FINDING 2023-003
Subject: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies - Eligibility
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies
Assistance Listings Number: 84.010
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S010A200014, S010A210014,
S010A220014
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Eligibility
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-006.
Condition and Context
Eligibility for Title I is determined on the Eligible School Summary of the Tile I application.
Enrollment and Poverty numbers are automatically pulled from the Indiana Department of Education's
(IDOE) Official Pupil Enrollment (PE) count for each school into the Eligible School Summary page of the
Tile I application. These counts that are pre-populated should be based on the School Corporation's
records as of October of the prior fiscal year. One person compiled and uploaded enrollment data, including
poverty status for Real Time reports, to the IDOE without a documented oversight or review process to
ensure that the information was accurate. In addition, there was no review by the School Corporation of
the enrollment and poverty counts that were pre-populated into the School Corporation's Title I grant
application.
The IDOE used the October 1 Real Time (RT) reports for fiscal years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022,
as provided by the School Corporation, to determine Title I Eligibility for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023
grant programs, respectively. The October 1 Real Time report could not be presented for audit for
2021-2022, which would have been used to pull in enrollment and poverty information for the 2022-2023
grant. As such, we were unable to verify the amounts reported in the grant application. Additionally, we
were unable to verify if the correct socioeconomic status was properly reported for any of the students.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. The lack of documentation
presented for audit was an issue for the 2022-2023 grant.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 18
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.334 states in part:
"Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity
records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date
of submission of the final expenditure report or, for Federal awards that are renewed quarterly
or annually, from the date of submission of the quarterly or annual financial report, respectively,
as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of a subrecipient.
. . ."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation,
which would include segregation of key functions. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented
internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect
the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and
procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, Real Time reports were not maintained for audit, and, as such, we could not
determine if the School Corporation complied with the Eligibility compliance requirement.
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure Real Time reports are maintained for audit.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-003
Subject: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies - Eligibility
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies
Assistance Listings Number: 84.010
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S010A200014, S010A210014,
S010A220014
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Eligibility
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-006.
Condition and Context
Eligibility for Title I is determined on the Eligible School Summary of the Tile I application.
Enrollment and Poverty numbers are automatically pulled from the Indiana Department of Education's
(IDOE) Official Pupil Enrollment (PE) count for each school into the Eligible School Summary page of the
Tile I application. These counts that are pre-populated should be based on the School Corporation's
records as of October of the prior fiscal year. One person compiled and uploaded enrollment data, including
poverty status for Real Time reports, to the IDOE without a documented oversight or review process to
ensure that the information was accurate. In addition, there was no review by the School Corporation of
the enrollment and poverty counts that were pre-populated into the School Corporation's Title I grant
application.
The IDOE used the October 1 Real Time (RT) reports for fiscal years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022,
as provided by the School Corporation, to determine Title I Eligibility for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023
grant programs, respectively. The October 1 Real Time report could not be presented for audit for
2021-2022, which would have been used to pull in enrollment and poverty information for the 2022-2023
grant. As such, we were unable to verify the amounts reported in the grant application. Additionally, we
were unable to verify if the correct socioeconomic status was properly reported for any of the students.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. The lack of documentation
presented for audit was an issue for the 2022-2023 grant.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 18
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.334 states in part:
"Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity
records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date
of submission of the final expenditure report or, for Federal awards that are renewed quarterly
or annually, from the date of submission of the quarterly or annual financial report, respectively,
as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of a subrecipient.
. . ."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation,
which would include segregation of key functions. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented
internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect
the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and
procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, Real Time reports were not maintained for audit, and, as such, we could not
determine if the School Corporation complied with the Eligibility compliance requirement.
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure Real Time reports are maintained for audit.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-004
Subject: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies - Internal Controls
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies
Assistance Listings Number: 84.010
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S010A200014, S010A210014,
S010A220014
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions - Assessment System Security
Audit Finding: Material Weakness
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-006.
Condition and Context
State educational agencies (SEA), in consultation with local educational agencies (LEA), are
required to establish and maintain an assessment security system that is valid, reliable, and consistent with
relevant professional and technical standards. Within their assessment system, SEAs must have policies
and procedures to maintain test security measures and ensure that LEAs implement those policies and
procedures. As such the Indiana Department of Education created and published the Indiana Assessments
Policy Manual.
As a part of the assessment security, any individual who administers, handles, or has access to
secure test materials at the school or school corporation shall complete assessment training and sign a
testing security and integrity statement that remains on file in the appropriate building-level office each year.
Each individual required to sign the testing integrity agreement shall sign the form by an established date.
