For the seventh year in a row, Dearborn Public Schools has been recognized for excellence in how it presents its budget.
The Association of School Business Officials International recently awarded the district a Meritorious Budget Award (MBA) for the current 2024-25 fiscal year. The group’s MBA and Pathway to the MBA promote and recognize the best budget presentation practices in school districts.
The budget is handled by Tom Wall, Executive Director of Business and Operations, and his staff.
“We are grateful to receive this recognition. While financial information for such a large district is inherently complicated, we work to make our information and processes understandable and available to our community, including the Board of Education,” Mr. Wall said.
Dearborn Public Schools has a combined annual budget of $445 million and 19,500 students. An overview of the district’s financial records is always available on the district website at https://dearbornschools.org under Transparency Reporting near the top of the page. The Transparency page includes items like budgets, audits, employee salary schedules, benefit plans, purchasing policies and much more.
Earlier this school year, the district again received an “unqualified” audit report, which means the outside auditors at Plante Moran did not find any significant issues with how the district handles its finances. “Unqualified” is the highest type of audit finding.
Meritorious Budget Award participants submit their applications and budget documents to a panel of school financial professionals who review the materials for compliance with the MBA Criteria Checklist and other requirements and provide expert feedback that districts can use to improve their budget documents.
“Presenting a budget that is both accessible and accurate is crucial for school districts to clearly communicate and build trust with their communities,” explained Jim Rowan, CAE, SFO, ASBO International Executive Director. “The Meritorious Budget Award program provides districts with the resources and tools to do just that, and the districts that receive the award are recognized for their commitment to upholding nationally recognized budget presentation standards.”
Founded in 1910, the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) is a nonprofit organization that, through its members and affiliates, represents approximately 30,000 school business professionals worldwide. ASBO International is committed to providing programs, services, and a global network that promote the highest standards in school business.