Kenton City School District Names Jill Smith as Treasurer/CFO
Written by WKTN Staff on April 21, 2020
At their April 20, 2020 meeting the Kenton City School District Board of Education approved a contract with Jill Smith to serve as the district’s new Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer effective July 1, 2020.
In this role, Smith will oversee the financial operations of the district which includes a myriad of responsibilities including the accuracy and timeliness of all state and federal reporting, the development of the annual district budget and the district’s Five-Year Forecast.
Presently Smith serves the Jefferson Local as Treasurer/CFO for fifteen (15) years and prior to that she was the Treasurer/CFO for Triad Local for seven (7) years.
Smith has 30 years of experience in school finance.
She received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Franklin University and is a licensed school treasurer.
The Kenton City School District Board of Education received assistance in the hiring process from K-12 Business Consulting and the Ohio Association of School Business Officials. After developing a Treasurer Search Profile that was based on information provided by board of education members, community members, district administrators, teachers and support staff, a state-wide search to find the next CFO was undertaken. The board screened and vetted the credentials of several potential candidates. From interviews conducted on April 6th & April 7th, three (3) finalists were selected for final-round interviews. The final interviews on April 13th that included a thorough interview and presentation to the Board of Education and Superintendent. At the end of the process Smith was selected as the best candidate to provide the district financial leadership for the future.
Kenton City School District Board of Education President Doug Carmean said, “We are impressed with Ms. Smith’s background and experience in school finance and her ability to communicate detailed financial data with others. She has a wealth of knowledge of school system’s budgetary process, accounting, and funding systems. Jill has the skills to help lead our district and move us forward in our financial goals. We are fortunate and excited to have her join our administrative team.”
Superintendent Jennifer Penczarski, also noted, “Jill has a tremendous skill set aligned with the goals and needs of the Kenton City School District. She has a vast array of experience and expertise as a school treasurer and has a proven background as a skilled financial leader and communicator. I, along with the Board of Education and Administrative Team, look forward to working with her.”
Ms. Smith noted, “I am very pleased and honored to have been selected as the district’s next Treasurer/CFO. I want to thank the Board of Education and Superintendent Penczarski for the trust and confidence they have placed in me. Kenton City School District appeals to me due to the exciting and innovative climate that is very apparent here and I’m thrilled to be a part of it. I look forward to serving the board of education, students, parents and being part of a strong, dynamic team of the Kenton City School District.”
