Akron, Ohio Mom Sentenced to Jail For Sending Kids to a Better School District

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by Lamar Tyler | on January 25th, 2011 | 82 comments

Edward Williams, 64, of Copley, says he chose to let his grandchildren live with him because he was concerned about them being alone at their mother’s house in Akron.

“She had 12 police reports that her house had been broken in, so what am I supposed to do? Just leave them there?” Williams said, outside his Black Pond Road Home on Wednesday. “I mean, I can protect them better if they was with me.”

The children’s mother, Kelley Williams-Bolar, worked for the Akron City School District and attended classes at the University of Akron. Her father says he felt there was nothing wrong with allowing the kids to stay with him and attend classes in the Copley-Fairlawn School District.

In building their case against Williams-Bolar, the district spent $6,000 hiring a private investigator who followed her and her children between the two houses and school. Poe believes the false claim cost the district an estimated $30,000 in tuition and could have cost tens of thousands more if they had not pursued it.

He believes their investigation was money well spent.

Because the district is predominantly white, and Williams-Bolar is black, some in the area believe there are racial undertones to the district’s motives.

Poe denies that saying, “Regardless of a family’s background, if they live in the Copley-Fairlawn School District, they will be welcomed into the schools with open arms.”

Summit County Common Pleas Judge Patricia Cosgrove sentenced Williams-Bolar to 10 days in the Summit County Jail for the two charges, both of which are felonies.

BMWK family, should this women be in jail for wanting her kids to attend a better school?

About the author

Lamar and Ronnie Tyler are the creators of the award-winning blog BlackandMarriedWithKids.com . They also are behind the Amazon.com bestselling DVDs Happily Ever After: A Positive Image of Black Marriage, You Saved Me and Men Ain’t Boys that explores manhood in the African American community. The Tylers are also the proud parents of four children.

http://ajeweledlife.com Chavon Smith

This woman should definitely NOT be jailed. This shows what the court systems are focused on. She wanted better for her children point blank and that’s not a crime! SMH!
There was and update that the judge came to her defense in allowing the Ohio Board of Education to permit her to obtain a teaching degree.
http://www.akronnewsnow.com/news/itemdetail.asp?ID=43576

Lorrsow

and i agree with Chavon she shouldn’t be in jail because if it was mine own children i will want the bestfor mines as well

67letmein

Illegal Aliens from Mexico LIVE in Mexico and walk across the border to get a FREE education at our public schools in the United States and then they go back across the border that SAME DAY. WHAT are the rules in America? Shouldn’t something be done about that, AMERICA. This woman and her family have been shellacked and I wish there was something I could do to help them.

biculturalmom

You can sign a petition here…to pardon her of the felony charges. http://education.change.org/blog/view/tell_ohio_gov_john_kasich_pardon_kelley_williams-bolar

Tony Avila

i tell you something , a murderer would have goten off easier, or any one in public office. i tell this lady , be humble. LORD IS watching this He will get His revenge, trust me.

Spenseravery

They are NOT “ALLOWING” her to obtain her Degree. The Degree comes from the College. She already has her hours needed, being that she currently works in the field of study. KEEPING her current license and getting another one is still up in the air.

**The Beacon Journal reports that Judge Patricia Cosgrove sent a letter to the Education Department on Thursday asking state officials not to suspend Williams-Bolar’s teaching assistant’s license or any teaching license she might obtain in the future.

The Judge said in the letter that Williams-Bolar is a single mother with two children, and has many good qualities.

The state and Akron Public Schools must (still) decide if a felony conviction of tampering with records will cost her her job as a special education teaching assistant at Buchtel High School.

Alisha Smith65

of course they are going to penalize @ work because that’s what they do.
Noierda

And she is teaching special education…wow…there are not to many teachers in that field..to take a teacher because she wanted better for her child..what a injustice.
Desiree

The sad part is that it takes moving across town in order for her children to get a decent education. And really? The school had that much time on its hands to hire a private investigator? Come on….some schools don’t have books….but this school is following people around. Just another example of how the distribution of wealth affects communities and individuals
~Desiree http://www.thelovejourney.com
Desiree

The sad part is that it takes moving across town in order for her children to get a decent education. And really? The school had that much time on its hands to hire a private investigator? Come on….some schools don’t have books….but this school is following people around. Just another example of how the distribution of wealth affects communities and individuals
~Desiree http://www.thelovejourney.com

Alisha Smith65

I believe that the obama administration should be notified along with the NAACP about this racial attack on this parent trying to provide a better opportunity for learning for her children. Eventhough the judge came to her defense about the teaching degree, that does not negaite that fact that when her background is pulled that these charges won’t come into question therefore keeping her from employability. Incarceration is also limiting or even eliminating any possibility for employment today.

