By Ronda Watson Barber
OhioMBE Publisher
In my quest for transparency from Columbus City Schools (CCS), I find myself yet again facing another wall of silence. As voters, the Columbus community is presented with a proposition to pass a $100 million yearly tax levy — a substantial ask from our district. However, when we pivot to seek clarity on the allocation of our current resources, responses are few and far between.
A recent example is the CCS delegation’s trip to a conference in San Diego. On October 26th, I formally requested information on the attendees and the associated costs — a straightforward inquiry. To date, the silence from CCS has been deafening. We know the trip has been expensed; the district certainly knows who attended. Why, then, this reluctance to disclose the specifics? Is CCS trying to keep its activities out of the public eye until after the upcoming elections?
It’s also concerning when we look at how CCS chose to hire consultants during the last superintendent search. Not a single detail has been provided, and the excuse of ‘attorney-client privilege’ doesn’t hold water, especially considering that the school board boasts lawyers and a former State Supreme Court Justice among its ranks. They aren’t novices in the matters of law or ethics; their choice to withhold information is deliberate. and by design. This strategic withholding of information does not sit well with the public’s right to know. It’s wrong.
This pattern of behavior by CCS officials and elected board is not just frustrating; it smacks of arrogance and entitlement. It’s a stance that is unbecoming of a body that owes its existence to public funds. As a community, we must insist on accountability and transparency, especially when large sums of public money are in question. As the publisher of OhioMBE, I stand with the voters in demanding that CCS upholds its responsibility to communicate openly. We deserve nothing less.
just my thoughts…rwb