The School Corporation had a process to provide assessment system security training and to
ensure each employee that attended training signed the agreement indicating training was received.
However, there was no documentation of a review process to confirm that all appropriate staff completed
assessment system security training as required.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 20
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation,
which would include segregation of key functions. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented
internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect
the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and
procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper design or implementation of the components of a system of internal controls,
including policies and procedures that provide segregation of duties and additional oversight as needed,
the internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure documentation of internal controls is
maintained for audit.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-004
Subject: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies - Internal Controls
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies
Assistance Listings Number: 84.010
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S010A200014, S010A210014,
S010A220014
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions - Assessment System Security
Audit Finding: Material Weakness
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-006.
Condition and Context
State educational agencies (SEA), in consultation with local educational agencies (LEA), are
required to establish and maintain an assessment security system that is valid, reliable, and consistent with
relevant professional and technical standards. Within their assessment system, SEAs must have policies
and procedures to maintain test security measures and ensure that LEAs implement those policies and
procedures. As such the Indiana Department of Education created and published the Indiana Assessments
Policy Manual.
As a part of the assessment security, any individual who administers, handles, or has access to
secure test materials at the school or school corporation shall complete assessment training and sign a
testing security and integrity statement that remains on file in the appropriate building-level office each year.
Each individual required to sign the testing integrity agreement shall sign the form by an established date.
The School Corporation had a process to provide assessment system security training and to
ensure each employee that attended training signed the agreement indicating training was received.
However, there was no documentation of a review process to confirm that all appropriate staff completed
assessment system security training as required.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 20
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation,
which would include segregation of key functions. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented
internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect
the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and
procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper design or implementation of the components of a system of internal controls,
including policies and procedures that provide segregation of duties and additional oversight as needed,
the internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure documentation of internal controls is
maintained for audit.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-005
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027A, 84.027X
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 19611-117-PN01, 20611-117-PN01,
21611-117-PN01, 22611-117-ARP
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion
Condition and Context
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with program funds, recipients are
required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise
excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods and services awarded
under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000.
The verification is to be done by checking the SAMs exclusion, collecting a certification from that person,
or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 21
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Upon inquiry of the School Corporation in order to review the procedures in place for verifying that
a person with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not suspended, debarred, or otherwise
excluded, the School Corporation disclosed there were not sufficient procedures in place. Three covered
transactions, totaling $241,059, that equaled or exceeded $25,000 were identified. All three transactions
were selected for testing. For the three transactions, the School Corporation did not verify the vendor's
suspension and debarment status prior to payment.
The lack of effective internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the
audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 180.300 states:
"When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must
verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You
do this by:
(a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or
(b) Collecting a certification from that person; or
(c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls
consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements
of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would
implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, vendors to whom payments equal to or in excess of $25,000 were not verified
to be not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded.
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
22
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are
not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-005
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027A, 84.027X
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 19611-117-PN01, 20611-117-PN01,
21611-117-PN01, 22611-117-ARP
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion
Condition and Context
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with program funds, recipients are
required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise
excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods and services awarded
under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000.
The verification is to be done by checking the SAMs exclusion, collecting a certification from that person,
or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 21
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Upon inquiry of the School Corporation in order to review the procedures in place for verifying that
a person with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not suspended, debarred, or otherwise
excluded, the School Corporation disclosed there were not sufficient procedures in place. Three covered
transactions, totaling $241,059, that equaled or exceeded $25,000 were identified. All three transactions
were selected for testing. For the three transactions, the School Corporation did not verify the vendor's
suspension and debarment status prior to payment.
The lack of effective internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the
audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 180.300 states:
"When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must
verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You
do this by:
(a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or
(b) Collecting a certification from that person; or
(c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls
consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements
of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would
implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, vendors to whom payments equal to or in excess of $25,000 were not verified
to be not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded.
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
22
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are
not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-005
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027A, 84.027X
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 19611-117-PN01, 20611-117-PN01,
21611-117-PN01, 22611-117-ARP
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion
Condition and Context
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with program funds, recipients are
required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise
excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods and services awarded
under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000.
The verification is to be done by checking the SAMs exclusion, collecting a certification from that person,
or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 21
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Upon inquiry of the School Corporation in order to review the procedures in place for verifying that
a person with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not suspended, debarred, or otherwise
excluded, the School Corporation disclosed there were not sufficient procedures in place. Three covered
transactions, totaling $241,059, that equaled or exceeded $25,000 were identified. All three transactions
were selected for testing. For the three transactions, the School Corporation did not verify the vendor's
suspension and debarment status prior to payment.
