Parole board to hear Akron mother’s school case

May 28, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

COLUMBUS

The state parole board will have a clemency hearing in July for the Akron mother who was jailed for purposely enrolling her children in the wrong school district.

Kelley Williams-Bolar’s case will be presented to the board 9 a.m. July 20 at the board’s Columbus offices. State prisons spokesman Carlo LoParo said Williams-Bolar has not yet confirmed whether she will participate in the hearing in person or allow her legal counsel to offer the case.

After the hearing, the parole board will decide whether to recommend clemency or let the earlier criminal penalties stand. Gov. John Kasich will make the final decision and could commute the sentence or grant a full pardon.

Williams-Bolar was convicted on felony charges after it was discovered that she did not live in the district where her children attended school. She spent 10 days in jail and was placed on three years’ probation for falsifying the residency records, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

The case caught the attention of Kasich, who has mentioned Williams-Bolar as part of his push to increase the number of vouchers for students to attend charter or private schools.

The governor requested the state parole board consider the case, and Williams-Bolar also submitted a clemency application.