By Ronda Watson Barber
OhioMBE Publisher
Angela Chapman’s tenure as superintendent of Columbus City Schools was marked by a commitment to transparency. Yet, the reality has fallen short of this promise. The district’s communication with the Columbus community has been anything but clear, often appearing evasive and misleading. They gaslight the community daily. There have been instances of dishonesty among administrators even when faced with undeniable evidence. It’s disheartening to encounter deceit among administrators, who persist in weaving narratives that serve their interests. That’s just grimey unethical behavior.
This activity was highlighted by the organization of a LEDE vendor open house in secrecy, opting to collaborate with Gordian, a white-owned company from South Carolina, without the knowledge of the elected board or the inclusion of the district’s experienced supplier diversity expert, the Outreach Coordinator. This decision overlooked her more than 24 years of dedicated service to supporting Black vendors.
In an email obtained through a public records request, the director of Capital Improvements asked the Equity Director, who too has no supplier diversity experience: “I’d appreciate any feedback or thoughts you can share with us. We don’t have a ton of experience hosting these types of events.” Neither enlisted the Outreach Coordinator for assistance, the directors allowed imprudence and spite to guide the decision-making process. The choice to bypass the Outreach Coordinator for an LEDE event, despite her clear expertise, signals a disturbing disregard for established roles, the LEDE program and Black professional women within the district.
To complicate matters, the district shared vendor contact information with Gordian without consent under the guise of public information, resulting in communication difficulties. Just because something is legal doesn’t mean it should be done. Many vendors overlooked emails from an unfamiliar sender, some even landing in spam folders.
Under Chapman’s leadership, there has been a consistent pattern of neglect towards Black vendors and the broader Black community. Despite intentions to enhance engagement with disadvantaged businesses, progress has been minimal and disproportionately in favor of white-owned businesses over Black vendors. This is reflected in the utilization numbers, where white companies have significantly benefited more from contracts compared to Black vendors.
Additionally, the district’s employment and leadership roles within the Buildings and Grounds and Operations teams are predominantly filled by white individuals, highlighting systemic biases and perpetuating unequal treatment, opportunities and disrespect towards the very community that supports the district through substantial tax levies. This scenario underscores an ongoing issue where practices resembling white supremacy prevail, even under the leadership of Black folks. The persistent disparity and lack of respect toward Black vendors and professionals within the district and community underscore a deep-seated problem that demands immediate and sincere action.
Columbus City Schools primarily serve Black and brown students, making addressing these issues even more critical. A thorough reevaluation of the district’s leadership and policies is necessary to ensure genuine efforts towards an inclusive and equitable environment. If the current leadership fails to address these crucial concerns effectively, it may be essential to seek new leadership dedicated to upholding true equity and respect for all community members, especially those historically marginalized.
just my thoughts…rwb