Minister Michelle

I also agree about notifying the NAACP. This is a good mother. My family and I have kept many children whose mothers and fathers could care less about them. She placed them with her dad in a good school district. If she lied somewhere in the records that is not good but clear her record overall. Racism is pretty dominant in Akron and surrounding areas. Many injustices take place simply because of racism in this city. I know this without a shadow of a doubt. I do not ever see it being attacked and it should be prosecuted with felonies and fired!
seabee

how on earth is this racist – they investigated 100 families – she was the only one to try to fight it out in court – she had the option to pay the tuition to stay out of jail – she broke the law, plain and simple – I would probably have done the same thing, but when you get caught you get caught – kind of like speeding, not everyone gets stopped, but sometimes you do

RRB

HER FATHER LIVED IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND HE WAS HELPING HER WITH CHILD CARE! WHY IS THAT SUCH A CRIME AND CAUSE THIS WOMAN TO BE LABELED A FELON AND LOSE HER ABILITY TO BE A TEACHER. THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF HOW IF YOU TRY TO DO THINGS TO HELP YOURSELF IN THIS COUNTRY YOU ARE SHOT DOWN BY THOSE WHO THINK THEY ARE IN CONTROL OF YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN’S LIVES. I DEPLORE THIS JUDGE AND THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR MAKING AN EXAMPLE OUT OF A BLACK WOMAN IN AMERICA WHEN YOU HAVE ILLEGALS GETTING THE BEST OF SERVICES THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS AND THEY AREN’T EVEN IN THIS COUNTRY LEGALLY. WE AS AMERICAN’S ARE BORN HERE AND CAN’T EVEN GET A BREAK!!!

TheMrs

The crime is that she didn’t live in the school district. Her residency papers would have been fraudulent, hence the tampering with official documents. In the case of illegal immigrants, many of the children were born here and not the parents so legally the children are not illegals and they have the right to the education. Just because they are illegal in the country, they do actually live at the addresses they provide to the school. Although I completely understand the actions of the mother and grandfather, it doesn’t make what she did right….

LilAngl44777

Do a research of the race of the other 99, even though they only prosecuted 48 cases. still, research how many of those were White!!
harrio

yur a dumbass

67letmein

I’d like to see the Governor of Ohio as well as the President of the United States get an outpouring of support e-mails for this family. This is outrageous. Please find their websites and send e-mails.

http://www.moneymonk.net/ Moneymonk

I thought this article was a spoof. I cannot believe in 2011, this crap is going on. You are punished for wanting a decent life

Minister Michelle

Yes, punished for wanting a decent life and being black. Then if you demand equal rights, prejudice people think you ask for too much!

Awilson

Let’s be clear. Black or white we all want an opportunity for our children. Prejudice is like a cancer that can’t be cured with more prejudice. I have a friend that is a principal and according to him segregation still exists but between poor and rich. (He’s the principal at a lower income school primarily consisting of children from Hispanic descent.) Most of the school is made up of children of illegal immigrants. And yes, I think it is ridiculous that charges were filed! Just kick the kids out of school. In my opinion, this is a problem of economic segregation more than racial. But I’m just a white middle class mom living in a great school district! But I am still a woman that loves her children, that started off as a single mom at the age of 19, and a child of God. I personally think that if her Dad lived in the district and was paying taxes then what’s the problem? If this is how the school district wants to spend their time and money instead of educating children, I think the end result will be reduced academic performance and children that are spoilt because they think everyone is as priviledged as they are…..their loss!
Jfd

You are a Moron…..

Minister Michelle

Yes, punished for wanting a decent life and being black. Then if you demand equal rights, prejudice people think you ask for too much!