The lack of effective internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the
audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 180.300 states:
"When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must
verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You
do this by:
(a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or
(b) Collecting a certification from that person; or
(c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls
consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements
of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would
implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, vendors to whom payments equal to or in excess of $25,000 were not verified
to be not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded.
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
22
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are
not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-006
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Number: 84.425U
Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Reporting
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
The School Corporation was required to submit an annual data report to the Indiana Department
of Education (IDOE) via JotForm, a form/report builder. Data to be submitted included, but was not limited
to, current period expenditures, prior period expenditures, and expenditures per activity.
During the audit period, the School Corporation submitted two ESSER I reports, two ESSER II
reports, and two ESSER III reports, for a total of six reports. After the annual data reports were prepared,
they were reviewed by a second knowledgeable individual; however, this process did not allow for the
prevention, or detection and correction, of errors prior to submission.
Due to the lack of effective internal controls, two of the six annual data reports were not supported
by the School Corporation's records. The issues identified are noted below:
1. For the ESSER III, Year 1 report, which covered the period of July 1, 2020 to June 30,
2021, total expenses, per the report, were $2,187,386; however, the School Corporation's
ledger had total expenses for the award, for that time period, of $0.
2. For the ESSER III, Year 2 report, which covered the period of July 1, 2021 to June 30,
2022, total expenses, per the report, were $0; however, the School Corporation's ledger
had total expenses for the award, for that time period, of $438,684.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the ESSER III, Year 1 and Year
2 reports.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
23
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part:
"The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following
. . .
(2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal
award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §§ 200.328
and 200.329. . . ."
34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format
that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other
responsibilities under the program."
34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with
program requirements."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls
consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements
of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would
implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the ESSER III, Year 1 and Year 2 reports were not supported by the School
Corporation's records.
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 24
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure that all reports are supported by the ledgers
or report used to complete the reports.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-006
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Number: 84.425U
Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Reporting
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
The School Corporation was required to submit an annual data report to the Indiana Department
of Education (IDOE) via JotForm, a form/report builder. Data to be submitted included, but was not limited
to, current period expenditures, prior period expenditures, and expenditures per activity.
During the audit period, the School Corporation submitted two ESSER I reports, two ESSER II
reports, and two ESSER III reports, for a total of six reports. After the annual data reports were prepared,
they were reviewed by a second knowledgeable individual; however, this process did not allow for the
prevention, or detection and correction, of errors prior to submission.
Due to the lack of effective internal controls, two of the six annual data reports were not supported
by the School Corporation's records. The issues identified are noted below:
1. For the ESSER III, Year 1 report, which covered the period of July 1, 2020 to June 30,
2021, total expenses, per the report, were $2,187,386; however, the School Corporation's
ledger had total expenses for the award, for that time period, of $0.
2. For the ESSER III, Year 2 report, which covered the period of July 1, 2021 to June 30,
2022, total expenses, per the report, were $0; however, the School Corporation's ledger
had total expenses for the award, for that time period, of $438,684.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the ESSER III, Year 1 and Year
2 reports.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
23
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part:
"The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following
. . .
(2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal
award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §§ 200.328
and 200.329. . . ."
34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format
that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other
responsibilities under the program."
34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with
program requirements."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls
consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements
of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would
implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the ESSER III, Year 1 and Year 2 reports were not supported by the School
Corporation's records.
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 24
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure that all reports are supported by the ledgers
or report used to complete the reports.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-007
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Special Milk
Program for Children, Summer Food Service Program for Children
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555, 10.556, 10.559
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22, FY23
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-004.
Condition and Context
Procurement
The School Corporation was to submit a new procurement plan for fiscal year 2022-2023 to
the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). The School Corporation did not complete or
submit the 2022-2023 Procurement Plan as required. Per inquiry of the Food Service Director,
the plan was not submitted as the School Corporation was unaware that it was required.
Suspension and Debarment
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with program funds, recipients are
required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or
otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods
and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are
expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking the SAMs
exclusion, collecting a certification from that person, or adding a clause or condition to the
covered transaction with that person.
Upon inquiry of the School Corporation in order to review the procedures in place for verifying
that a person with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not suspended, debarred,
or otherwise excluded, the School Corporation disclosed there were not sufficient procedures
in place. Six covered transactions, totaling $403,734, that equaled or exceeded $25,000 were
identified. All six transactions were selected for testing. For four of the six covered
transactions, totaling $171,379, the School Corporation did not verify the vendor's suspension
and debarment status prior to payment.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 25
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.318(a) states:
"The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent
with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section, for the
acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The non-
Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement
standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327."
