasn't her Akron district of residence, so her children were ineligible to attend school there, even though her father lived within the district's boundaries.
The school district accused Williams-Bolar of lying about her address, falsifying records and, when confronted, having her father file false court papers to get around the system.
Williams-Bolar said she did it to keep her children safe and that she lived part-time with her dad.
"When my home got broken into, I felt it was my duty to do something else," Williams-Bolar said.
While her children are no longer attending schools in the Copley-Fairlawn District, school officials said she was cheating because her daughters received a quality education without paying taxes to fund it.
"Those dollars need to stay home with our students," school district officials said.
Sentence Intended as Deterrent
The district hired a private investigator, who shot video showing Williams-Bolar driving her children into the district.
The school officials asked her to pay $30,000 in back tuition.
Williams-Bolar refused and was indicted and convicted of falsifying her residency records.
She was sentenced last week to 10 days in county jail and put on three years of probation.
She will also be required to perform community service, the Beacon Journal reported.
Williams-Bolar said she was being singled out.
"I don't think they wanted money ? ," Williams-Bolar said. "They wanted me to be an example."
Presiding Judge Patricia Cosgrove acknowledged as much.
"I felt that some punishment or deterrent was needed for other individuals who might think to defraud the various school districts," Cosgrove said.
