Accolades
Olentangy Schools Receives Auditor of State Award with Distinction
May 28, 2026 - The Auditor of State Keith Faber’s office has awarded Olentangy Schools the Auditor of State Award with Distinction. This is the 15th time Olentangy has received this award for accounting excellence, including the last three consecutive years.
Treasurer Ryan Jenkins said the award is a reflection of the district’s collective commitment to accountability and responsible financial stewardship. “This recognition belongs to our entire district — our schools, staff, and community. We take great pride in being transparent and accountable with every dollar entrusted to us, and this award reflects that shared commitment.”
The Ohio Auditor of State’s office presents the Auditor of State Award with Distinction to local governments and school districts upon the completion of a financial audit. This year only 4% of audited entities met the following criteria of a “clean” audit report:
- The entity must file financial reports with the Auditor of State’s office by the statutory due date, without extension, via the Hinkle System, on a GAAP accounting basis and prepare an Annual Comprehensive Financial Report;
- The audit report does not contain any findings for recovery, material citations, material weaknesses, significant deficiencies, Uniform Guidance (Single Audit) findings or questioned costs;
- The entity’s management letter contains no comments related to:
- Ethics referrals
- Questioned costs less than the threshold per the Uniform Guidance
- Lack of timely report submission
- Bank reconciliation issues
- Failure to obtain a timely Single Audit in accordance with Uniform Guidance
- Findings for recovery less than $500
- Public meetings or public records issues
- The entity has no other financial or other concerns
Board President Brandon Lester said the recognition demonstrates the district’s continued dedication to excellence and good governance. “Receiving this award speaks to the high standards Olentangy Schools maintains in financial management and operations. It reflects our commitment to transparency, fiscal responsibility, and serving our community with integrity.”
Full copies of these reports are available on the Ohio Auditor of State website.
Olentangy Earns Meritorious Budget Award and Achieves AAA Credit Rating from S&P
February 10, 2026 - Olentangy Schools has earned the prestigious Meritorious Budget Award (MBA) for fiscal year 2025–26, recognizing the district’s commitment to clear, transparent, and high-quality budget presentations, as well as its dedication to responsible financial stewardship.
The Meritorious Budget Award program, administered by ASBO International, is designed to help school business professionals strengthen financial planning and communication. The program evaluates district budgets to ensure they are comprehensive, accessible, and informative for stakeholders. School districts that meet the program’s high standards receive the MBA distinction, demonstrating leadership in financial transparency and best practices.
“An effective school budget is more than just numbers—it’s a vital tool for building trust and engaging the community,” said Jim Rowan, CAE, SFO, Executive Director of ASBO International. “The Meritorious Budget Award recognizes districts like Olentangy Schools that prioritize financial clarity and accountability. We commend their dedication to upholding nationally recognized budget presentation standards.”
In addition to the MBA recognition, Olentangy Schools earned a AAA credit rating from Standard & Poor’s (S&P), one of the nation’s leading credit rating agencies that evaluates the creditworthiness of public entities.
The AAA rating is the highest possible designation awarded by S&P. Olentangy Treasurer Ryan Jenkins shared at the district’s February 5, 2026, Board of Education meeting that the rating reflects “the highest creditworthiness of any municipal bonds on the market.” S&P cited Olentangy’s elevated economic metrics, diverse and growing tax base, positive financial results over the past four years, a thorough and efficient management team, and robust financial policies and practices.
Olentangy Schools Saves $2.3 Million for Taxpayers - Achieves AAA Rating with Standard & Poor's
August 28, 2025 - Olentangy Schools is delivering significant savings for taxpayers while earning the highest possible credit rating from Standard & Poor’s (S&P). Through a recent bond refunding transaction, the district will save nearly $2.3 million over the next 6–7 years, further demonstrating its commitment to strong financial stewardship.
The district issued $16.43 million in Series 2025B refunding bonds to retire outstanding Series 2016 refunding bonds, which carried a balance of $17.72 million. The refinancing lowered future principal and interest payments, reducing overall debt costs for district residents.
“This refunding shows our commitment to utilizing taxpayer funds in the most prudent way possible,” said District Treasurer Ryan Jenkins. “Our goal is to maximize learning for every student in the most economically sustainable way possible.”
Superintendent Todd Meyer added, “Responsible stewardship of taxpayer funds allows us to focus on what matters most—creating exceptional learning environments and experiences for every Olentangy student.”
Since the late 1990s, the district has constructed multiple new facilities to meet the needs of its expanding community. Beginning in 2012, Olentangy Schools has proactively monitored market conditions to refinance bonds when advantageous. The district has completed 14 refundings over the past 12 years, generating a combined $41.85 million in savings for taxpayers. These efforts support the district’s broader strategy of maintaining high performance and efficiency while managing the demands of rapid enrollment growth.
This rating is another example of Olentangy Schools’ deep commitment to maximizing value and service to the community. The district will adhere to this same principle with the proposed $235 million bond issue that is needed to address the needs of the rapidly growing school district and community.
AAA Rating from Standard & Poor’s
As part of this transaction, Olentangy Schools earned a AAA credit rating from S&P, the highest possible designation. Comparable to a personal credit score, a AAA rating indicates an “extremely strong capacity to meet financial commitments” and allows the district to access future financing at lower interest rates.
In its report, S&P cited the district’s:
- Consistently positive operating results and robust reserve position
- Growing and diverse tax base
- Experienced management team with sound fiscal policies
- Regular updates to a five-year financial plan and 20-year capital improvement plan
- Commitment to maintaining at least 180 days of fund balance
“The ‘AAA’ rating reflects our assessment of Olentangy Schools’ consistently positive operating results and robust reserve position in conjunction with its elevated economic metrics and diverse, growing tax base,” the report stated.
Olentangy Receives Repeat Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting
August 15, 2025 - The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to Olentangy Schools for its annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, and the GFOA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting (PAFR Award) for its Popular Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.
"Earning the GFOA awards again this year is a testament to our team’s hard work and to Olentangy’s promise to our taxpayers,” said Olentangy Schools Treasurer Ryan Jenkins. “These recognitions show that we’re not only using managing our assets wisely, but also making sure our community understands exactly how those dollars support our students.”
The GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. This is the 24th consecutive year that Olentangy Schools has received the coveted award.
The PAFR Award represents a significant achievement by the District for providing stakeholders with an annual comprehensive financial report based on the following categories: reader appeal, understandability, distribution methods, creativity and other elements.
"The GFOA awards are a reflection of the strong financial foundation that has been built at Olentangy,” added Board of Education President Brandon Lester. “Mr. Jenkins leads the Treasurer’s Department with innovation and a strong sense of purpose—always finding ways to save our community money and champion fair funding.”
The 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 communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the report.