2 CFR 180.300 states:
"When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must
verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You do
this by:
(a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or
(b) Collecting a certification from that person; or
(c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls
consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements
of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would
implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, vendors to whom payments equal to or in excess of $25,000 were not verified
to be not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. In addition, the 2022-2023 procurement plan was
not submitted to the IDOE as required.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
26
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are
not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards and that
the procurement pan is submitted to the IDOE.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-007
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Special Milk
Program for Children, Summer Food Service Program for Children
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555, 10.556, 10.559
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22, FY23
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-004.
Condition and Context
Procurement
The School Corporation was to submit a new procurement plan for fiscal year 2022-2023 to
the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). The School Corporation did not complete or
submit the 2022-2023 Procurement Plan as required. Per inquiry of the Food Service Director,
the plan was not submitted as the School Corporation was unaware that it was required.
Suspension and Debarment
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with program funds, recipients are
required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or
otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods
and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are
expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking the SAMs
exclusion, collecting a certification from that person, or adding a clause or condition to the
covered transaction with that person.
Upon inquiry of the School Corporation in order to review the procedures in place for verifying
that a person with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not suspended, debarred,
or otherwise excluded, the School Corporation disclosed there were not sufficient procedures
in place. Six covered transactions, totaling $403,734, that equaled or exceeded $25,000 were
identified. All six transactions were selected for testing. For four of the six covered
transactions, totaling $171,379, the School Corporation did not verify the vendor's suspension
and debarment status prior to payment.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 25
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.318(a) states:
"The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent
with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section, for the
acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The non-
Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement
standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327."
2 CFR 180.300 states:
"When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must
verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You do
this by:
(a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or
(b) Collecting a certification from that person; or
(c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls
consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements
of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would
implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, vendors to whom payments equal to or in excess of $25,000 were not verified
to be not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. In addition, the 2022-2023 procurement plan was
not submitted to the IDOE as required.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
26
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are
not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards and that
the procurement pan is submitted to the IDOE.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-007
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Special Milk
Program for Children, Summer Food Service Program for Children
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555, 10.556, 10.559
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22, FY23
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-004.
Condition and Context
Procurement
The School Corporation was to submit a new procurement plan for fiscal year 2022-2023 to
the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). The School Corporation did not complete or
submit the 2022-2023 Procurement Plan as required. Per inquiry of the Food Service Director,
the plan was not submitted as the School Corporation was unaware that it was required.
Suspension and Debarment
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with program funds, recipients are
required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or
otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods
and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are
expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking the SAMs
exclusion, collecting a certification from that person, or adding a clause or condition to the
covered transaction with that person.
Upon inquiry of the School Corporation in order to review the procedures in place for verifying
that a person with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not suspended, debarred,
or otherwise excluded, the School Corporation disclosed there were not sufficient procedures
in place. Six covered transactions, totaling $403,734, that equaled or exceeded $25,000 were
identified. All six transactions were selected for testing. For four of the six covered
transactions, totaling $171,379, the School Corporation did not verify the vendor's suspension
and debarment status prior to payment.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 25
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.318(a) states:
"The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent
with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section, for the
acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The non-
Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement
standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327."
2 CFR 180.300 states:
"When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must
verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You do
this by:
(a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or
(b) Collecting a certification from that person; or
(c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls
consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements
of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would
implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, vendors to whom payments equal to or in excess of $25,000 were not verified
to be not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. In addition, the 2022-2023 procurement plan was
not submitted to the IDOE as required.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
26
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are
not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards and that
the procurement pan is submitted to the IDOE.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-007
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Special Milk
Program for Children, Summer Food Service Program for Children
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555, 10.556, 10.559
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22, FY23
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-004.
Condition and Context
Procurement
The School Corporation was to submit a new procurement plan for fiscal year 2022-2023 to
the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). The School Corporation did not complete or
submit the 2022-2023 Procurement Plan as required. Per inquiry of the Food Service Director,
the plan was not submitted as the School Corporation was unaware that it was required.
Suspension and Debarment
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with program funds, recipients are
required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or
otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods
and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are
expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking the SAMs
exclusion, collecting a certification from that person, or adding a clause or condition to the
covered transaction with that person.
