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State stops doing gap audits; board informed it hired local CPA to complete audit before Dec. 31
Summary
The board was told Ohio will not perform the district's gap audit this year; the district contracted a local CPA firm (Zupka/Zupan Associates named in materials) to conduct the gap audit, and staff warned this will require more work and expense because the state will not turn over its work papers.
Superintendent reported that the Ohio Department of Education informed the district on July 30 that the department would no longer perform the district’s financial gap audit because of staff shortages, and the district must retain a CPA firm to complete the work before Dec. 31.
Staff said they contracted a local firm identified in board materials (transcript spelling varied) and that the firm will begin work immediately. Board members asked whether the district sought minority‑owned firms; staff said they considered multiple firms and selected the firm they believed could meet the compressed timeline. Materials referenced a fee schedule and estimated cost (in the board packet) that staff said was higher than the historical state cost because the CPA firm must perform the work from scratch—the state will not turn over its work papers.
Why it matters: the gap audit is a compliance requirement and must be completed by year‑end; the additional cost and staff time to support the external firm will affect the district’s FY budget and administrative workload.
What’s next: the CPA firm will begin collecting information immediately and staff will provide updates as the audit progresses.
