The St. Bernard Parish School Board Financial Department has once again received recognition from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) and the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) for Excellence in Financial Reporting. This marks over 18 consecutive years that the district has received these prestigious awards.
GFOA reports that its award is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by the government agency and its management. ASBO defines its award as a significant achievement reflecting a school district’s commitment to the highest standard of financial reporting.
School Board President Clifford Englande said that these awards are a guarantee to the community of the Board’s diligence and integrity in handling the public’s money. “Very few governmental entities receive these awards. The requirements are stringent, and accounting procedures must pass the highest scrutiny in order for the award to be given. We continue to take the public’s trust very seriously and protect, at all costs, our financial reputation of excellence,” he said.
Englande was quick to lay credit at the feet of the district’s Chief Financial Officer David Fernandez and his staff. “We have an incredible financial department, and we are grateful that they are above-board stewards with our funds. In this day and age of so much financial worry, we take pride in the fact that our budget is managed appropriately and our district is not facing some of the financial issues clouding other School Boards,” Englande said.
The Board also, just recently, has received a clean financial audit without exception. The Board’s books are opened each year to rigorous examination by outside, independent auditors as required by state law. It has been over 20 years since the Board’s financial department, once managed by current Superintendent Doris Voitier, has received any type of corrective management letter or suggestions for improvement from auditors.
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