Support Kelly Williams-Bolar, Jailed For Sending Kids to Wrong School District | INCITE!
Kelly Williams-Bolar, a black mother of two in a low-income district in Akron, Ohio, registered her children to a neighboring school district where her father lives, but the children were not based. Because of this effort to gain access to a better education safer school for her children [see ETA note below], Ms. Williams-Bolar was convicted of tampering with court records, sentenced to ten days in prison, three years probation, a $30,000 fine, and, because it’s a felony conviction, the judge asserted that she will not be able to get her teaching degree, though she’s just a few credits away. More details here.
This case is also an example of how racial-inequality created during slavery and Jim Crow continues to cripple our nation to this day. There is no logical reason on earth why this mother of two should be dehumanized by going to jail and be left permanently marginalized from future economic and educational opportunities.
Rebecca O. Johnson at Urban Ecology also notes that there is a possibility that the Ohio Department of Education may not revoke Williams-Bolar’s teaching license and Judge Cosgrove may consider expunging the felony conviction.
You can help with increasing political pressure. Change.org has organized a petition demanding that that Ohio Governor Kasich pardon Ms. Williams-Bolar. Sign the petition and forward widely!
Edward Williams, Kelley Williams-Bolar’s father, called to clarify that her decision to enroll her children in the suburban district had nothing to do with the academic quality of the school and was because of safety issues. Williams-Bolar’s house had been broken into and she’d had to file 12 different police reports due to crime in the area, he said. Enrolling the children in the district where her father lived was a safety-based decision, and Williams wants to dispel any rumors that it was based on academics.
This is an outrage and a miscarriage of justice. In the interest of justice, this conviction should be overturned and the charges dismissed. Shame!
This is crazy! Are they for real? Not letting her get her teaching certification?! Really, that sounds cruel and unusual to me. What can we do about this?!?
Awful! How can even think of doing this when she was clearly trying to do the best she could for her children.
Thanks so much for bringing attention to this issue. Since it first came across my desk, we at United Black America have done everything in our administrative power to hold the judge (http://unitedblackamerica.com/wtf-black-mother-gets-felony-for-sending-kids-to-a-better-school) and the county officials accountable. Keep up the fight against information ignorance!
June 29, 2004: Kelley Williams-Bolar signs Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority (AMHA) lease for a single family home on Hartford Avenue in Akron, Ohio. She lists her two daughters as living with her, which qualified her for the home.
March 2005: Williams-Bolar receives informational packet from Copley-Fairlawn Schools.
January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2007: AMHA Tenant Report lists Williams-Bolar residence as Hartford Avenue in Akron, along with her two daughters.
August 22, 2006: Williams-Bolar signs a free lunch application for her children at Copley-Fairlawn Schools. She does not list any income but lists more than $800 in monthly child support.
April 23, 2007: Copley school officials drive to grandparents Black Pond Drive, Copley address and witness Williams-Bolar sitting in a car with her daughter waiting for the school bus. School calls Williams-Bolar and questions her residence; she’s adamant she and girls live on Black Pond Drive in Copley.
April 25, 2007: Williams-Bolar changes her driver’s license to reflect Black Pond Drive, Copley address.
May 12, 2007: Edward Williams signs residency form with Summit County Department of Job & Family Services, renewing his application for benefits. He indicates he lives at Black Pond Drive alone.
September 6, 2007 – October 9, 2007: School surveyed Hartford Avenue, Akron and Black Pond, Copley addresses. Report includes videotape showing Williams-Bolar and children spending the night at Hartford and driving to Black Pond to catch the bus each morning.
October 2, 2007: Williams-Bolar signs free lunch application for 2007 school year; lists no income or child support. An investigation later confirmed she received $800/month in child support in addition to income from employment with Akron Public Schools.
October 26, 2007: Residency Hearing – Williams-Bolar testifies she and her daughters live at Black Pond, Copley address with her parents. No evidence to counter the Board’s finding of false residency. That same day, Williams-Bolar changes her address for her Towpath Credit Union to Black Pond address.
November 13, 2007: Treasurer sends tuition bill to Williams-Bolar and Williams for past tuition.
November 16, 2007: Edward Williams faxes school letter refusing to pay tuition since it’s a public school.
January 29, 2008: Williams-Bolar confirms to AMHA that children are attending Copley schools but she and children reside at Hartford Avenue in Akron.
February 22, 2008: AMHA interviews Williams-Bolar and questions “deployment.” Bolar admits she lied; confirms she and children reside at Hartford Avenue in Akron; handwrote on statement confirming she and children reside at Hartford and that parent’s address just used to enroll children in Copley.
May 15, 16, 17, 2008: Updated surveillance confirms Williams-Bolar still taking children to school bus stop in Copley.
October 22, 2009: Williams-Bolar and father indicted on charges.
January 12, 2011: Jury trial commences.
January 15, 2011: Jury finds Williams-Bolar guilty of two counts of tampering with evidence, felonies of the third degree, for falsifying multiple residency records and reduced lunch applications. Verdict deadlocked on grand theft charges against Williams and Williams-Bolar.
January 19, 2011: Judge Patricia Cosgrove sentences Williams-Bolar to five years of prison, suspended, three years of probation, and 80 hours of community service. Cosgrove sends Williams-Bolar to a ten day jail term, and Williams-Bolar eventually serves nine days in jail.
January 31, 2011: State dismisses deadlocked charges.