OASBO West Central Chapter Meeting

Local meeting of the West Central OASBO Chapter

Host Organization: Ohio Association of School Business Officials (OASBO); Nadeen Askew, Events Manager; (614) 431-9116; [email protected]
Event Date: 3/17/2023
# of Hours Available: 4
Location: Old Barn Restaurant & Grill
3175 W Elm St
Lima, OH 45805
Onsite Contact: Kurt Wendel
Treasurer/CFO
Mercer ESC
(419) 586-6628
[email protected]

Conference Website
https://oasbo-ohio.org/chapters-and-committees/chapters/west-central

Required Materials

MyCPIM Worksheet
Course Description Quick Guide

Friday 3/17/2023

8:15 AM - 9:15 AM

Course Name	Speaker(s)	Hours Available
Hot Topics in Debt	Kenton S. Cashell, Managing Director, RBC Capital Markets, Jake McDonald, Associate, RBC Capital Markets	1	View

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Course Name	Speaker(s)	Hours Available
Common Audit Deficiencies for Schools and How to Avoid Them	Adam Lesch, Senior Manager, Julian & Grube, Inc.	1	View

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Course Name	Speaker(s)	Hours Available
The Ohio Ethics Law: Watching Our Step!	Susan Willeke, Education & Communications Administrator, Ohio Ethics Commission	1	View

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Course Name	Speaker(s)	Hours Available
Grants & The Role of a Treasurer	Brian Jones, Executive Director, Office of School Finance, Ohio Department of Education	1	View

Course Details: Hot Topics in Debt

Course Description and Learning Objectives

Target Audiences: School Districts

Category: Public Finance

This course will cover two borrowing related topics that have been significant areas of focus for our respective clients over the past year or so. We plan to cover the following topics:
Supplemental Borrowings for Rising Construction Costs – Most districts working through capital facilities projects are experiencing cost overruns, mainly due to the inflationary environment we are currently in. Many times solutions to these issues as they arise are a combination of value engineering and supplemental borrowings. We will discuss options available to school districts for supplemental financings and important items to consider before doing so.

Debt planning – Any district with debt outstanding should know the structure of that debt, the maturities of each outstanding bond issue and possible drops in debt service and millage. Many times it can be helpful to time new debt issues around the drop off of existing debt in order to possibly minimize the tax increase on residents. We will explain how to approach such decisions and the questions to ask your finance professionals so you know key dates and parameters around taking advantage of such opportunities.

School business officials should be able to understand options that exist for supplemental borrowings related to capital facilities programs, should they be required. This includes permissible security structures that do not require additional voter approval such as capital leases or COPS. We will also discuss methods of sale and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

When planning for larger facilities projects key considerations include how to minimize possible tax increases. This can help in gaining community support on the ballot and running a school district with tax rates that are competitive as compared to comparable and neighboring school districts.

Statement of Accreditation Rationale:
School business officials should be able to understand options that exist for supplemental borrowings related to capital facilities programs, should they be required. This includes permissible security structures that do not require additional voter approval such as capital leases or COPS. We will also discuss methods of sale and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

When planning for larger facilities projects key considerations include how to minimize possible tax increases. This can help in gaining community support on the ballot and running a school district with tax rates that are competitive as compared to comparable and neighboring school districts.

Course Material

N/A

Kenton S. Cashell, Managing Director, RBC Capital Markets

[email protected]
255 East 5th Street
Suite 1000
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Phone: (513) 826-0551

Mr. Cashell is a Managing Director in the Cincinnati, Ohio Municipal Finance office of RBC Capital Markets and manages Public Finance for Ohio.

Mr. Cashell joined RBC Capital Markets in 2002 after serving as Chief Operating Officer/Chief Information Officer for Cincinnati Public Schools. As COO/CIO, Mr. Cashell oversaw all non-instructional areas for the district. Prior to coming to Cincinnati, Mr. Cashell served for nine years in finance, policy and administrative positions in Delaware state government. His last position there was Associate Secretary of Education for Finance, Policy and Administrative Services. In the latter role, Mr. Cashell acted as the Chief Financial Officer for the State Department of Education.

Mr. Cashell specializes in education and local government transactions including tax increment financing (TIF). Mr. Cashell also administers several large structured pooled financing programs in the State of Ohio.

Mr. Cashell currently holds Series 7, Series 63, Series 53, Series 24 and Series 50 licenses. Mr. Cashell holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Economics from the University of Delaware, specializing in mathematical economics and econometrics.

Jake McDonald, Associate, RBC Capital Markets

[email protected]
255 E 5th St Ste 1000
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Phone: (513) 826-0583

Jake McDonald is an associate in the Cincinnati, Ohio Municipal Finance office of RBC Capital Markets.

Jake joined RBC Capital Markets in 2018, after working in asset management at Merrill Lynch and UBS. He provides quantitative and transactional support for municipal entities, as well as research, market updates, and specialized presentation materials. He has served on the banking team for over $2 billion in municipal transactions and provided support in a variety of sectors including school districts, single family housing, local government, counties, higher education institutions, and state level issuers. Jake has been a CFA Charterholder since 2019 and is currently registered with FINRA Series 7, 50, 52, and 63 licenses.

