The Springfield Local School District is no longer under state control.

The state has lifted the district from fiscal emergency after four years.  District officials have not been allowed to make any major decisions without state approval since 2007.

District Treasurer Chris Adams says the release serves as a morale booster for district employees and students, but also for the entire community.

"You're seeing Springfield Local Schools, the Springfield community and the Lakemore community - they're standing a little taller now," said Adams.

It didn't come easy.  Adams says much of the problem stemmed from a sharp decrease in the student population that should have been more quickly followed by a drop in the number of faculty and staff members.  Instead, the district was paying about the same number of people, but with less revenue.

Adams says there may be a bright side to a stint under fiscal watch.

"It trains you to really be on your game when it comes to finances and it helps you when they leave because you're working in a certain way for many years and hopefully you'll continue to work in that way, said Adams."

Adams says there's now a new challenge:  Stay out of fiscal emergency. 

The district was released from fiscal emergency in 2001 only to wind up back under the watchful eye of the state six years later.