Upon inquiry of the School Corporation in order to review the procedures in place for verifying
that a person with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not suspended, debarred,
or otherwise excluded, the School Corporation disclosed there were not sufficient procedures
in place. Six covered transactions, totaling $403,734, that equaled or exceeded $25,000 were
identified. All six transactions were selected for testing. For four of the six covered
transactions, totaling $171,379, the School Corporation did not verify the vendor's suspension
and debarment status prior to payment.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 25
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.318(a) states:
"The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent
with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section, for the
acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The non-
Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement
standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327."
2 CFR 180.300 states:
"When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must
verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You do
this by:
(a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or
(b) Collecting a certification from that person; or
(c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls
consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements
of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would
implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, vendors to whom payments equal to or in excess of $25,000 were not verified
to be not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. In addition, the 2022-2023 procurement plan was
not submitted to the IDOE as required.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
26
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are
not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards and that
the procurement pan is submitted to the IDOE.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-007
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Special Milk
Program for Children, Summer Food Service Program for Children
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555, 10.556, 10.559
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22, FY23
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-004.
Condition and Context
Procurement
The School Corporation was to submit a new procurement plan for fiscal year 2022-2023 to
the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). The School Corporation did not complete or
submit the 2022-2023 Procurement Plan as required. Per inquiry of the Food Service Director,
the plan was not submitted as the School Corporation was unaware that it was required.
Suspension and Debarment
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with program funds, recipients are
required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or
otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods
and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are
expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking the SAMs
exclusion, collecting a certification from that person, or adding a clause or condition to the
covered transaction with that person.
Upon inquiry of the School Corporation in order to review the procedures in place for verifying
that a person with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not suspended, debarred,
or otherwise excluded, the School Corporation disclosed there were not sufficient procedures
in place. Six covered transactions, totaling $403,734, that equaled or exceeded $25,000 were
identified. All six transactions were selected for testing. For four of the six covered
transactions, totaling $171,379, the School Corporation did not verify the vendor's suspension
and debarment status prior to payment.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 25
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.318(a) states:
"The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent
with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section, for the
acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The non-
Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement
standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327."
2 CFR 180.300 states:
"When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must
verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You do
this by:
(a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or
(b) Collecting a certification from that person; or
(c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls
consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements
of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would
implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, vendors to whom payments equal to or in excess of $25,000 were not verified
to be not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. In addition, the 2022-2023 procurement plan was
not submitted to the IDOE as required.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
26
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are
not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards and that
the procurement pan is submitted to the IDOE.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-007
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Special Milk
Program for Children, Summer Food Service Program for Children
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555, 10.556, 10.559
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22, FY23
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-004.
Condition and Context
Procurement
The School Corporation was to submit a new procurement plan for fiscal year 2022-2023 to
the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). The School Corporation did not complete or
submit the 2022-2023 Procurement Plan as required. Per inquiry of the Food Service Director,
the plan was not submitted as the School Corporation was unaware that it was required.
Suspension and Debarment
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with program funds, recipients are
required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or
otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods
and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are
expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking the SAMs
exclusion, collecting a certification from that person, or adding a clause or condition to the
covered transaction with that person.
Upon inquiry of the School Corporation in order to review the procedures in place for verifying
that a person with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not suspended, debarred,
or otherwise excluded, the School Corporation disclosed there were not sufficient procedures
in place. Six covered transactions, totaling $403,734, that equaled or exceeded $25,000 were
identified. All six transactions were selected for testing. For four of the six covered
transactions, totaling $171,379, the School Corporation did not verify the vendor's suspension
and debarment status prior to payment.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 25
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.318(a) states:
"The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent
with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section, for the
acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The non-
Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement
standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327."
2 CFR 180.300 states:
"When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must
verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You do
this by:
(a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or
(b) Collecting a certification from that person; or
(c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls
consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements
of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would
implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, vendors to whom payments equal to or in excess of $25,000 were not verified
to be not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. In addition, the 2022-2023 procurement plan was
not submitted to the IDOE as required.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
26
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are
not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards and that
the procurement pan is submitted to the IDOE.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-007
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Special Milk
Program for Children, Summer Food Service Program for Children
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555, 10.556, 10.559
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22, FY23
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-004.
Condition and Context
Procurement
The School Corporation was to submit a new procurement plan for fiscal year 2022-2023 to
the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). The School Corporation did not complete or
submit the 2022-2023 Procurement Plan as required. Per inquiry of the Food Service Director,
the plan was not submitted as the School Corporation was unaware that it was required.
Suspension and Debarment
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with program funds, recipients are
required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or
otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods
and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are
expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking the SAMs
exclusion, collecting a certification from that person, or adding a clause or condition to the
covered transaction with that person.
