Why did Kelley Williams-Bolar go to Jail For Sending Her Kids To A Suburban School?

In 2008, Kelley Williams-Bolar was just another single mom in Akron, Ohio, scrimping and saving to make sure her daughters had a better life. She was putting her kids first. Working for a teaching degree. Relying on the support of her father who lived nearby.

An African-American single mom living in public housing, Williams-Bolar was convicted of a felony for listing her father's address as her daughters' place of residence and sending them to school at nearby Copley-Fairlawn schools, a suburban school district, for two years.  The district hired a private investigator to track her and her daughters down. Williams-Bolar was sentenced to 10 days in jail, 80 hours of community service and three years of probation.

The punishment doesn't stop there. Williams-Bolar - currently a teaching assistant for special needs children who is earning a teaching degree - may lose her career as an educator because she's now a convicted felon. All because she wanted a better life for her daughters.

Update:
On September 7, 2011: Ohio Gov. John Kasich reduced the charges against Ms. Williams-Bolar, to two misdemeanors.

"When I first heard about this situation, it seemed to me that the penalty was excessive for the offense," the governor said in a statement. "In addition, the penalty could exclude her from certain economic opportunities for the rest of her life."

The news came after more than 184,000 Change.org members emailed Kasich’s office in support of Williams-Bolar since January of this year, when her conviction sparked a viral campaign on Change.org created by Massachusetts resident Caitlin Lord.  Alongside African-American citizen coalition ColorOfChange.org, Change.org members from around the country called Kasich’s office on Tuesday, September 6, urging him to pardon Williams-Bolar. Ohio’s Parole Board had recommended that Williams-Bolar not receive a reduction in sentencing.

"Kelley is overjoyed by the Governor's decision," said David Singleton, executive director of the Ohio Justice and Policy Center and Williams-Bolar's attorney. "She would like to thank all of her supporters who were called to action through Change.org and ColorOfChange.org."

Ms. Williams-Bolar's attorneys are currently preparing for an appeal. Please sign this petition to let Gov. Kasich know that you do not feel that Kelley Williams-Bolar's punishment appropriately fits her crime, and that you both support and demand a full pardon.