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Tanya McDowell thought by enrolling her son at a Norwalk elementary school, he would have a better life than she did. "The school was better than the one in Bridgeport," says McDowell. "I want the best for my child. There's nothing I wouldn't do for him. I think a lot of parents in my situation would have done the same."
McDowell, 33, is charged with first-degree larceny for allegedly stealing more than $15,000 — the average amount it takes to educate a child per year in Norwalk. McDowell allegedly used her babysitter's address at Roodner Court, a Norwalk Housing Authority complex, to enroll her son at Brookside Elementary School. McDowell, who is originally from Bridgeport but has no fixed residence, is an unemployed single mother. She currently stays with a friend in Bridgeport but has also stayed at the Open Door Shelter in South Norwalk.
When the Norwalk police arrested McDowell last Thursday, she had no idea why. "I kept asking, 'What did I do?' " she says in an interview outside the offices of Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now, or NEON, overlooking the big chessboard in Ryan Park. It wasn't until she arrived at the police station that she learned of the charges. McDowell posted $25,000 bond with the help of her godfather and has her next court date April 27.
McDowell's 5-year-old son, Andrew Justin, or A.J., started kindergarten at Brookside in September and left in mid-January. "I received a call on my voicemail telling me that I had to remove A.J. from the school. No paperwork or anything, just a voicemail." McDowell says that she didn't contest the message and withdrew A.J. from Brookside. "He loved that school, his teacher and his friends," she says of A.J.'s four months at Brookside. "He never got into any trouble."
A.J. now goes to Thomas Hooker Elementary School in Bridgeport. "He kept on asking why is he going to a different school. He just didn't understand. If you could see the school where he is now compared to Brookside, you'd see why I chose Norwalk." Brookside is known in Norwalk for its strong principal and success with minority and English language learner students. A.J. is spending April vacation with his father's mother in Wallingford.
In January, McDowell's friend and frequent babysitter, Ana Marques, was evicted by the Norwalk Housing Authority for violating her lease for allegedly helping McDowell get documents to enroll her son at Brookside. "Ana and I go way back. I'm the godmother of her two kids," says McDowell, who at the time of the hearing admitted that she was from Bridgeport. "Now Ana and her kids are like me. She had to pull her kid out of Marvin and they're living with a friend in Bridgeport."
Although the Norwalk public school district has an administrative process in place to deal with out-of-district students, many residents and officials grumble that not enough is done to prevent students from Bridgeport and other towns from enrolling. The McDowell case is the first time in recent memory in which the city of Norwalk has criminally charged a parent for sending a child to a Norwalk school when they are not entitled to do so.
"There has to be a penalty for stealing our services," says school board president Jack Chiaramonte, who emphasized that the school district was not involved this case. "Right now, there is none."
Gwen Samuel, founder of the Connecticut Parents Union, has stepped in as an advocate for McDowell. "The city is trying to prove a point on the back of this mom. This is definitely political," Samuel says.
Samuel has many questions — including why McDowell is charged with stealing $15,000, the annual per pupil cost, when A.J. spent only four months at Brookside. Samuel also wants to know why the Norwalk Housing Authority was so quick to get the police involved with McDowell. "They went from 0 to 90 without any due process."
McDowell, who has attended college at Housatonic College and Lehman in the Bronx, N.Y., has been trying to improve her life. "I have gotten into some trouble," she says. She has a been arrested for drug possession and breach of peace. For the past few months, she has been a regular participant at NEON's job readiness program and is hoping to land a job in food services. "They have computers and show you how to make a good resume. They also help you to get interviews and take you to the interviews."
But her future plans are on hold as she deals with the charges. McDowell has yet to meet with her attorney, public defender Elizabeth Reid, who has been on vacation this week. "I know a lot of people who do what I did. But I've become the guinea pig," says McDowell of her predicament.
McDowell says she can't sleep and is worried that she could end up spending many years in prison. "I have dreams for A.J. He has so much personality. He wants to be a police officer."
Do you think Tanya McDowell should have been arrested?
Comments (20)
Sierr11, the answer to your question is supposed to be that enlightened self-interest should lead you to wanting the advantages of living in a community of educated, employed people. While we don't need to be pushing our children to suicide by educational pressures such as some asian countries exert, we should have quality education available at all schools. One area's budget should not be strained by educating someone who doesn't reside there, but to destroy a mother's life in an attempt to correct such cases is disgraceful. Frankly, the perception of attitude- and lifestyle-differences between the races needs to be addressed before we can move forward.
Your Practice Is UnAcceptable!
Moderate, I do not want too support your or anyone elses child(ren) too go too school. The school taxes Parents should be responsible for. No one without a child. Then this crap would be fair. This way you'll can't make up trumped up charges at one's convience. Race or no Race, how abt that. I don't care what happens in Asia at this point. Community and School should OPT OUT for State and Federal Funding in which I pay into so, yes your community is funded with my money as well. I can be residing anywhere in the United States and contribute funds too this community and I DO NOT WANT TOO. Again, I ask you who is really the thieves here? You and other parents are using my tax dollars too assist in your child education. Where's My Refund?
Albeit, communities do pay taxes for the area(s) they reside in, the Schools itself also recieves Federal And State Funding. IE all that pays into federal tax from income will pay for any and all schools that children attend. Again I Want MY REFUND.
