For the 30th year in a row, Alpine School District has received an award for excellence in financial reporting. The award is given by the Association of School Business Officials International, for having met or exceeded the program’s standards for reporting and accountability.

According to the association, located in Reston, Va., the award, which  is granted after an intensive review of financial reports by an expert panel of certified public accountants and practicing school business officials, confirms the Alpine district business office’s commitment to financial accountability and transparency.

Alpine is one of the few districts in the nation that has received the certificate of excellence for 30 or more years. And parents seem to appreciate that transparency.

Charlotte Ducos, a parent from Eagle Mountain, has children in elementary, junior high and high school. She volunteers for school PTA and District Community Council and was a member of the committee to study the bond.

“Time and time again I’ve found myself blown away by the transparency of the district,” Ducos said. “I’ve seen ASD from a variety of levels and see how fiscally transparent they are, but they are that way about many things, not just financially. I’ve seen direct results. Issues that I’ve brought up have been followed up on immediately. If a parent wants to be involved in ASD, they can be. Period.”

Kimberlie Paulson, a parent from American Fork, agreed.

“I wouldn’t donate my time if I didn’t feel like I had a good response,” Paulson said. “I don’t want to spin my wheels, but my opinions have been heard and responded to appropriately at the district, school and classroom levels.”

The district also received a national award from the Government Finance Officers Association for the 29th year recognizing conformance with the highest standards for state and local government financial reports.

Of the more than 40 school districts in Utah, only Salt Lake district and Alpine district have achieved this longevity with the financial reporting awards.

Rob Smith, business administrator for Alpine School District, gave kudos to the accounting department for skills, competency and personally, to Greg Holbrook, district accounting director, who compiles the financial reports.

“Greg is skilled, but also humble, kind and treats people with respect,” Smith said. “He’s just a wonderful man.”

Smith said that competency in an accounting department allows policy makers to make better decisions in how to allocate resources and be accountable for decisions.

“It also assists us in sharing information with the public to whom we are accountable,” Smith said. “If you want to know a district’s priorities, then track where the money goes. If a district is spending on instruction, then you know that student achievement is a priority.”

In a district where families are large and property values are limited, every dollar matters. According to the Utah Taxpayers Association school spending report, Alpine district spends less on administration per student than any other district in the state. It also has the lowest total cost per student while still spending one of the highest percentages on instruction.

“The school district is accountable,” Smith said. “The more we can make people aware, then they get engaged and ask questions. People will see that we are committed to student achievement, continuous improvement and returning and reporting to the public. That’s why we have all of our financial reports and projections on the web.”

One requirement for earning the awards is that districts format reports to be easily read and understood by the public.

Ducos said that, as a parent, she sees the district’s commitment to be transparent and accessible.

“The more I’m involved and the more I know about ASD, the more I’m pleased with where I put down my roots,” she said.

Smith said he hopes that the information will be accessed on the web by more parents for increased awareness.