Story of mother sentenced to jail for enrolling child in different district resurfaced amid college scandal
The story of a black mother who served jail time for using her father’s address so her two daughters could enroll at a better school gained new attention on social media this week as news of a widespread college admissions scandal broke.
Kelley Williams-Bolar served nine days in jail in 2011 after she was found guilty of using her father’s address instead of her own in an attempt to have her daughters enroll in a better school district than the Akron, Ohio, one they were slated for, according to HuffPost.
Williams-Bolar was also put on probation for three years and required to complete 80 hours of community service.
{mosads}”It’s overwhelming. I’m exhausted,” she said after her sentencing, according to ABC. “I did this for them, so there it is. I did this for them.”
Her story resurfaced after more than 40 people were charged in a college enrollment scandal where wealthy parents, including actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin, paid thousands of dollars to get their children into elite and highly selective colleges.
Several social media users were quick to point out the discrepancy in media attention paid to Williams-Bolar’s story compared to that of high-profile Hollywood actresses, pointing out that Huffman and Loughlin should serve jail time as well.
Remember Kelley Williams-Bolar?
She was was convicted of using the wrong residence to get her daughters into a better school district in Ohio than underperforming Akron.
She was sentenced to 3 years & ordered to pay $30,000 to the school district.
But, #CollegeCheatingScandal pic.twitter.com/yJ1pj1FWOF
— Bishop Talbert Swan (@TalbertSwan) March 13, 2019
Kelley Williams-Bolar & Tanya McDowell enrolled their children into Public School Districts in which they did not reside. They were both jailed for these crimes. Should Felicity Huffman & Lori Loughlin be held to that same standard? #CollegeAdmissionsScandal pic.twitter.com/fUl7WT2oaN
— …melanintary, my dear. (@dlnodots) March 13, 2019
In order to catch Williams-Bolar, the school district hired a private investigator. Once the district had evidence on her, they asked her to pay $30,000 back in tuition. When she refused to do so, she was indicted on felony charges.
“I don’t think they wanted money,” Williams-Bolar said at the time. “They wanted me to be an example.”
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