DEDICATION
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not
unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.
Be not wise in thine own eyes
fear the Lord and depart from evil.
It shall be health to thy navel and marrow to thy bones.
My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction.
For whom the Lord loves he corrects even as a father the son
in whom he delights.
Happy is the man that find wisdom and the man that good understanding.
King James Bible
Proverb 3: 5-8; 11-13
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
"And I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar and the palmer- worm, my army which I sent among you."
And ye shall eat in plenty and be satisfied and praise wondrously with you; and my people shall never be ashamed.
King James Bible
Joel 2: 25-26
FOREWORD
To a staff of believers who had diligently waited and believe that God answer prayers. He is and own time God, yes, He is! My life was in a spiral when I began to believe in one-self that this was the time. To pay back what is owed to you and to thank you again for waiting, "I said wait upon the Lord and he will answer."
Mary L. Brown
INTRODUCTION
Mr. River of M&I Bank agreed to see Marilyn Whatley immediately no longer did he sit stone-faced as when she first met him. Parental Choice schools from the beginning was an issue that no one wanted to be associated with, nor do business with because of the stigma that was placed on them. Mr. River listened intently as Marilyn gave the reasons why she had to see him in a short period of time. He had to take notice of her school, primarily because of the large of amount of business she brought along with the notoriety to the Black Community Bank on Martin Luther King Drive. Just as other M&I Bank branches kept their relationship with the voucher schools in the dark. Mr. River moved toward the brown skinned, 5’7” average looking woman, watching her as she nervously paced up and down the bank's polished floor. Quietly extending out his hand, Marilyn quickly walked back to his office.
Marilyn sat with confidence as Mr. River turned his chair around to face her., awaiting an explanation. “Ms. Whatley, when we talked on the phone, I could tell something had happened.”
Marilyn urgently handed him the letter she had received from the Department of Instruction (DPI) stating the school called Children in Crisis needed to return voucher's checks in the amount of $444,737.00. Turning back to his computer, Mr. River quickly agreed without hesitation that M&I Bank would lend the money to the school. “Ms. Whatley,” he warned her, “There must be some stipulations in place because of the large amount of the money. The bank is requesting that the DPI sign an affidavit that Children in Crisis would be receiving their November payment.” Marilyn affirmed without hesitation that wouldn't be problem and immediately dialed DPI from her cell phone.
Mr. Zach Lenowitz quickly answered, “Ms. Whatley, I've been expecting your call.” Marilyn informed Mr. Lenowitz that she was at M&I Bank with Mr. Rivers, and would not admit to any wrongdoing, only wanted to keep her school doors open for the rest of the year. Marilyn explained that Mr. Rivers of M&I bank would like the DPI to give the bank an affidavit stating that Children in Crisis would be receiving the November checks.
While explaining this to Mr. Lenowitz, Marilyn heard him talking in the background to someone. “Ms. Whatley,” he carefully paused, “the issue isn’t really about the money; it's more complicated than that.” Mr. Lenowitz then continued, “What are you prepared to say, or do about the student's body that was found on the school premises? There has to be an investigation.”
Stunned, Marilyn responded to Mr. Lenowitz, “So this isn’t really about the money?” Mr. Lenowitz responded, “It’s a little more complicated than that; Children in Crisis has more problems outside of money.” Marilyn quickly closed her cell phone and stared blankly at Mr. River. “What student's body?” Mr. Rivers questioned. “The bank will not be involved in a scandal.” In her most assuring voice, Marilyn responded, “Mr. River, don't worry, we will keep the bank out of this.”
Early the next day, Channel 12 news reporters had swarmed Children in Crisis. Neither the staff nor the students could get past reporters to enter the building. Reporters pushed microphones into the faces of the students as they walked by, while school security worked feverishly to get some control outside the building as well as inside.
Marilyn’s principal, Mr. Hankel, walked into her office handing her the Milwaukee Journal newspaper. On the front page was a photo of one of Marilyn’s former students, covered up, indicating that the student was decease. The article stated that Children in Crisis School had defrauded the State of Wisconsin out $444,737. The report also stated that Mr. Zach Lenowski, the Voucher Choice Program Director, inquired of the State District Attorney, Mr. John Mallory, about the possibility of jail time for the improper use of State funding. The offenses in question are the purchase of a $400,000 property building as well as a student's body that mysteriously appeared in the basement of the school.
Later, that same day while school was still in session Marilyn received a FedEx letter from Wisconsin Public Safety. The letter stated that as of February 2004, Children in Crisis school has been issued and ordered by the Superintendent of Public Schools and Title 19 had determined the conditions at (Solution for Children Inc.) an imminent threat to the health and public safety of its students. WIS State: 1 19/23 (10)(b)
CHAPTER ONE
Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb.
Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb
Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as
snow, and everywhere that Mary went the lamb
was sure to go.
In 1992, Marilyn Whatley watched with the rest of the world as parents, students, and educators marched up and down the street in protest against the Milwaukee Public Schools. “VOUCHER PARENTAL CHOICE!” they hollered, lifting their signs as they marched. Shaking her head, Marilyn said to herself, “They should be ashamed of themselves.” She took a sip of her soda and kept her eyes glued to the television. “Those folks have some kind of nerve,” she muttered out loud. Her mind was blown at the thought of protesting against a traditional public-school system.
The phone rang, startling Marilyn enough to drop the remote control as she stood up to answer the phone. Her sister Lula's was calling, reminding her to go over to Handy’s (Lula’s daughter and Marilyn’s niece) school to pick her up for the third time this week. Lula coughed into the phone. Marilyn asked, “Are you alright? How many days is it this time?” Lula replied, “Three to four days this week. That school should just kick her out for the rest of the school year.”
Once her call ended with Lula, Marilyn couldn't help feeling the guilty for this catastrophic behavior. She could still hear her grandmother’s voice saying, “You need to keep your mouth shut, because you talk too much,” and Marilyn wished she had listened to her.
Marilyn couldn't remember any sudden details regarding this memory. What day was it? What time was it? Is it hot or cold outside? Why, or why, had she decided to tell Handy that her mother had HIV? In the memory in her mind, they were all listening to some kind of music that Handy liked. Lula felt like driving them someplace, but Handy didn't want to go. Marilyn was sick of listening to Handy whining that she wanted to be dropped off at a friend’s instead, and her whining became progressively louder. As Marilyn watched the situation unfold, Lula continued to ignore what her