By Ronda Watson Barber
OhioMBE Publs
It’s frustrating to write yet another column about Columbus City Schools (CCS) and their lack of commitment to supporting Black-owned businesses. After years of advocating for equitable opportunities, the district continues to fall short. Their actions—or lack thereof—speak volumes about their priorities, and it’s clear that working with local Black vendors is not one of them.
Take the story of Danson Njoroge, the owner of Net Auto Glass, Ohio’s only certified Black-owned auto glass company. Danson went above and beyond to secure a bid with CCS. He submitted detailed proposals, called, emailed, and even made personal visits to their offices. Despite all his efforts, Stephen Andrews, Fleet Management Director, couldn’t be bothered to return a phone call. Danson did everything right, but CCS chose to ignore him—just as they’ve ignored so many other Black businesses.
To dig deeper into this issue, OhioMBE filed a public records request seeking all correspondence between Danson and Stephen Andrews. The public has a right to know why Danson’s efforts were ignored and whether CCS staff followed proper procedures in handling vendor inquiries. The lack of transparency is unacceptable, especially when taxpayer dollars are involved.
CCS has no issue ignoring Black businesses while expecting them to pay the salaries of staff who often don’t even live in the district—through some of the highest property taxes in the state. Why aren’t Black businesses given the professional courtesy of a returned phone call? What sanctions will be imposed on staff members, like Andrews, who fail to return calls or actively include Black taxpayers in their departments’ purchasing decisions? It’s not just negligence—it’s disrespect.
Then there’s the district’s reported LEDE (Local Economically Disadvantaged Enterprise) spending numbers for 2023-2024. Let’s be honest—they don’t add up. After years of a glaring spending gap, CCS now magically reports that their spending with Black and white vendors is identical. Really? Are we supposed to believe that the state’s largest public school district, serving over 45,000 students, didn’t do business with a single disadvantaged businesswoman last year? It’s insulting to think they expect us to accept this without question.
What’s worse, CCS continues to undercut their own systems for ensuring vendor accountability. A district director, who was clearly unqualified for their role, canceled the district’s compliance software. Why? Because the former interim COO didn’t require staff to use it. This software is used successfully by other major organizations in Columbus, including COTA, the City of Columbus, Columbus Airports, and even the Columbus Zoo. But for some reason, CCS decided it wasn’t worth keeping.
This is the second full year under Superintendent Angela Chapman’s leadership. So far, there’s been no change in how CCS disrespects local Black vendors. Whether it’s the administration, staff, or the elected board, they all seem content with maintaining the status quo. Their lack of action sends a clear message: Black-owned businesses aren’t a priority.
Enough is enough. CCS needs to do better—not just for Black vendors but for the community as a whole. Supporting local businesses, especially minority-owned ones, isn’t just the right thing to do—it strengthens the entire city. It’s time for CCS to back up their diversity statements with real action. No more excuses. No more empty promises. It’s time for change.
just my thoughts…rwb
Ronda Watson Barber is the publisher of OhioMBE, Ohio’s largest Black-owned business newspaper, and a long-time advocate for minority business development.