Kidzncolour

yeah right not racially motivated…if you believe that then I have a house on quicksand that I want to sell you
Kew97

In the northern Ohio area is there not something MORE worth spending taxpayer money for???? A better education is not a criminal offense…. unless those who are seeking it don’t look like those who have it to offer…
Mami

This is utter nonsense! It is highly unfair and lets you know that segregation still exists.
Chocolate_ty2000

But they would of also sent her to jail if they had found her guilty of child neglect too for leaving the kids alone all the time..People are idiotic. No common sense. A pure indication of people not using common sense in interpreting the laws.
RCWHIT1960

THIS IS DEFINITELY WRONG, THE COURT STYSTEMS STINK. THEY NEED TO BE GETTING PEOPLE WHO IS DURING CRIME, BUT A MOTHER WHO IS TRYING TO BETTER HER KIDS FOR THE REAL WORLD FOR A BETTER EDUCATION THEY ARE WRONG FOR PUTTING HER IN JAIL, I CAN SEE IF THE KIDS WAS LEFT AT THE HOME ALL DAY LONG THE COURT IS REALLY STUPID

Wnevster

I would have advise her to go to court and give custody of her children to her father that would give him the right to have his residence as their legal residence which would allow them to attend such school. They can visit their Mom on the weekends. The real issue is why are the public schools in one area better than in other area. Education reform is so needed rally for it people…This is our civil rights issue

Rede4beautiful

I agree with you 100%! It’s really time out for us crying “discrimination” at every whim. While it is prevalent, I do not believe it to be the case here. There are systems in place that we must adhere to…whether we like it or not. The bottom line here is this woman and her father broke the law…period! Employing the benefit of the doubt, maybe they did not know the proper steps to take. However, at the very least, they knew what they were doing was wrong. I make no apologies BMWK’s!

Michelle

I don’t think she should do jail time, but yes her child should be pulled from the school unless he is to live with his grandfather full-time.
Lilangl44777

I agree. They broke the law and they should suffer some type of consequence, but this was totally ridiculous! Also, you know if this woman had been White, this wouldn’t have happened. Never! Futhermore, if they made all the schools academically equal, and made they all equally safe, parents wouldn’t have to lie and sneak their kids into different schools in other areas. Just facts.

Depositnator

The bad school districts out there really do need attention to improve conditions! In the meantime, though, I work at a school & understand the school’s perspective on this issue. If good schools did not try to enforce residency they would be flooded with enrollment of outside students for which they would not be receiving any tax dollars. At some point it becomes financially necessary (even if it means big bucks to hire an investigator) to find the families who are cheating the system. It’s not just about this one family, but many. No one will dispute Mom’s motives in this situation. I applaud her for her concern regarding her kids’ education. Unfortunately, it’s her methods of achieving her goal that were wrong. There are several legal options that would have worked (giving her dad legal guardianship & having the kids live with him or her & the kids all moving in with him). And how unfortunate that with all her concern for her kids’ education, she has taught them that it is OK to lie & cheat as long as your motive is a good one. Would anyone agree that homeless parents should not be prosecuted for stealing even if it is to feed their kids? Of course not! I agree that legal consequences should not go so far as to prevent her from bettering herself by getting a better job as a teacher & perhaps being able to afford moving into that better school district. She wasn’t singled out & it had nothing to do with her ethnic background. She decided to fight it in court even though she knew she lied on official documents. The ironic thing is that she draws her income working for a school district & yet was trying to cheat another district. What’s wrong with that picture?

RCWHIT1960

THIS IS DEFINITELY WRONG, THE COURT STYSTEMS STINK. THEY NEED TO BE GETTING PEOPLE WHO IS DURING CRIME, BUT A MOTHER WHO IS TRYING TO BETTER HER KIDS FOR THE REAL WORLD FOR A BETTER EDUCATION THEY ARE WRONG FOR PUTTING HER IN JAIL, I CAN SEE IF THE KIDS WAS LEFT AT THE HOME ALL DAY LONG THE COURT IS REALLY STUPID
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OH Resident

Wow… if you want your kids to go to a particular school, do what is needed & make it legal. She KNEW what she was doing was wrong. SEVERAL legal options available: 1 – make her father the kids legal guardian (oh, but then miss out on the tax money) 2- move to that school district, 3 – have the father pick them up from the bus stop & take them to his house at the end of the day(kids will not be home alone)…. WHY do people who know they are doing wrong want to pull the race card… BTW I am black & I live in OH. The papers (school registration) CLEARLY state this is not acceptable or appropriate. I completely understand what & why she did what she did BUT she got caught, so… do the crime, do the time.

