By Ronda Watson Barber
OhioMBE Publisher
It’s election season, and, the Columbus City Schools are asking for a tax levy. My stance? A resounding “No.” And if it’s for an operating levy? Let’s make that a “Hell no.” Because the Operations Division of Columbus City Schools is a hotbed for failure, inefficiency, and, quite frankly, controversies that are hard to ignore. It is a masterclass on mismanagement. The current leadership in Operations seems incapable of generating anything but the same dismal results. No amount of additional taxpayer funding will change that unless we see new faces and new ideas.
My skepticism extends to the very top of the chain—the superintendent and the board president. Both have lost credibility in my eyes, especially after misleading me about the employment status of the current COO, Maurice Oldham. They led me to believe that they were in the process of searching for a new COO, only to go ahead and renew Oldham’s contract. This breach of trust only adds to my reservations about supporting a tax levy under the existing leadership.
Let’s talk about equity. Columbus City Schools consistently fail to meet their own equity goals. Staff are disrespectful to community members—something that should never occur in a public service environment. Department directors have been allowed to implement policies that directly and negatively impact Black vendors. As if that weren’t enough, the purchasing department maintains a restrictive vendor registration process designed to keep “undesirables” out.
Elected board members have admitted to not doing their homework before public meetings. This results in uninformed decision-making and voting on legislation that directly impacts the community they are supposed to represent. It’s not just a failure; it’s a betrayal of public trust.
The state report card’s dismal assessment should be the final red flag. If the schools are failing to provide a quality education, how can we justify asking for more money, particularly from Black vendors who are already largely excluded from the purchasing process? Make it make sense!
Just my thoughts…rwb