Upon inquiry of the School Corporation in order to review the procedures in place for verifying
that a person with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not suspended, debarred,
or otherwise excluded, the School Corporation disclosed there were not sufficient procedures
in place. Six covered transactions, totaling $403,734, that equaled or exceeded $25,000 were
identified. All six transactions were selected for testing. For four of the six covered
transactions, totaling $171,379, the School Corporation did not verify the vendor's suspension
and debarment status prior to payment.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 25
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.318(a) states:
"The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent
with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section, for the
acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The non-
Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement
standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327."
2 CFR 180.300 states:
"When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must
verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You do
this by:
(a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or
(b) Collecting a certification from that person; or
(c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls
consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements
of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would
implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, vendors to whom payments equal to or in excess of $25,000 were not verified
to be not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. In addition, the 2022-2023 procurement plan was
not submitted to the IDOE as required.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
26
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are
not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards and that
the procurement pan is submitted to the IDOE.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-008
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Special Tests and Provisions - Verification
of Free and Reduced Price Applications (NSLP)
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Program: National School Lunch Program
Assistance Listings Number: 10.555
Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): FY23
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions - Verification of Free
and Reduced Price Applications (NSLP)
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-003.
Condition and Context
By November 15 of each school year, the local educational agencies (LEA) must verify the current
free and reduced price eligibility of households selected from a sample of applications that it has approved
for free and reduced price meals, unless the LEA is otherwise exempt from the verification requirement.
The verification sample size is based on the total number of approved applications on file on October 1.
As instructed, the LEAs must select a sample of applications to be verified utilizing one of the
following methods:
a. Standard sample size - The lesser of three percent or 3,000 of the approved applications
on file as of October 1, selected from error-prone applications. For this purpose, error prone
applications are those showing household incomes within $100 monthly or $1,200 annually of
the income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced price meals.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 27
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
b. Alternative sample sizes - 1) The lesser of 3 percent or 3,000 applications selected at
random from approved applications on file as of October 1 of the school year, or (2) The sum
of (a) the lesser of 1 percent of all applications identified as error-prone or 1,000 error-prone
applications, and (b) the lesser of 1/2 of 1 percent of, or 500, approved applications in which
the household provided, in lieu of income information, a case number showing participation in
the SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR.
In accordance with the above guidance, the School Corporation selected a sample of verifications
based on the alternative sample size. As such, the School Corporation was required to review the lesser
of 3 percent or 3,000 applications selected at random from approved applications on file as of October 1 of
the 2022-2023 school year. On October 1, the School Corporation had 180 applications on file and
determined that 6 applications were required to be verified.
Although one employee was responsible for performing the required verification of the 6 free and
reduced-price applications and another employee reviewed the applications, the internal control was not
effective and did not prevent, or detect and correct, errors. There was no documentation of an oversight,
review, or approval process to ensure that the verifications were properly performed.
All 6 of the required verifications were selected for testing. There were 2 of the 6 verified
applications that were calculated incorrectly resulting in improper eligibility status changes.
The lack of effective internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to 2022-2023.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
7 CFR 245.6a states in part:
". . . (f) Verification procedures and assistance for households . . .
(7) Eligibility changes. Based on the verification activities, the local educational agency
shall make appropriate modifications to the eligibility determinations made initially. The
local educational agency must notify the household of any change. Households must
be notified of any reduction in benefits in accordance with paragraph (j) of this section.
Households with reduced benefits or that are longer eligible for free or reduced price
meals must be notified of their right to reapply at any time with documentation of
income or participation in one of the eligible programs in paragraph (a)(1) of this
section. . . ."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 28
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not implemented by management of the School
Corporation, which would include segregation of key functions. Embedded within a properly designed and
implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures.
Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal
controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, verifications for free and reduced price applications were not appropriately
changed.