Terry

OH Resident….I sure hope you dont get caught running a Red Trafic Light(which more than likely, all do)….do cry about the ticket, ‘do the crime, do the time(pay your dues)!!!
Concerned lady

Ok wrong is wrong but a FELONY? Come on the time and consequence doesn’t fit the crime, charge her a fine and let her get back to her life and career. Now what do we expect her to do, with a “criminal record” they went way too far this time. You don’t get the death penalty for running a red light do you?

Kidzncolour

They will fuss an cuss that she is now drawing welfare. So OH residents get ready to receive a new client to your welfare rolls! Now she will draw more money than from the “system” then if the state had made her pay back the tuition you say she owes

Kidzncolour

seriously….make her pay the back tuition but jail time is stupid!
KINDRA

SIT YO ASS DOWN SOMEWHERE HEAR!!!!!!!!

SimplyRed

It really makes a statement that the school district would go that far to keep one family out. I did not hear any support indicating these children would cost the district absorbent amounts of money. Let’s put parents in jail who allow their children to linger in failing schools without raising hell. Let’s jail the politicians who allow a district to be so bad that parents have no choices.
Edncass

I read about this story and it broke my heart not only did they sentence this lady to jail she also is going to be unable to continue her pursuit to become a teacher. And I dont get why did they go through that extreme to try to “bust” her? Perhaps if the black communitys were afforded the same best schools with the best teachers that the white communitys have then a single mother who just wants her children to be able to attend a good school would not have to go to such extremes. Parents do this type of thing ALL THE TIME this is nothing new, but I sure wonder why was she singled out. I am not one to be quick to pull the race card but I feel in this case the shoe sure does fit.

http://www.redstateeclectic.typepad.com AngelaTC

Maybe you should vote for politicians that support school vouchers. In the mean time, the black community needs to assume some responsibility for it’s own problems. I’m pretty sure it isn’t the KKK breaking into her house repeatedly.
Seabee

she wasn’t singled out, 100 families were investigated, she was just the only one to fight it in court

Kidzncolour

well she should have been made to pay every dime back not sent to jail! Heck we have over crowded jails as it is and the real criminals aren’t the ones overcrowding the jailhouse!

clockes

Been there, Done that. My situation was temporary. A home fire had forced us to move into an apartment while we fought out values with the Ins. company. I saw the school vehicle outside my apartment and knew that the jig-was-up. We went down to the local School Board and received a waiver till our home (that we still owned) was completed. But my thoughts at the time was -REALLY? Is it that serious?

I have placed a link at the bottom of this comment. It has the Judge in this case giving her reasoning about the 10 day sentence. “If I were to put you in jail any longer, your kids would be able to STAY in that school.” Plus it cost to much to incarcerate you. Within the Tv news cast the reporter got the official to admit that this was ONLY done to send a message. I think that we can all guess to whom this message is for.

The punishment does not fit the crime. Judges have leeway in sentencing. This should have been knocked down to a Non-Felony filing (done all the time) and community service. The punishment does not fit the crime and yes, she broke the law.

link to the Judges own words on this case.
http://www.wksu.org/news/story/27201See
http://www.redstateeclectic.typepad.com AngelaTC

Maybe they should try voting for politicians that support school vouchers.
Beautifulone71

This is one of the most asinine things I’ve heard. Not only was she working but trying to better herself. They pretty much stayed with the grandfather. It was also a waste of taxpayers dollars. I am sure they dont do this for every family. Well since they are jailing the mom Im sure they are staying with their grandfather so they are in the district.
Godfearing

This mom was given the opportunity to pay, she wanted to fight it AND she lost. This is the risk that she took. She was wrong! This is not a Black /White issue. She was teaching her children to lie and cheat. Every one should learn from it.

Kidzncolour

if teaching your children to lie and cheat was a jailing crime then every parent in the world should have done time cause guess what …every time you tell just a little fib or we take just one pencil from the job that is not telling the truth and it is stealing….see how unreal that read….really she should have been made to pay the money back even if is meant going after her wages, income tax refund, not being able to get a student loan till she paid the money back anything besides jail time!