Jake holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Cincinnati.

Course Details: Common Audit Deficiencies for Schools and How to Avoid Them

Course Description and Learning Objectives

Target Audiences: School Districts

Category: Accounting & Auditing

This course will discuss the purpose of your audit and dive into common audit deficiencies.

The course will help you understand your audit and the results of your audit. It will also give you tips on how to avoid the most common audit deficiencies issued against schools.

Statement of Accreditation Rationale:
Understanding the results of your audit and how to avoid the most common deficiencies is paramount in developing a culture of accountability within your school. The audit should be a learning experience.

Course Material

N/A

Adam Lesch, Senior Manager, Julian & Grube, Inc.

[email protected]
333 County Line Road West
Westerville, OH 43082
Phone: 6148461899

Adam Lesch is a senior manager at Julian & Grube and oversees audit engagements involving nonprofit and governmental entities. Adam manages the day-to-day activity of several audit teams to facilitate the timely completion of audit engagements. Through his experience, Adam has become knowledgeable in the entire audit process and largely focuses on client communication and assisting audit staff. Adam is a Certified Public Accountant and earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and master’s degree in business administration from Walsh University.

Course Details: The Ohio Ethics Law: Watching Our Step!

Course Description and Learning Objectives

Target Audiences: School Districts

Category: Ethics

This course will cover an overview of what are the latest trends, investigations, and highlights in governmental and public school ethics? Don’t miss this engaging and interactive discussion that analyzes the hot issues under the Ohio Ethics Law. This specialized session will assist those in public school business/fiscal services be able to better understand and comply with the law.

The course will provide . . . . . .
• Identify potential conflicts of interest and understand appropriate and legal response
• Understand gift restrictions for those in public service or when interacting with public officials or public employees
• Recognize potential public contract and representation violations when public official has connections with private organizations
• Grasp post-employment requirements when leaving public service or hiring former public servants
• Learn about general assistance available from the Ohio Ethics Commission to understand and comply with the Ethics Law

Statement of Accreditation Rationale:
This class will assist school business officials in expanding their knowledge of the relationship between their public schools and the Ethics Commission. It will help them understand the conflict of interest restrictions imposed upon public officials and employees and those with whom they interact in the private sector, such as vendors, potential vendors, and other interested parties. This session will also focus on helping attendees understand the definition of public contracts under the Ohio Ethics Law and will outline the ethics prohibitions related to public contracts. A better grasp of this information will increase effectiveness in their ability to comply with the Ethics Law and in accommodating the needs of their public school.

Course attendees will be able to dialogue directly with the Ohio Ethics Commission regarding the Ohio Ethics Law: hear updates on the statute, ask questions, interact with other school business officials who may face comparable ethical situations and dilemmas, and gain new insights into advisory opinions and recent decisions of the Ohio Ethics Commission.

Course Material

N/A

Susan Willeke, Education & Communications Administrator, Ohio Ethics Commission

[email protected]
30 West Spring Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-7090

Susan Willeke is an accomplished government - relations professional with more than 20 years’ experience in public affairs, communication and public speaking. Susan joined the Ohio Ethics Commission in 2005 as the Education and Communications Manager where she oversees and conducts educational and communication outreach. In that position, Susan presents approximately 200 speeches annually, develops information strategies regarding agency programs and represents the Ethics Commission to Ohio citizens, the media and the Ohio legislature. Prior to joining the Commission, Susan served in the communications office at the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and as a legislative aide in the Ohio House of Representatives.

Susan is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, Ohio. In 2011, she was selected to present at TEDx Columbus, a conference for “Ideas Worth Sharing” and identified as one of Central Ohio’s “Leading Thinkers and Doers.”

Course Details: Grants & The Role of a Treasurer

Course Description and Learning Objectives

Target Audiences: School Districts

Category: Public Finance

This course will cover an overview of how to develop and implement the fiscal and financial control processes for local, state, and federal grants

The course will provide the school business officials in attendance the base knowledge and information that they need to feel comfortable and confident in managing multiple different types of grants.

Statement of Accreditation Rationale:
By giving the school business officials the information within this presentation, they will be able to manage the grants in an efficient, yet compliant, manner for their organizations.

Course Material

N/A

Brian Jones, Executive Director, Office of School Finance, Ohio Department of Education

[email protected]
25 South Front St
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614.752.1465

For the past 4 years Brian has served as the Executive Director of the Office of School Finance at the Ohio Department of Education. Prior to becoming Executive Director, he served as the Director of the Office of Federal and State Grants Management for 12 years. With Brian’s expanded role he not only oversees Office of Grants Management, but now manages additional offices which include; Field Services, Fiscal Oversight and Accountability, External Monitoring, Transportation and Medicaid.

In addition, Brian served on the steering committee to develop and implement a new Statewide E-grant system. The new system rolled out in 2017 with several agencies in implementation mode.

Prior to joining the ODE, Brian served with the Auditor of State and the Ohio Department of Development as Audit Supervisor. During his time with the Auditor of State’s Office Brian was in charge of the Department Human Services at both the state and county levels. While with the Department of Development he completed financial/programmatic compliance audits and technical assistance to Cities, Counties and Non-Profits.

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