Publisher’s Note: An Open Letter to the Columbus Board of Education: The Urgency of Accountability and Reform

By Ronda Watson Barber
OhioMBE Publisher

To Whom It May Concern,

As concerned community members and stakeholders, we are forced to question the integrity and efficacy of the Columbus Board of Education. There are urgent matters that demand your immediate attention and prompt action.

Firstly, the community has lost trust, not just in the board’s financial handling, but also in its commitment to equal opportunities for Black vendors. Last school year, a staggering $332 million was spent, with a mere $8 million allocated to Black vendors. What justification can be given for this gross discrepancy? Why does the board endorse legislation that neglects Black vendors?

Moreover, what is the board doing to rectify the disheartening academic assessments that the State of Ohio has assigned to our schools? And why has the LEDE committee not acted on alleged improprieties within the Purchasing Department?

It is incomprehensible that we have a Capital Improvement Department with no new construction projects underway. What’s even more concerning is the appalling state of our classrooms, many of which are unsafe and unfit for learning. How does the board justify this?

Public trust erodes when board members demonstrate discourtesy and disinterest toward community input. Financial opacity further damages this fragile trust. When board members are caught in falsehoods, what steps are being taken to regain public confidence?

The board is seemingly detached from its constituents, urging for tax increases without battling the tax abatements approved by the City Council. How can you expect community support when Black students’ education is not prioritized, yet administrative salaries continue to soar?

It is unacceptable for Black vendors and the Black community at large to bear tax burdens while facing systemic exclusion and discrimination. The status quo is untenable; we cannot continue down this path of systemic inequities.

It’s high time the board took a critical look at its operations. Columbus City Schools are primarily comprised of Black students, and the community deserves better. We need immediate action, transparent governance, and a renewed commitment to serve all residents fairly and equitably.

The stakes are too high. The future of our community and our children cannot afford business as usual.

just my thoughts…rwb