Sharleerenee

1. The real question is How many other mothers and children they have followed by private investigators? If there are only cases that appear racially motivated then that is should be investigated thoroughly. 2. why was this woman and children targeted 3. how many and how often does the school send private investigators out to spy on parents instead of tending to the neccesary things (upkeep, books, school supplies etc.). It seems very inappropriate to me. Every state has laws but I dont believe the punishment should have been more than a fine. If the children lives were in danger and they had to stay with the grandfather until circumstances were better but the mother was still in possesion of the home/apartment I dont believe that she falsified any documents at all. If someone continues to break in my home I will stay with a friend or family member until the person is caught. Does not mean that I live there. It is just sad to see that our goverment and schools a more willing to punish a good mother, but give mothers who abuse and neglect their children chance after chance. Whats Next A child cant go over a friends house to stay for spring break or the christmas holiday without his parents being Jailed? At this rate its probally probable
3gsmommy

I’ve worked in schools where parents have falsified documents so that their kids could go to Big Mama and nem’s house after school and the children raised hell the whole time they were there. This is a mother who wants what best for her kids while bettering herself and a grandfather protecting his grandchildren. No racism intended? Yeah, right!!!
http://feliz4life.blogspot.com Feliz4life

racism racism racism….this case is a joke!
JS

What would be more interesting to publicize along this story to contrast their supposed “good intent’ would be to know what their policy for allowing the children of illegal immigrants to attend their school, which…have ZERO residency on their side.

I’d like to hear their policy on THAT.

Kidzncolour

this is just the tip to go after the illegal immigrants….they needed to send a message first

TheMrs

This is something that people have done for years, however she was caught. Since there weren’t many Black families in the community, her children stuck out like sore thumbs. I live in Philadelphia and we have neighborhood schools, special admission schools and magnet schools(pulls children from other neighborhoods if there is space in the grades) and I have known many families that instead of going through the proper channels of applying and waiting for a space, have used others addresses to get their children into a better performing school, however they actually lived in Philadelphia. I remember students who suddenly left school because they “accidentally” told the school where they lived and then they investigated. This mother chose not to legally have her children attend that school. She could have let the children stay with the grandfather during the week and come home on the weekends, with her being the only one commuting daily between the 2 cities…It is an unfortunate situation but she was aware that she was breaking the law, they don’t ask for residency proof just to throw it in the trash….
Anonymous

So there are enough of us here to contact the NAACP. I preach enough so who will be our spokesperson? I have also contacted them in the past. I support you now let’s support each other. We need one spokesperson and the rest of us will support. I am tired of fighting for equal rights like Martin Luther didn’t even preach about his dream. Let’s do something about it that is law abiding. Please contact me with your godly, professional ideas at grammy4ever81@yahoo.com. God Bless you this day!
Anonymous

So there are enough of us here to contact the NAACP. I preach enough so who will be our spokesperson? I have also contacted them in the past. I support you now let’s support each other. We need one spokesperson and the rest of us will support. I am tired of fighting for equal rights like Martin Luther didn’t even preach about his dream. Let’s do something about it that is law abiding. Please contact me with your godly, professional ideas at grammy4ever81@yahoo.com. God Bless you this day!

Awilson

Unfortunately, there will always be some type of prejudice whether it’s based on race, religion, or size (the acceptable prejudice against overweight). The only way to truly have equal rights is socialism, which has never worked because there is evil in the world. Accepting Christ, and embracing God’s love is the only way to ever completely rid the world of hate. God’s in control and He will use evil for good. Don’t give up seeking what is just, but don’t become a reflection of what your fighting against! Martin Luther’s dream was God’s dream. I am sure he is living the dream in heaven, and we will one day too!

Tashonda36

she just want them to be safe at home and school so many different things out here going on why put this woman in jail for stupid nonsense like this there’s murderer’s theft etc. and she goes to jail for this smh on this one
Tashonda36

i guess this woman is suppose to let her house get robbed and send her kids to school she was just trying to better her kids future to much stuff happening out here to be focus on this stupid situation let this woman be free she was not causing any harm
Tashonda36

i guess this woman is suppose to let her house get robbed and send her kids to school she was just trying to better her kids future to much stuff happening out here to be focus on this stupid situation let this woman be free she was not causing any harm
Tashonda36

racism is a horrible word when are we gone to be able to go to school together without worrying about if they gonna get treated better or worse who said good schools are only for one RACE
eightrus

