For the 11th straight year, Utica Community Schools has earned recognition for meeting a high standard of transparency in reporting financial information.

The school district is among approximately 500 nationally to earn a Certificate of Excellence (COE) in Financial Reporting award for its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) from the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) International. 

The award honors UCS for meeting the program’s high standards for financial reporting.

“This national recognition is an important accountability standard for our taxpayers,” superintendent Robert Monroe said. “It demonstrates our commitment to transparency and ensuring that UCS resources directly support our educational vision, mission and strategic direction.”

By participating in the COE program, school districts demonstrate their commitment to financial transparency. Applicants submit their ACFR for review by a team of professional auditors, who provide feedback to improve future documents. If the ACFR meets the requirements of the program, the document may receive the Certificate of Excellence. A district’s participation in the COE program can facilitate bond rating and continuing bond disclosure processes.

“The Annual Comprehensive Financial Report informs stakeholders about the financial and economic state of the district, making it an important communications tool for building trust and engaging with the school community,” said ASBO International Executive Director Siobhan McMahon.

The district’s 2021-2022 audit is available at this link.