That's the message of the superintendent of the Copley-Fairlawn school district, Brian Poe, when he said, "If you're paying taxes on a home here ... those dollars need to stay home with our students."
In case you aren't aware, Williams-Bolar falsified records to get her kids in a better school district. She lives in the projects so I'll just take a wild guess that her school district is the equivalent of our Birmingham City schools where students bring guns to school so they can shoot fellow students on the bus ride home. She was also pursuing a teaching degree and was classes away from finishing when the judge handed down a felony conviction which, if not overturned, will bar her from teaching in Ohio (and likely any other state). Currently, she continues to work as a teaching assistant.
In all fairness, the Prosecutor in the case did point out that Williams-Bolar had options: She could remove her kids from school; pay the $30,000 tuition; or move into the school district. I assume you see the problems with all these "options." While the last "option" may seem viable, it likely isn't. If someone qualifies to live in government subsidized housing, they probably can't afford the cheapest apartment in a decent part of town, especially not when bringing home big bucks as a teaching assistant.
Now I do understand the problem. If lots of kids not zoned for a school attend that school, then the residents in that school district pay for everyone. I mean, the residents of Mountain Brook are not paying huge property taxes so poor children from our projects can attend Brook Forest Elementary. The essential problem is that poor children cannot expect a decent education in this country. This is a structural problem with our society. We ought to be ashamed. The communists didn't even have this problem. (Okay, they had lots of problems but providing a quality education to everyone wasn't one of them.)
What bothers me is not that Williams-Bolar had to be punished. She did. It's sad and pathetic but it had to happen. What bothers me is the meanness and maliciousness with which this case was pursued. The judge gave her a felony conviction, intent on making an example of her. (The judge seemed to attempt to backtrack later saying her hands were tied by the jury.) But 10 days in jail, three years probation, 80 hours community service and never being able to make a better life for yourself?* Not only do her kids get to return to their crappy school district but their mother now has spent years and thousands of dollars on an education she cannot use.
The message sent by the Prosecutor, Superintendent Poe and Judge Patricia Cosgrove (who happens to be white) is poor people should stay put and quit trying to better themselves.
*The judge did commute the sentence so Williams-Bolar only served 10 days. Still, I am not convinced by this half-hearted attempt at charity.
http://newsone.com/nation/boycewatkins/kelly-bolar-jailed-akron-white-school-district-black-student/
http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/akron_canton_news/akron-schools-release-statement-on-kelley-williams-bolar
