Kasich’s answer: vouchers

COLUMBUS

That Akron mom who ended up in jail for enrolling her kids in the wrong school district might have avoided legal entanglements if the state offered more vouchers.

Or something like that.

That’s what Gov. John Kasich said last week, in response to reporters’ questions about Kelley Williams-Bolar.

The governor put out a statement last week about the situation and has been in contact with the county prosecutor and school district.

“We want to make sure that they do a thorough looking at the entire story before I jump,” he said, adding later, “My inclination is, what are you kidding me? This woman’s trying, from everything I’ve read, trying to improve herself, trying to help her children.”

According to court documents, Williams-Bolar was convicted on felony charges in the matter and spent about 10 days in the Summit County jail. She also has to complete 80 hours of community service and other control requirements or she’ll face up to five years in prison.

Cause for concern

Which seemed over the top to a lot of people, including Kasich. In his released statement, the governor said, “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.”

Kasich was pressed on the situation by reporters last week. He was asked whether it was appropriate to punish someone for taking something they’re not entitled to — that is, enrollment at a better school district that they haven’t been supporting with their tax dollars.

His answer may have provided a snapshot on some of his plan for the coming biennial budget and funding for education.

“You talk about civil rights issues,” he said. “I’m a believer in school vouchers, and I’m a believer in charter schools. And I just read yesterday that there aren’t enough vouchers to go around to mothers and fathers standing in line to let their kids get a chance to go where they think their kids are going to learn. This is an outrage.”

He added, “Think if you’re standing in line to get a voucher to get your kid in a situation where the kid’s going to be safer or smarter or whatever and the window closes and sorry, no more.”

More vouchers coming

Kasich said he was a supporter of public schools. But, “I’m going to expand vouchers in this state,” he said. “We need to have charter schools. That’s not an attack on your traditional public school. But you know the fact of the matter is that competition improves everything.”

In the end, Kasich was clear that he thinks something needs to be done in the case of Williams-Bolar, too.

“Somebody said, is this a Rosa Parks moment? Is this about school vouchers and all that?” he added. “Ultimately, we ought to discuss it. But it isn’t about that. It’s about a lady trying to, it looks like, protect her children, improve herself and an improper penalty. ... What we’re going to do is examine this, and we do have some alternatives.”

Marc Kovac is The Vindicator’s Statehouse correspondent. E-mail him at mkovac@dixcom.com or on Twitter at OhioCapitalBlog.