By Ronda Watson Barber
OhioMBE Publisher
Once again, Columbus City Schools (CCS) continues to shoot itself in the foot, showcasing behaviors that gaslight the very community it’s meant to serve. It’s a constant cycle of he said, she said, with both the elected school board and highly paid administrators engaged in a blame game. Their actions are nothing short of disgraceful, and, quite frankly, we would never want the children they are charged with educating to mirror these behaviors.
At the heart of this dysfunction lies a sobering reality: the state’s largest public school district is failing its children. The recent assessment by the Department of Education reveals an alarming picture—CCS is not living up to its mission. But the real tragedy here is who suffers the most: our Black children and families.
Despite the significant Black tax dollars that flow into this district, these funds don’t seem to benefit the very people contributing them. Instead, Black vendors and businesses are routinely sidelined and marginalized in favor of large, white-owned companies that aren’t even based within the district. This practice doesn’t just hurt our local economy—it sends a clear message that Columbus City Schools has little interest in investing in the community it serves. To make matters worse, the district has been operating without a professional supplier diversity specialist on staff since April 2024. That’s six months without someone ensuring that inclusion and equity in contracting are a priority.
The situation becomes even more troubling when you consider the Capital Improvements budget. The district now has a $60 million annual budget for capital improvements, a funding stream that will continue indefinitely. Yet, we are left to wonder: What is the plan to invest in Black businesses? So far, there seems to be no comprehensive strategy to ensure these funds benefit minority-owned businesses within the district. Instead of bidding projects outright and opening the door for Black vendors to compete, administrators in Capital Improvements often take the lazy route, opting to use cooperative purchasing programs. This bypasses the opportunity for local, Black-owned businesses to get their fair share of contracts and build lasting relationships with the district.
Moreover, the Operations Division, which manages everything from facilities to transportation, has been without inclusion oversight since June 2023. This lack of accountability within such a critical area of the district means that opportunities for minority businesses are slipping through the cracks. How can a district this large, with a student body rich in diversity, justify ignoring supplier diversity and inclusion efforts? It’s not just irresponsible—it’s unacceptable.
Columbus City Schools should be leading by example, ensuring that Black vendors, local businesses, and the community at large have a seat at the table. Yet, the district continues to protect the interests of adults and outside companies instead of focusing on the education and success of its students.
It’s unacceptable. Our children deserve better. Our community deserves better. Until CCS starts putting the needs of its students over the actions of its bureaucrats, we will continue to see our tax dollars wasted and our future leaders neglected. The time for change is now.
just my thoughts…
