Carthage controller wins Pinnacle of Excellence award
Scot J. Ecker, associate vice president and controller at Carthage, was honored by the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) with its 2013 Pinnacle of Excellence award for a school finance literacy tool that helps school districts share their budgets in a clear, understandable way. He received the award during a conference in October.
Recognizing the need for a better way to present complex financial information to all school district stakeholders regardless of financial literacy, Mr. Ecker spearheaded the development of the Investing in Wisconsin Public Schools tool. It helps promote understanding of school finances and community-wide conversation about the needs of students.
The customizable tool consists of a poster, a trained facilitator, and a handbook. In a little more than a year, more than 500 parents, community members, board members, teachers, and school administrators have participated.
“It fosters a deep understanding of the ways financial decision making impacts the quality of their children’s education,” Mr. Ecker said. “It encourages the kind of thoughtful dialogue that inspires change and action on behalf of students.”