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure verifications for free and reduced price
applications are appropriately changed.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-009
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Internal Controls
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY23
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Eligibility
Audit Finding: Material Weakness
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-003.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 29
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Condition and Context
Any child enrolled in a participating school or summer camp, or attending a SFSP meal service
site, who meets the applicable program's definition of "child," may receive meals under the applicable
program. In the case of the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, children
belonging to households meeting nationwide income eligibility requirements may receive meals at no
charge or at reduced price. Children who have been determined ineligible for free or reduced-price school
meals pay the full price, set by the School Food Authority, for their meals. Children attending SFSP meal
service sites receive their meals at no charge. As a general rule, a child's eligibility for free or reducedprice
meals under a Child Nutrition Cluster program may be established by the submission of an annual
application or statement which furnishes such information as family income and family size. Local educational
agencies, institutions, and sponsors then determine eligibility by comparing the data reported by the
child's household to published income eligibility guidelines. Additionally, a child may be direct certified. For
a direct certification, annual eligibility determinations are based on the child's household receiving benefits
under SNAP, FDPIR, the Head Start Program (ALN 93.600), or, under most circumstances, the TANF
program (ALN 93.558). A household may furnish documentation of its participation in one of these
programs, or the school, institution, or sponsor may obtain the information directly from the State or local
agency that administers these programs. Certain foster, runaway, homeless, and migrant children are
categorically eligible for free school lunches and breakfasts. Direct certified households do not need to
complete an application.
For fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cafeteria Secretary was responsible for making the eligibility
determinations without an oversight or review process to ensure income verification, calculations, and
information entered in the software system was accurate and the eligibility status was correct. For
2022-2023, the School Corporation changed its process, and the Food Service Director started reviewing
the eligibility determinations made by the Cafeteria Secretary. However, there was not always documented
evidence of the review.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation,
which would include segregation of key functions. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented
internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect
the School Corporation's management of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures
should consist of actions that would implement these policies.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 30
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Effect
Without the proper design or implementation of the components of a system of internal controls,
including policies and procedures that provide segregation of duties and additional oversight as needed,
the internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation design and implement a proper
system of internal controls, including policies and procedures that would provide segregation of duties to
ensure appropriate reviews, approvals, and oversight are taking place.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-009
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Internal Controls
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY23
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Eligibility
Audit Finding: Material Weakness
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-003.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 29
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Condition and Context
Any child enrolled in a participating school or summer camp, or attending a SFSP meal service
site, who meets the applicable program's definition of "child," may receive meals under the applicable
program. In the case of the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, children
belonging to households meeting nationwide income eligibility requirements may receive meals at no
charge or at reduced price. Children who have been determined ineligible for free or reduced-price school
meals pay the full price, set by the School Food Authority, for their meals. Children attending SFSP meal
service sites receive their meals at no charge. As a general rule, a child's eligibility for free or reducedprice
meals under a Child Nutrition Cluster program may be established by the submission of an annual
application or statement which furnishes such information as family income and family size. Local educational
agencies, institutions, and sponsors then determine eligibility by comparing the data reported by the
child's household to published income eligibility guidelines. Additionally, a child may be direct certified. For
a direct certification, annual eligibility determinations are based on the child's household receiving benefits
under SNAP, FDPIR, the Head Start Program (ALN 93.600), or, under most circumstances, the TANF
program (ALN 93.558). A household may furnish documentation of its participation in one of these
programs, or the school, institution, or sponsor may obtain the information directly from the State or local
agency that administers these programs. Certain foster, runaway, homeless, and migrant children are
categorically eligible for free school lunches and breakfasts. Direct certified households do not need to
complete an application.
For fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cafeteria Secretary was responsible for making the eligibility
determinations without an oversight or review process to ensure income verification, calculations, and
information entered in the software system was accurate and the eligibility status was correct. For
2022-2023, the School Corporation changed its process, and the Food Service Director started reviewing
the eligibility determinations made by the Cafeteria Secretary. However, there was not always documented
evidence of the review.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation,
which would include segregation of key functions. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented
internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect
the School Corporation's management of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures
should consist of actions that would implement these policies.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 30
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Effect
Without the proper design or implementation of the components of a system of internal controls,
including policies and procedures that provide segregation of duties and additional oversight as needed,
the internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation design and implement a proper
system of internal controls, including policies and procedures that would provide segregation of duties to
ensure appropriate reviews, approvals, and oversight are taking place.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-003
Subject: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies - Eligibility
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies
Assistance Listings Number: 84.010
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S010A200014, S010A210014,
S010A220014
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Eligibility
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-006.
Condition and Context
Eligibility for Title I is determined on the Eligible School Summary of the Tile I application.
Enrollment and Poverty numbers are automatically pulled from the Indiana Department of Education's
(IDOE) Official Pupil Enrollment (PE) count for each school into the Eligible School Summary page of the
Tile I application. These counts that are pre-populated should be based on the School Corporation's
records as of October of the prior fiscal year. One person compiled and uploaded enrollment data, including
poverty status for Real Time reports, to the IDOE without a documented oversight or review process to
ensure that the information was accurate. In addition, there was no review by the School Corporation of
the enrollment and poverty counts that were pre-populated into the School Corporation's Title I grant
application.
