By Ronda Watson Barber | Publisher, OhioMBE
As a longtime advocate for Black-owned businesses, I was encouraged when I learned that Columbus City Schools’ Office of Internal Audit was finally taking a hard look at the district’s Local Economically Disadvantaged Enterprises (LEDE) program. Under the leadership of past Board President Christina Vera, the audit was formally requested — and it has now been presented to the Board of Education. What it shows is both disappointing and unacceptable.
Let’s be clear: the state’s largest public school district is failing to support its own inclusion policy.
The LEDE program has been around for more than 20 years. But the audit reveals that the district still doesn’t have written procedures, key performance indicators, or internal tracking systems in place. How do you run a supplier diversity program with no rules, no plan, and no way to measure progress?
I personally informed two past superintendents and the current superintendent that the LEDE program lacked basic policies and procedures. I also raised these concerns with the former COO. Still — nothing changed.
Meanwhile, CCS claims it achieved 15% LEDE utilization in FY2024. But without a reliable tracking system, I don’t believe those numbers. The audit confirms that LEDE spending is calculated manually, once a year, with no subcontractor verification, no breakdowns by vendor or service, and no automation. Even worse, a former equity director — with no supplier diversity experience — abruptly canceled a state-of-the-art tracking system without explanation or public accountability.
The audit outlines the responsibilities of the LEDE Outreach Coordinator, which include:
- Notifying LEDE vendors of bid opportunities
- Helping structure bid packages for inclusion
- Participating on selection committees
- Supporting vendors through prime and subcontracting, joint ventures, and alliances
That’s what’s supposed to be happening. But since the current coordinator was hired in January 2025, there has been no outreach to the LEDE vendor community — no introduction, no engagement, no advocacy during procurement decisions. That silence speaks volumes.
And while the district is now spending and purchasing more than ever before, thanks to an influx of operating dollars from the recently passed levy, the vendor advocacy office remains a one-person operation — without even dedicated clerical support.
Which raises the question: Is Columbus City Schools truly committed to the LEDE program — or is this position just window dressing?
Black voters helped pass that tax levy. The district has a moral and fiscal responsibility to reinvest those dollars into the communities that support it — and that includes contracting with Black-owned businesses.
Current Board Vice President Jennifer Adair once asked me to tell LEDE vendors to “hold on” — that change was coming. She knows about the longstanding issues within Operations. Respectfully, Black vendors are tired of paying taxes and not being included. It’s simply taxation without participation. How long must we wait?
Yet under the current Angela Chapman administration, it appears there’s more energy spent on catering to affluent parents and LGBTQ+ advocacy than reinforcing its own inclusion policy. Equity isn’t elective — it’s mandatory.
It also raises another question: Do the district’s constituencies that make the loudest noise get the attention of the elected board? If that’s the case, then maybe it’s time Black vendors start attending board meetings and demanding that their issues get the same attention and urgency.
The audit should be a catalyst for real change, not another checkbox. Columbus City Schools must build infrastructure, restore credibility, and demonstrate a genuine commitment to lifting Black businesses.
Our community is watching — and we will hold them accountable.
just my thoughts…rwb
