Business & Finance: Our Purpose

  • It is our goal in the finance department to assist teachers and administrators in their mission to provide a safe and academically stimulating environment for the students of the district.

    Some of the primary functions of this Department consist of budget management and development, accounts payable, payroll functions, managing fixed assets, and audits.

    The budgeting process for Athens City Schools is designed to facilitate the development of an overall plan for the use of financial resources that will best serve the needs of students. With the implementation of site-based management, decisions for the use of the financial resources are made by the stakeholders responsible for accomplishing desired results.

    In addition to the financial plan presented in the proposed budget, the school system is required to submit to the State Department of Education nine other operational plans. These additional plans are as follows:

    • Capital Projects                    
    • Student Transportation
    • Professional Development      
    • Technology
    • Special Education                  
    • At-Risk Students
    • Career/Technical Education    
    • Federal Programs
    • School Safety

    Athens City School's Department of Business & Finance is committed to supporting student learning and achievement through effective and efficient financial stewardship. It is our goal to provide transparency and to provide our taxpayers with clear and relevant financial information. This site is continually evolving to include additional reports, visuals and pertinent information.

    This department is committed to excellence by serving the financial needs of the district to safeguard assets, and support the employees, campuses and departments in an ethical, efficient and effective manner for financial planning and operations.

Meet the Director

Phone: 256.771.7135

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

B.S. Accounting, University of Alabama at Huntsville

Mrs. Serena Owsley

Mrs. Serena Owsley has served as the Chief School Financial Officer for Athens City Schools since 2016. She earned her accounting degree from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and has worked for ACS for more than a decade. She oversees all aspects of the system's finances. Owsley brings years of experience in the private and public sectors with a focus on transparency, accountability and fiscal budgeting. She helps streamline financial and procedural policies to benefit the financial health of ACS.