By Ronda Watson Barber
OhioMBE Publisher
Supplier diversity is more than just a checkbox for corporations and government entities—it’s a vital practice that fosters competition, drives innovation, and often results in lower pricing. By investing in underutilized businesses, organizations not only contribute to economic growth but also benefit from diverse perspectives that can lead to groundbreaking solutions. Unfortunately, Columbus City Schools (CCS) appears to have placed supplier diversity on the back burner, despite the clear advantages it offers.
A glaring issue is the absence of a professional supplier diversity official since April 2024. Following the retirement of Ms. Terri Wise, a dedicated leader in this area, the district has made little to no effort to find a suitable replacement. Instead, resources were oddly spent interviewing internal staff members, including someone from Human Resources with no relevant experience in purchasing or supplier diversity. This move signals a lack of seriousness in addressing the needs of minority-owned businesses.
Starting in July 2023, documents presented to the board indicated that Ms. Wise, the Outreach Coordinator, had reviewed and participated in the preparation of legislation. However, she had not reviewed any of these documents, raising serious concerns about the validity of the legislation being voted on. Why would district officials falsely claim her involvement? Is legislation approved by the board even valid when the supporting forms are fraudulent? This troubling development further undermines confidence in CCS’s commitment to integrity and transparency. Additionally, CCS Operations has operated without any supplier diversity oversight since July 2023, further raising concerns about the district’s commitment to ensuring fair and equitable procurement processes. The situation is exacerbated by the Capital Improvements department, which recently held a vendor fair without notifying key stakeholders like Ms. Wise. This “secret” event excluded numerous vendors, many of whom are minority-owned businesses, from participating. It’s disheartening to hear that the director in charge has shown reluctance to work with professional Black women, which only adds to the suspicion that diversity is not a priority.
The issues don’t end there. An employee in the Diversity Office, more interested in rubbing elbows with City and County officials, neglected to inform LEDE (Locally Economically Disadvantaged Enterprises) vendors about a Supplier Diversity summit that the district co-sponsored. This lack of communication is a missed opportunity for these vendors to engage with potential partners and grow their businesses. Furthermore, since April 2024, CCS has stopped advertising contracting opportunities in OhioMBE, a vital resource for minority-owned businesses. This raises significant questions: How is the district communicating its contracting opportunities to Black vendors? Who within the district is notifying LEDE vendors of these opportunities? Who is introducing district officials to LEDE vendors? The purchasing director hasn’t even bothered to question why the district’s generic purchasing notice has been absent from OhioMBE and its associated social media platforms.
These concerns are particularly troubling given that CCS recently asked the community for a $100 million tax levy. The levy passed, but the district isn’t reinvesting in the community that foots the tax bill. In a predominantly Black school district, Black taxpayers are essentially enslaved by the district; their hard-earned tax dollars are benefiting white families in the suburbs and rural communities, rather than supporting the community from which these funds were drawn.
With a capital improvements budget of over $60 million annually, it’s alarming that contracting opportunities are no longer being shared with a broader audience. The director of capital improvements, who ceased advertising after OhioMBE published his job evaluations and critiqued his unprofessional behavior, seems to be more concerned with his image than with fulfilling his responsibilities. His condescending remarks about Columbus being “a city of poverty” during a meeting with Black business owners only further alienates those he is supposed to support.
As an advocate for minority businesses, I teach a certification class every week, always highlighting Columbus City Schools’ LEDE certification program. However, since Ms. Wise’s retirement, there has been no inquiry about continuing this partnership. I used to direct countless businesses to CCS for contracting opportunities, but now, with the district’s apparent disinterest, I am left questioning whether this effort is still worthwhile.
Finally, the OhioMBE Procurement Fair, a premier networking event that has featured CCS since 2012, has seen no effort from the district to maintain its involvement. This event has been a cornerstone for connecting minority businesses with major buyers, yet the silence from CCS suggests they no longer see value in these critical relationships.
In summary, while supplier diversity should be a cornerstone of any organization’s procurement strategy, Columbus City Schools’ recent actions—or lack thereof—indicate that they have deprioritized this essential practice. The district’s failure to maintain and grow its supplier diversity initiatives not only hinders minority-owned businesses but also deprives itself of the benefits that such diversity can bring. It’s time for CCS to reevaluate its commitment and take meaningful steps to restore trust and support for the diverse suppliers that contribute to our community’s economic vitality.
just my thoughts…rwb
