By Ronda Watson Barber
OhioMBE Publisher
Bamboozled: To be bamboozled means to be deceived or tricked, often through misleading statements or outright lies. It involves leading someone into believing something that is false, usually for personal gain or advantage.
The trust between Columbus City Schools and its constituents, particularly the Black community, is eroding—and for good reason. Black folks have been bamboozled. In a recent debacle, the district and its board of education have faced accusations of deceit. As property taxes soar due to a tax levy that promised modern facilities and a world-class education, the community was blindsided by undisclosed plans to close schools. According to the president of the teachers’ union, these closures disproportionately affect disadvantaged and Black neighborhoods.
It is a disheartening reality. Columbus City Schools, responsible for educating the largest group of Black children in Ohio, stands accused of failing them once again. Our children and taxpayers deserve better. Despite their financial contributions, the community sees no corresponding benefits. Black vendors find the doors to contracting opportunities firmly closed, with white-owned companies predominantly reaping the benefits from Black taxpayers’ dollars.
A report by the Columbus Urban League highlights a stark wealth gap in Central Ohio, exacerbated by the district’s practices. Even amidst protests from the local Columbus NAACP branch, Capital Improvements and the administration have continued to divert funds from the local economy. The elected board’s consistent support for legislation that disregards local and Black-owned businesses further deepens community disillusionment. Their disregard for a policy of buying local—supporting businesses that reside and operate within the district—betrays a lack of genuine commitment to the Black community that shoulders the financial burden.
The leadership’s failure to act morally and ethically to uplift and reinvest in its tax base is not just disappointing; it is reprehensible. Columbus City Schools must remember its moral obligation to serve not just as an educational institution but as a pillar that supports and enhances its community.
I urge every concerned citizen to take a stand. Contact the elected board and express your dissatisfaction. Attend the next school board. Seek out and sign petitions to recall the tax levy. It is time for us to regain control and demand accountability. Our community deserves transparency, fairness, and respect—values that should be non-negotiable in any educational institution, especially one that is funded by the people it promises to serve.
just my thoughts…rwb