I agree with OH Resident 100%… I am also sick and tired AND sick and tired of the race card being played every single freakin’ time a black person feels they have been done wrong. Wrong is wrong. I totally emphathize with her wanting a better life for her family, we all want that, but when you do it illegal there are consequences. I have 6 children and with our income on paper we don’t qualify for any waivers or reduced lunches. I could lie to have to not pay for book rental fees, school lunches etc… but I have refused to. Just not RIGHT! And besides my children are watching my character. Oh yes I am black.
Samanthalincoln24

This Ohio mom is teaching her kids to lie, cheat, and steal to get what you want. Females that live like this ought to be ashamed of themselves! This ain’t about being black, it’s about having your own agenda so you can go to college and do whatever it is you want to do- an leave all the work and teaching to someone else. Good school or bad school-you’re kids can be successful in poor schools just the same as in a rich school. But you have to step up to the plate and do your job, and teach your kids right from wrong too!
Cooldesertbreeze

YOU HAVE G-O-T TO BE KIDDING. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE? Obviously they have never had to live in a bad area. This woman was simply trying to get a
better education and better chance for her daughters. Leave it to the upscale, money-grubbing asses to
use this poor woman as a power boost. How do you jerks sleep at night? Karma will definately come back and bite you in the ass !!!!! And for you ma’am…..more power to you! We will remember you in our prayers. Not that it will make a difference, but I am going to write a not-so-nice letter to the school district as soon as I am done here. And I’m in Cali. But wrong is wrong.
Cooldesertbreeze

YOU HAVE G-O-T TO BE KIDDING. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE? Obviously they have never had to live in a bad area. This woman was simply trying to get a
better education and better chance for her daughters. Leave it to the upscale, money-grubbing asses to
use this poor woman as a power boost. How do you jerks sleep at night? Karma will definately come back and bite you in the ass !!!!! And for you ma’am…..more power to you! We will remember you in our prayers. Not that it will make a difference, but I am going to write a not-so-nice letter to the school district as soon as I am done here. And I’m in Cali. But wrong is wrong.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PR4MCJ4ZI5DZWYY7LXQXL63AHU J'adore saturday

Shr should not be in jail. She probably used her fathers address which so far has not been a crime. She only wanted the best for her kids. Who gets punished for wanting the best for their kids. And besides, it was probably some rich mom who is a jerk and is racist and hired the detectives so that way no “ghetto” kids are coming to the school her kids go to. Besides why should they be worrying about HER and not about making a better SCHOOL SYSTEM so that she would not have to do this.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_X26KXEDKW5RWHG7PAD7XQNJL54 Judy

Ok so first the government wants to send you to jail if you don’t send your children to school and now they will send you to jail if you do. All this woman wants to do is make sure that her children get the best education possible. And now they are talking about taking away the mother’s credit hours of college that she has already attended. Now this is said seems to me this is the system’s of keep the poor man poor with a hint of raicism. I bet if they followed some of those other students around they would find that some of them do not live in that district either. Matter of fact that’s what they need to do if they have investigated her they need to do the whole school district like that and see what they find.
NN

WHERE IS JACKSON AND SHARPTON and the CIVIL RIGHT LEADERS; JAIL FELONY because she wants to keep her family safe and educated…REALLY!!! that’s justice….really in today’s society…
Pingback: RE: Akron Ohio Jailing | Politics..and other musings
Dougrobin

How can this not be a civil rights violation, you’re telling me they hire a private eye to follow any of the white kids home from school? And his comment, “Regardless of a family’s background, if they live in the Copley-Fairlawn School District, they will be welcomed into the schools with open arms.” Yeah, regardless even if they’re black. Bunch of racists. I mean technically it sounds as if they lived there. Sounds like these folks just don’t like black folks and will do whatever it takes to make that clear.
Wsp_toystempter

