Jailed For Placing Daughters In Better School?

Kelley Williams-Bolar, a single mother who lived in Akron public housing, was convicted of lying about her residency in order to send her two daughters to a highly ranked school. Her sentence, which inflamed emotions in the community, was 10 days in jail, and two years probation according to reports, and is due to end this week.

You’re probably thinking “I would do the same thing.” We all want the best for our children. We want them to have the best of everything in life so they can go on and do well if not better than us. So who wouldn’t fib a little to gain an edge for their children to a substantially better school?

People do this all the time whether its to join a YMCA closer to home, or to get in state tuition rather than an out of state. I have done things like this to gain an edge. Who wouldn’t as long as they felt like the cause was just and the odds of being caught were slim?

So isn’t this mom just like the rest of us? Only unfortunate to have been caught. Yes, she is exactly like the rest of us.

We all have broken the law. Difference is she got caught and now she has had to pay the price. Fact of the matter is she falsified official documents and used taxpayer money of which she contributed nothing. Granted her cause was noble but her actions none the less against the law.

Neither she nor the girls actually lived within the boundaries of Copley-Fairlawn. They lived in Akron public housing. Instead it was Williams-Bolar's dad who lived in Copley-Fairlawn. Which meant she should have paid about $30,500 in tuition. So she and her father faked the kids' residency, using his address.

Copley-Fairlawn Superintendent Brian Poe said the district has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars because of children illegally enrolled in its schools. The cases are usually resolved by parents proving they live in the district, taking their kids out of the schools or paying tuition of about $800 a month.

Some are saying she is just being picked on to make an example. You’re absolutely right she is. The school investigated about 100 other families doing the same thing, they either plead guilty, proved residency or stayed and agreed to pay tuition. Williams-Bolar was the only one to challenged the school district in court, had she had decided to not challenge the findings you wouldn’t know her name just like the hundred others involved. She made herself an example.

In the end she placed her current job and future carrier in jeopardy and was sentenced to 10 days in jail and 2 year probation. Not really a bad wrap considering she owes the schools about thirty five thousand dollars. She is an example that if you break the law you should be held accountable for your actions.