Little Elm ISD Honored with State-Wide Award

Finance Department earns the prestigious Award of Excellence

Austin, TX – Little Elm ISD is proud to be among the third group of educational institutions recognized by the Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) with the prestigious Award of Excellence in Financial Management. Established in 2020, the award is given to Texas school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, and education services centers that demonstrate professional standards, best practices, and innovations in the area of financial management and reporting. 

The criteria to qualify for the Award of Excellence in Financial Management is stringent, based on financial accounting and reporting guidelines identified by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Financial Accountability System Resource Guide (FASRG). Applicants must submit documents across 11 key areas, which are reviewed by a TASBO accounting subcommittee.

About the Criteria

A TASBO Accounting & Finance Subcommittee developed the criteria for the award based on state and federal guidelines. Each applicant must submit documentation on 11 areas:

• finance department essentials
• staffing & training
• controls
• budget management
• processes
• cash management
• communications
• financial reports
• financial analyses and projections
• external staff training
• innovation (bonus points)

“These organizations have gone above and beyond to demonstrate transparency by meticulously documenting their districts’ policies and procedures,” said Tracy Ginsburg, TASBO Executive Director. “Not only have they showcased the ways they monitor spending, improve budgeting, implement controls, and enhance financial reporting, but they have shared their best practices with colleagues throughout Texas, helping even more educational organizations to better utilize taxpayer dollars.” 

Members of the district’s finance team will be honored at an awards reception sponsored by Frontline Education in San Antonio, Texas, on February 15 during the 2023 TASBO annual conference.