Jack Chiarmonte calls her a thief, and the Govt. supports educating illegal aliens and their children. The bill has passed that would grant in-state tuition for undocumented students through the Connecticut General Assembly's Higher Education Committee and next goes to the Appropriations Committee.
So in the mean time illegal aliens are having anchor babies raising them on welfare and sending them to ivy league schools ... all on tax payer dollars. Tanya McDowell, a homeless single mother, an American citizen trying to do right by her child.
I am LIVID!!!!! THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!!!!! America looks very STUPID right now.
The bill has passed that would grant in-state tuition for undocumented students through the Connecticut General Assembly's Higher Education Committee and next goes to the Appropriations Committee.
Outraged US Citizen
I don't have a child in school is It Fair that I have too pay taxes for this or any community? Isn't that wrong can you just refund my money please?
My Refund Please, Like Now B4 I organize and file charges against all school districts. This school is state and federally funded, what did I miss oh not enough money? Hmmm, Schools Are Committing Felonies in every State. I am glad this happened. I don't and never has wanted too pay these high taxes anyways. I have not one child in school and the parents of this community if not outraged should be charged these taxes not one like myself. Refund!
So in the mean time illegal aliens are having anchor babies raising them on welfare and sending them to ivy league schools ... all on tax payer dollars. Tanya McDowell, a homeless single mother, an American citizen trying to do right by her child.
I am LIVID!!!!! THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!!!!! America looks very STUPID right now.
The bill has passed that would grant in-state tuition for undocumented students through the Connecticut General Assembly's Higher Education Committee and next goes to the Appropriations Committee.
Outraged US Citizen
And I like too know if Tanya used her Dads address doesn't he pay taxes? What is this stealing remark really about? Stereotyping people, oh wait she's not illegal...
I just want too know since my children has graduated in 2003 can I get my tax dollars that I pay Back? Isn't the
Schools doing the Same too people like myself? So, either pay up or shut up with this on the fence crap. Jack you should be terminated and ousted Barred from all schools and their districts. After all It's My Money? So when should I expect my ReFund?
So in the mean time illegal aliens are having anchor babies raising them on welfare and sending them to ivy league schools ... all on tax payer dollars. Tanya McDowell, a homeless single mother, an American citizen trying to do right by her child. I am LIVID!!!!! THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!!!!! America looks very STUPID right now.
The bill has passed that would grant in-state tuition for undocumented students through the Connecticut General Assembly's Higher Education Committee and next goes to the Appropriations Committee.
So in the mean time illegal aliens are having anchor babies raising them on welfare and sending them to ivy league schools ... all on tax payer dollars. Tanya McDowell, a homeless single mother, an American citizen trying to do right by her child. I am LIVID!!!!! THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!!!!! America looks very STUPID right now.
The bill has passed that would grant in-state tuition for undocumented students through the Connecticut General Assembly's Higher Education Committee and next goes to the Appropriations Committee.
Donald Trump 2012. Just sayin
Wow, I am disqusted. She is down on her luck, but still trying to be a good mother, and this Jack Chiarmonte calls her a thief, and the Govt. so far does'nt seem to be backing her up very much.
This Jack is a jerk I wish I could contact him.
Our Nation needs severe help. We don't turn away any country that needs help, matter of fact we send our children over there to put thier lives on the line to ensure we live in a free world.
Let's turn this ladies' kid away though, oh and let's prosocute her to the fullest, what was she thinking, trying to get her kid a decent education. She should be ashamed. In case anyone can't tell the last part is sarcasm lol..
makeupgrl! Are you serious? Don't you realize that your taxes are paying for infrastructure and building Schools in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan? Yet you would deny this basic right to one of your own? Concentrate your outrage on a Government that is broken and is sending your hard earned tax dollars at a billion dollars a day, to fight three wars! Give me a break! I live in Kansas City and read about this in the news. Norwalk, its leadership, DA and anyone who supports the persecution of this woman should be ashamed of themselves. Makes me sick!
You are an idiot
If she had remained living in the Norwalk Shelter, she could have enrolled her child in a Norwalk school, but she chose to lie and said her son lived at the babysitter's address, while they really lived in Bridgeport, that in essence is stealing resources from Norwalk and I pay taxes to live here! I have friends that live in Greenwich...should I use their address to enrole my daughter in school there? It is not right, period! We all want what is right for our kids, and I understand that she is trying to better herself, but do it in the right way...it is only fair to everyone else!
I don't have a child in school in this school district or any for that matter. I don't have a problem with any US citizen utilizing my tax dollars for an education.
But since you do, I prefer Cash or Cashiers Check please, you are a felon right along with your community. This school and community should Opt out for federal funding and a system like the IRS should be established so things would be Fair.
I am completely outraged after reading this article! Are you kidding me??? Sending a person to prison for registering her kid for school??? This is disgusting!!! I am so sick of the ridiculous state of this country!!! Really! Is she a dangerous criminal, placing the public in danger?? Ummm no! A homeless woman who has no address, using a friend's address doesn't seem criminal to me! What address was she supposed to use???? And even if there was criminal intent, your going to put her in prison??? Charge her with a felony??? Disgusting!!!!