Community members urge board to evaluate REAL Sports program and highlight library restorations

At the Columbus Board of Education’s March 31 meeting, community speakers urged the district to evaluate outside programs by outcomes and highlighted the role of library media specialists in restoring student access to reading and safe spaces.

James E. Hill Jr., a Columbus City Schools alumnus and school guidance counselor, introduced the Real Sports League and called it ‘‘an outcome-based solution’’ intended to improve behavior, attendance, academic focus and family engagement. Hill urged the board to ‘‘evaluate the REAL based on outcomes. Not assumptions, not labels, not traditions, but results.’’

Dr. Amber Hill, founder of REAL Sports Academy, told the board she would provide parent testimonies by email and said families reported improved attendance, engagement and connectedness after participating in REAL. "Our coaches became more than coaches. They became mentors, role models, and safe spaces for our students," she said.

Elizabeth Burkhoff, a library media specialist at Independence High School, described rebuilding a library program and reported ‘‘over a thousand books have been circulated,’’ a large increase from the previous year when circulation was effectively zero. Burkhoff framed libraries as ‘‘safe havens’’ that support literacy, research skills and student engagement.

A separate commentator, Reginald Chapman, used his public-comment time to dispute a disciplinary letter he says banned him from Sherwood Middle School following an incident on Jan. 7; he said the district’s description of his conduct is false and said he is pursuing police records to support his account.

Why it matters: Public comment gives board members firsthand accounts about programs, school culture and disciplinary processes. Comments advocating for outcome-based evaluation could shape how the administration reviews and approves outside providers, while testimony about libraries underscores staffing and resource needs tied to literacy outcomes.

What officials said: The board accepted public comment and thanked speakers. No formal action on REAL was taken at the meeting; administrators indicated testimony and materials would be reviewed.

Next steps: Speakers said they would follow up with documentation (Dr. Amber Hill said parent testimonies would be emailed). The board did not schedule a formal vote on the program during the meeting.