The Government Finance Officers Association of the U.S. and Canada once again recognized Chardon Schools Treasurer Deb Armbruster and her staff for excellence in financial reporting.
The Government Finance Officers Association of the U.S. and Canada once again recognized Chardon Schools Treasurer Deb Armbruster and her staff for excellence in financial reporting.
The certificate of achievement, which is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, was given to the district for its annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ending in June 2022, Armbruster told Chardon Schools Board of Education during its meeting Sept. 18.
“This award continues for the second straight year, due to the dedication and hard work of this amazing team,” she said.
Armbruster said the award represents a significant accomplishment and thanked her team, which includes Payroll/Benefit Specialist Crystal King-Morrison, Accounts Payable Specialist Lauri Zampino and Assistant Treasurer Jennifer Mismas.
Dianne Farizel, who handles accounts receivable and data for the state’s Education Management Information System, was not present at the meeting.
“She’s so busy, she’s in the back doing the EMIS (data) right now, and we’re not gonna let her out of her office,” board member Guy Wilson joked.
A GFOA press release said the district’s financial report was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, “which includes demonstrating a constructive ‘spirit of full disclosure’ to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the report.”
U.S. News and World Report also once again recognized the district as having one of the area’s top high schools.
Chardon High School ranked in the top 10% of public high schools in Ohio, the top 20 for Cleveland metro area public high schools and in the top 40% of high schools nationally, according to a press release.
Hanlon said the recognition, which CHS has now earned for the 11th year in a row, is a testament to the work district staff and administrators do each day and to students and parents working collaboratively with the school.
Chardon Middle School was recognized, as well, with four educators receiving the Governor’s Thomas Edison Award for Excellence in STEM Education and Student Research. CMS teachers Brent Hilston, Jackie Brown, Melissa Efantis and Laura Taucher received the accolade from the Ohio Academy of Science.
The award, first established in 1985, was given to only 48 schools in the state — of which Hanlon said only 21 are public schools.
“Really kind of a very special crowd of schools being recognized in this award,” Hanlon said. “We’re very proud of those efforts.”
Hanlon updated the board on efforts to build restroom facilities and a new concession stand at Memorial Field. Earlier in September, he presented construction drawings and design estimates to a community group working to promote and fund the project, he said.
“We’re going to continue to collaborate with them to talk about options for how we can move this project forward and, you know, what the mutual interests are to get that done,” he said.
