Spring Branch ISD Featured News

33 years of trust: SBISD honored for excellence in Financial Reporting

October 2, 2025 3:30 PM

At the September Board of Trustees meeting, Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD) was recognized for earning the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 33rd consecutive year from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada.

The award honors SBISD’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. Considered the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting, the award underscores the district’s ongoing commitment to accountability, transparency, and effective communication of its financial story.

An independent panel of experts evaluated SBISD’s report and determined it met the rigorous criteria established by GFOA. These standards require reports to not only meet technical accounting requirements, but also to clearly communicate financial data to the community in a spirit of full disclosure.

Associate Superintendent for Finance Christine Porter noted the achievement reflects the district’s long-standing commitment to fiscal responsibility. “Sustaining this level of recognition for 33 years is extraordinary,” Porter said. “It shows our community that SBISD remains consistent, transparent, and responsible in stewarding resources for students and families.”

Director of Accounting Tera Harris credited the award to the dedication of the entire team. “Our Finance team truly embodies Collective Greatness—every person’s efforts matter,” Harris said. “To carry forward this standard for more than three decades speaks to the culture of excellence at SBISD.”

Controller David Bender emphasized that credibility is central to the department’s work. “When families, staff, and the community look at our reports, they can trust the information,” Bender said. “This recognition affirms that commitment to openness and full disclosure.”

Since 1945, GFOA has encouraged state and local governments to go beyond minimum accounting requirements by producing comprehensive reports that demonstrate a higher level of accountability and transparency.

For more than three decades, SBISD’s Financial Services division has upheld this standard, continuing to set an example in governmental financial reporting.