JCPS CFO/COO certifies skills to save district money

Jefferson City Public Schools' chief financial and operating officer recently received certification from the Association for School Business Officials International in a bid to save the district some money.

ASBO International awarded Jason Hoffman the certified administrator of school finance and operations certification - a new certification from ASBO International that is granted to "highly qualified individuals who fulfill multiple requirements, including demonstrating eligibility (through work experience and education), passing a comprehensive two-part exam that tests competency in accounting and school business management topics, and adhering to the ASBO International Certification Code of Conduct," according to a school district news release.

Hoffman has worked for the district for 12 years. He said he's intended get certification for a while - his position is one of the few in the district that doesn't require it - but state legislation passed last year finally nudged him down the path.

That legislation required that when school districts sell bonds, the districts must have a municipal financial adviser unless they employ a certified financial officer.

"That motivated me to get that done," Hoffman said, because it could otherwise cost JCPS thousands of dollars to hire a financial adviser to oversee the sale of the remaining $45 million in bonds it will have to market to fund the district's two high school projects.

JCPS sold the first $85 million in bonds last June.

"By earning the SFO certification, professionals validate their specialized knowledge and demonstrate a commitment to high standards and ethical practice in school business management," ASBO International Executive Director John Musso said in the news release.

"School business officials who have earned the SFO Certification commit to ongoing professional development, renew the certification annually and undergo recertification every three years," the release noted.

ASBO International is a Reston, Virginia-headquartered, global professional association of more than 5,000 K-12 and higher education school business managers.