Possible Reprieve for Kelley Williams-Bolar

Ohio Gov. John Kasich has agreed to investigate the case of Kelley Williams-Bolar, the black Akron mother who was convicted of “stealing” educational services by enrolling her kids in a white middle class school outside of her home district. "Our laws exist for a reason and they must be enforced, but the idea that a woman would become a convicted felon for wanting a better future for her children is something that has rightly raised a lot of concern with people, including me.”

The apparent racism and class hostility that prompted the Copley-Fairlawn school district to spend $6,000 hire private detectives just to prove that this one woman was somehow trying to cheat the school district has outraged thousands, prompting more than 80,000 to sign the Change.org petition http://www.change.org/petitions/gov-john-kasich-pardon-kelley-williams-bolar----she-shouldnt-go-to-jail-for-protecting-her-kid urging Gov. Kasich to pardon Williams-Bolar. Others have pressured the governor through Facebook groups like this one http://www.facebook.com/pages/Support-Kelley-Williams-Bolar/178291305540894?v=wall%29 and Twitter @JohnKasich demanding a pardon using the hashtag #KelleyWilliamsBolar.

Kelley Williams-Bolar's family has also set up a Paypal account to cover legal fees. You can donate by going to Paypal.com and making a payment to kelleywilliamsbolar@hotmail.com.

Modern School
http://modeducation.blogspot.com/

It is outrageous to charge her with a felony and put her in jail. But I don't understand why she didn't move in with her father instead of just using his address. We haven't gotten all the details to this story. So I am reserving judgment. But I will condemn the heavy handed tactics by the school district.

It also bothers me, an urban teacher, that kids in suburban districts lie about where they live and enroll in our urban district. It happens all the time. Usually they have been expelled from the suburban district. And no one is outraged. In other words, it's okay if you're an African American kid living in the suburbs to lie so you can attend school in an urban district. But if you're an African American kid living in an urban district, your parent will be charged with a crime if you lie to attend a suburban school.

Just a messed up system.