sooooo I am like one of very few who believe 10days isnt bad!! She falsified LEGAL documents! I also agree it is sad we cant just send our kids to schools of our choice BUT then we’d all be arguing about classrooms being 50+ in size and over crowding. I dont like the “race” thing being an issue in comments and dont believe it was the reason here, like many have stated she wasnt the only one to be investigated she just happened to be the only one fighting it saying “Im not lying” to comment also to those of you stating “good for her for trying to better her kids education”, well I would like my kids to go to an Ivy League school, should I rob a bank to better my childrens education so I can afford it and not be punished because its a crime? Like most, there are steps she could have done to be accepted in that school she is the one who chose to lie and continue lying when caught. You dont break the system, you make it work for you!! I do not feel sorry for her, myself coming from a low income family and working hard to make it above most, going to those so called “ghetto” schools and getting an education. Now a middle class family (still living in the ghetto) a part of my childrens education and when I see them falling behind I step in and first make sure they are still on the right track and then meet with teachers so they know anything below a C is not acceptable and work with them so we can get my children back on the right track to a better education!
amber

i agree with alot of what some of you are saying but i do think there is some discrimination going on here…i went to a high school where some of the kids didnt live in the district and they even recruited kids from other districts so they could play sports…im sure someone in the administration was aware of this fact but was anything done about it? no! do i think this woman should be punished yes do i think she deserves jail time? absolutely not! what makes this situation ridculous to me is the fact that they spent money to hire an investigator to follow this woman! thats just crazy…the fact remains that her father lives in the district she could have just used his address or let the kids stay there but jail time is too much…and they are trying to take away her degree and everything shes worked for to make a better life for herself and her children…this country is so backwards its not even funny all this woman wants is a good quality education for her children and instead of recognizing that they want to focus on the bad…this woman and her family will be in my prayers cause this is just crazy to me…
childofGod

I’ve just read all of the comments posted. I just want to say that this could’ve been me(I’m a white single mom). I live in the Akron Public School district and will not be sending my children to the Akron middle school they should go to, due to it having consistently poor scores(although I went to the school). How do you go about legally enrolling your kids in a better district? Open enrollment-there are surrounding districts that offer open enrollment and a much better education. I have relatives living in the Copley/Fairlawn district who’s address I could’ve used to send my kids there-but I didn’t…and it wasn’t a thought in my mind. Why? Because it’s wrong. It’s that simple. The fact is, there are many surrounding districts where she could’ve legally open enrolled-thus giving her kids better opportunities. Any mom who cares about her kids wants the best for them-she was no different. But you have to abide by the rules that are in place-no matter how unfair or unjust they may be. I don’t know if the intent of the district was to make an example of her or not…I just know that if I were her, sittin in my jail cell, I’d sure be thinking about what a poor choice I made-how I just taught my kids that it’s ok to be deceitful to get what you think you deserve, to disregard authority, and to then try to justify it by calling it racism.

I am by no means prejudice-ALL people are loved equally in God’s eyes-I am no better than anyone on this earth. I hope my comments aren’t taken wrong, I’m just well aware that if I pulled what she pulled, I would be accountable to God-and any consequences for knowingly being deceitful are deserved.
One last thing-If I walk into a store to shop in that area-I feel totally looked down upon for not being wealthy like the majority of people there. I am treated as second class-and if that’s what parents around there teach their kids-I wouldn’t want my child around that brainwashing nonsense…no matter how good the education. God is Love. We are equal. There is evil in the world. God Bless.
Lynnn30

This women could have gave her children to her father, Then they could have legally went to the schools. But she could not do that because Then, she could not keep her federal subsidized apartment.
You cannot lie, cheat and try to get over the system to get what you want. Bottom line.

Lie- By signing the papers swearing she and her girls lived in the district.
Steal- Having her kids get an eduction in a district she did not pay property taxes in.
Getting over- By playing the race card.
By
A black 39 year old women who was raised and educated in the south Bronx, and Now lives in a southern suburb.
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http://www.bigeventfundraising.com Clay Boggess

This is another argument in favor of school choice.
Mrs. Almettia Quetant

Bottom line is, this should have never been an issue. “All Schools Should Be Equal”. The United States should be ashame of itself for allowing Public Education to be anything other than equal. It does not take a genius to simply see what makes a school work and apply it to them all. There would not be a need for open enrollment, permits,using someone elses address, or anything of that nature. As for the jail time and other purnishments that was given to this lady, this was just an abuse of power by the judge. In any other case of children being in a school out of their district, the children would have simply been put out of the school. I would like to know if there is a school board, and if so , why was this not handled within? How did this get pass the school board to criminal court. (A FELONY) “Poe”- The Thirty Thousand Dollars, was it not to educate two children? Well It Did,Or Did It Mean A Certain Two Children. There was no lost.
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