Whoever displays the awards garnered by Fairland Local School District may need a bigger shelf.

Ohio Auditor of State Dave Yost on Tuesday announced the recipients of the “Auditor of State Award” given for clean audit reports, and for the second-straight year Fairland was one of five districts in Ohio to receive the commendation. Lakewood Digital Academy, Seneca East, Shadyside Local School District and Teays Valley Local School District also received the distinction.

Fairland Schools Treasurer Loretta Wirzfeld said the high praise from one of only five independently elected offices in the State of Ohio is not a complex series of equations, but simply the result of everyone doing their jobs.

“We just make sure to handle everything so were in compliance,” she said. “Our district is academically excellent and financially responsible. It’s good for the community to see that.”

The announcement comes a little more than three months after Fairland schools earned the academic distinction of receiving the highest overall grade of all Lawrence County Schools on the state report card.

Entities receiving the clean audit award were required to meet certain criteria.

The entity must file timely financial reports with the

Auditor of State’s office in accordance with GAAP (Generally Accepted

Accounting Principles);

The audit report does not contain any findings for recovery,

material citations, material weaknesses, significant deficiencies,

single audit findings or questioned costs;

The entity’s management letter contains no comments related to ethics referrals, questioned costs less than $10,000, lack of timely report submission, reconciliation, failure to obtain a timely single audit, findings for recovery less than $100 and public meetings or public records.

“It’s quite difficult to accomplish,” Wirzfeld said. “Anything the auditors find — no matter how small — requires a response. The audits are very thorough and span all areas of our district’s operation.”

Such a positive result from the vast and meticulous examination of the district’s financial records by the auditor’s office could not be attained by the work of one person.

“It’s a team effort for sure,” Wirzfeld said. “The auditors look at everything from food service to our federal programs. To get a clean audit really does require hard and diligent work from lots of people. I am proud to be part of this district.”

Fairland and Rock Hill were the only two school districts in Lawrence County that did not get state funding increases for school years 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 because of the state’s wealth index indicators.

Yost also awards local governments with the same award. Copies of the audits can be viewed online by visiting www.ohioauditor.gov.