By Ronda Watson Barber
OhioMBE Publisher
I will continue to scream from the rooftops that Columbus City Schools doesn’t care about supplier diversity. Their lack of commitment to equitable spending practices is not only troubling but also violates the district’s own equity policies. As the state’s largest public school district, it’s appalling that they don’t even have a dedicated supplier diversity professional on staff.
Who is monitoring the spending with LEDE (Local Economically Disadvantaged Enterprises) vendors? Who is tracking those dollars? The district made the baffling decision to cancel a state-of-the-art compliance program that is successfully used by the City of Columbus, COTA, and Columbus Airports. So, who is notifying vendors of opportunities now? Who is holding district staff accountable to the 20% local vendor spending goal?
Let’s take a look at Capital Improvements, which is spending $60 million annually on updates to district buildings. Who is overseeing their purchasing practices to ensure Black vendors are treated fairly? I certainly don’t trust the director of capital improvements to do the right thing—this is the same person who had the audacity to call Columbus a “City of Poverty” in front of a room full of Black people.
At a time when their spending practices are rightfully being questioned, Columbus City Schools has ceased all advertising with Ohio’s largest Black-owned business newspaper. Where is the district promoting these contracting opportunities now? It is unacceptable.
Superintendent Angela Chapman and the elected board continue to ask Black vendors to wait while they figure things out or hire a supplier diversity professional. Black people don’t get the option to “wait” when it’s time to pay taxes. The district demands prompt tax payments but gives no urgency in addressing inequities in how those tax dollars are spent.
Our community deserves more than empty promises. We deserve a comprehensive plan for reinvesting in the Black businesses and taxpayers who keep the district running. This can’t continue to be business as usual. OhioMBE stands with the Columbus branch of the NAACP in demanding transparency and accountability for the tax dollars we contribute to the district. School policies are not just suggestions—they are obligations. We demand action.
just my thoughts…rwb
