For the 12th straight year, Utica Community Schools has earned recognition for meeting a high level 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 annual recognition is an important accountability and transparency standard for Utica Community Schools,” Superintendent Robert S. Monroe said.  “Through our long-range strategic planning process, we are committed to allocating resources to meet the needs of our students so they are empowered to pursue our mission of excellence.”

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.

“Communicating the financial and economic state of a district is so important when engaging with the school community and building their trust. Districts that receive the COE Award have demonstrated their ability to do that at the highest level.” said ASBO International Executive Director Jim Rowan, CAE, SFO.

The district’s 2022-2023 audit is available at this link.