Aspirational Is Not Accountability

By Ronda Watson Barber, Publisher, OhioMBE

I was extremely disappointed to hear a Black man in leadership — the Chief Operating Officer of Columbus City Schools — describe the district’s supplier diversity goals as “aspirational.” That statement is both inaccurate and disheartening. Board Policy 6400 – Community Inclusion (Local Economically Disadvantaged Enterprises) is not a wish list; it is a framework for action, accountability, and measurable results.

What the policy actually requires.
Policy 6400 affirms non-discrimination and adopts a LEDE Statement that seeks to “achieve the goal of awarding to LEDEs… at least twenty percent (20%) of all dollars spent on an annual basis” in district contracting and procurement. The policy makes clear the district will use race- and gender-neutral measures, requires good-faith efforts by contractors to locate and engage LEDEs, and directs the district to provide adequate staff, collect and analyze data, monitor progress, and issue periodic/semi-annual reviews to the Board. It also calls for a budget, staffing, and implementation proposal to put the policy into practice, plus a Workforce Participation Program with resident hiring goals and reporting. None of that is “aspirational.” It’s operational.

The numbers don’t match the mandate.
In FY25, Columbus City Schools reported $232.3 million in controllable spending, with $41.5 million (17.9%) going to LEDE vendors. While that’s an improvement from FY24, it still falls short of the 20% goal — and far below what should be expected from a majority-Black school district funded largely by Black taxpayers.

The Summer Capital Improvements Report is even more troubling: of $80.9 million in construction spending, only $4.6 million went to African-American firms, compared to $17.9 million to white-owned firms — a nearly 4-to-1 disparity. The LEDE program isn’t race-based, but white-owned vendors are benefiting most from a policy designed to expand opportunity for local, economically disadvantaged enterprises.

Why “aspirational” language harms participation.

1. Weakens accountability. “Aspirational” invites “we tried” instead of results.
2. Undermines equity. Goals that remedy disparities become symbolic gestures.
3. Discourages vendors. Black and minority-owned firms hear “optional,” not “expected.” Many already face late payments, opaque processes, and heavy admin burdens; they need enforceable access, not hopeful rhetoric. Every missed outreach or unreturned call reinforces the belief that inclusion is performative.
4. Dodges good-faith requirements. Policy 6400 requires good-faith efforts — documented outreach to LEDEs. “Aspirational” provides a loophole.
5. Protects the status quo. It sounds progressive while avoiding structural change.

Unanswered questions that demand transparency.
Since September, I have repeatedly requested documentation of outreach activities and good-faith efforts tied to the summer construction spend. To date: no response. What outreach was done to engage minority- and women-owned firms? How were all vendors notified of opportunities? What roles did Capital Improvements, the Outreach Coordinator, and the COO play in meeting Policy 6400’s requirements — especially given the district now has both an Outreach Coordinator and a paid consultant?

Do the work the policy requires.
If Columbus City Schools is serious about equity, it must treat supplier inclusion as a performance standard — not a poem. Publish a public plan with timelines, restore robust outreach, document good-faith efforts, and issue quarterly reports showing who is getting the work, by category. That’s what accountability looks like.

Our businesses aren’t aspiring to succeed — we’re succeeding. It’s time for our public institutions to match that intention, discipline, and accountability.

just my thoughts…rwb