By Ronda Watson Barber
OhioMBE Publisher
School started today in the Capital City, and as students fill the classrooms, the focus of many in our community is on what this new academic year will bring. But for Black LEDE (Local Economically Disadvantaged Enterprises) vendors, the question remains: Will this year be any different, or will it continue to be business as usual? Will they be actively included in the purchasing schemes of Columbus City Schools, or will Black tax dollars continue to be funneled to the suburbs and rural communities?
The reality is stark. Columbus City Schools and its elected Board of Education have shown little to no interest in truly engaging with Black businesses. Their actions, or rather their inaction, towards meaningful inclusion programs send a clear and disrespectful message to Black people and Black business owners: They are giving us the finger. It’s a big “F-you” to the Black community, and it’s unacceptable.
Despite the persistent efforts of the local NAACP president, who regularly attends public board meetings to demand that the state’s largest public school district follow its own inclusion plan, the district remains unresponsive. The calls for providing meaningful contracting opportunities to the very residents who fund the school district are met with indifference. Instead, the district, particularly through its Capital Improvements department, continues to bypass Black and local businesses by relying heavily on cooperative purchasing systems.
Angela Chapman, the new superintendent, seems to be getting bad advice from Capital Improvements and the former interim COO. As a result, the board is frequently presented with legislation that blatantly excludes Black businesses. This isn’t just a failure of policy; it’s a failure of leadership.
Adding insult to injury, the director of Capital Improvements referred to Columbus as a “city of poverty” during a supplier diversity summit co-sponsored by the district. This comment was made in a room primarily filled with Black people. If this is his perception, it’s little wonder why white LEDE vendors overwhelmingly receive more contracts than Black LEDE vendors in a school district that predominantly serves Black students. It raises the question: Are his biases influencing how contracts are awarded? He has an annual budget of $60 million dollars.
So, what are we, as Black people, to do when the district ignores the pleas of the largest and oldest civil rights organization in the country, as well as other minority business advocates? How do we compel the district to reinvest in the very community that is struggling to foot the tax bill?
The answer lies in our collective action. Black business owners and community members must get involved. The school board has shown time and again that they have no interest in including us in their contracting processes. It’s time to write letters, join the NAACP, and attend board meetings. This November, we must remember who is up for re-election and hold them accountable.
It’s time for a change. It’s time to demand that Black tax dollars be reinvested in our own community. The current state of affairs is unacceptable, and we can’t afford to remain silent any longer. The future of our businesses, our schools, and our children depends on it.
just my thoughts…rwb
