Is Olentangy Local Schools Practicing Institutional Racism?
By Ronda Watson Barber, Publisher
Printed in Nov. 15 issue of OhioMBE
Another suburban school has been added to OhioMBE’s Wall of Shame. The Olentangy Local School District is the latest public school to be added to the list. I recently spoke with. Jeff Gordon, the district’s business manager. I called to extend an invitation for the district to attend an OhioMBE Procurement Fair. The goal of the OhioMBE Procurement Fairs is to introduce small and minority-owned businesses to purchasing opportunities. It is no-cost for public schools to attend. Gordon told me he was too busy to attend or send a representative. The district is in the process of asking residents for more tax dollars to build a new high school. He requested that I send him the names of my clients and he would contact them. I reminded him that business relationships were fostered by personal interactions. Since Mr. Gordon is too busy, perhaps MBEs and other small business should contact him directly to schedule an appointment to introduce their product/service. He can be reached at 740-657-4050.
I also spoke with the district’s superintendent Mark Raiff. I initially called him in an effort to schedule a representative to attend the no-cost good-faith contracting activity. We had an interesting conversation on why minority and small business is good. business. I told him that he receives funding from a diverse tax base and, therefore, has an obligation to make sure there’s a diverse purchasing pool. He disagreed. He did acknowledge that OLSD receives 10 percent of its funding from those not living in the district. So OLSD can accept tax dollars for each student of color and our kids can perform on the playing field, but they don’t want to do business with us. I also contacted each elected school board member, not a one responded. Silence is acceptance. Something doesn’t smell right in Powell.
People of color are moving to the suburbs in droves. Ironically, these public school districts are more than willing to accept tax dollars for these students and benefit from their presence in the classroom, stage, and athletic field, but they are not actively doing business with Black folks and could care less. Only two public school districts in Central Ohio have attended an OhioMBE Procurement Fair. Columbus City Schools and Gahanna Schools have participated. Check if your district ‘is doing business with MBEs. Call the superintendent and inquire.
I am contacting the Ohio Black Legislative Caucus and other elected officials and suggest that they introduce legislation that public school incorporate an inclusion plan in their business practices or forfeit out-of-district funds. If a public school is receiving public dollars from a diverse tax base, they have a moral obligation to be inclusive.