The IDOE used the October 1 Real Time (RT) reports for fiscal years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022,
as provided by the School Corporation, to determine Title I Eligibility for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023
grant programs, respectively. The October 1 Real Time report could not be presented for audit for
2021-2022, which would have been used to pull in enrollment and poverty information for the 2022-2023
grant. As such, we were unable to verify the amounts reported in the grant application. Additionally, we
were unable to verify if the correct socioeconomic status was properly reported for any of the students.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. The lack of documentation
presented for audit was an issue for the 2022-2023 grant.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 18
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.334 states in part:
"Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity
records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date
of submission of the final expenditure report or, for Federal awards that are renewed quarterly
or annually, from the date of submission of the quarterly or annual financial report, respectively,
as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of a subrecipient.
. . ."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation,
which would include segregation of key functions. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented
internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect
the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and
procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, Real Time reports were not maintained for audit, and, as such, we could not
determine if the School Corporation complied with the Eligibility compliance requirement.
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure Real Time reports are maintained for audit.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-003
Subject: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies - Eligibility
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies
Assistance Listings Number: 84.010
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S010A200014, S010A210014,
S010A220014
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Eligibility
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-006.
Condition and Context
Eligibility for Title I is determined on the Eligible School Summary of the Tile I application.
Enrollment and Poverty numbers are automatically pulled from the Indiana Department of Education's
(IDOE) Official Pupil Enrollment (PE) count for each school into the Eligible School Summary page of the
Tile I application. These counts that are pre-populated should be based on the School Corporation's
records as of October of the prior fiscal year. One person compiled and uploaded enrollment data, including
poverty status for Real Time reports, to the IDOE without a documented oversight or review process to
ensure that the information was accurate. In addition, there was no review by the School Corporation of
the enrollment and poverty counts that were pre-populated into the School Corporation's Title I grant
application.
The IDOE used the October 1 Real Time (RT) reports for fiscal years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022,
as provided by the School Corporation, to determine Title I Eligibility for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023
grant programs, respectively. The October 1 Real Time report could not be presented for audit for
2021-2022, which would have been used to pull in enrollment and poverty information for the 2022-2023
grant. As such, we were unable to verify the amounts reported in the grant application. Additionally, we
were unable to verify if the correct socioeconomic status was properly reported for any of the students.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. The lack of documentation
presented for audit was an issue for the 2022-2023 grant.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 18
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.334 states in part:
"Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity
records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date
of submission of the final expenditure report or, for Federal awards that are renewed quarterly
or annually, from the date of submission of the quarterly or annual financial report, respectively,
as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of a subrecipient.
. . ."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation,
which would include segregation of key functions. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented
internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect
the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and
procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, Real Time reports were not maintained for audit, and, as such, we could not
determine if the School Corporation complied with the Eligibility compliance requirement.
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure Real Time reports are maintained for audit.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-004
Subject: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies - Internal Controls
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies
Assistance Listings Number: 84.010
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S010A200014, S010A210014,
S010A220014
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions - Assessment System Security
Audit Finding: Material Weakness
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-006.
Condition and Context
State educational agencies (SEA), in consultation with local educational agencies (LEA), are
required to establish and maintain an assessment security system that is valid, reliable, and consistent with
relevant professional and technical standards. Within their assessment system, SEAs must have policies
and procedures to maintain test security measures and ensure that LEAs implement those policies and
procedures. As such the Indiana Department of Education created and published the Indiana Assessments
Policy Manual.
As a part of the assessment security, any individual who administers, handles, or has access to
secure test materials at the school or school corporation shall complete assessment training and sign a
testing security and integrity statement that remains on file in the appropriate building-level office each year.
Each individual required to sign the testing integrity agreement shall sign the form by an established date.
The School Corporation had a process to provide assessment system security training and to
ensure each employee that attended training signed the agreement indicating training was received.
However, there was no documentation of a review process to confirm that all appropriate staff completed
assessment system security training as required.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 20
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation,
which would include segregation of key functions. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented
internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect
the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and
procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper design or implementation of the components of a system of internal controls,
including policies and procedures that provide segregation of duties and additional oversight as needed,
the internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure documentation of internal controls is
maintained for audit.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-004
Subject: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies - Internal Controls
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies
Assistance Listings Number: 84.010
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S010A200014, S010A210014,
S010A220014
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions - Assessment System Security
Audit Finding: Material Weakness
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-006.
Condition and Context
State educational agencies (SEA), in consultation with local educational agencies (LEA), are
required to establish and maintain an assessment security system that is valid, reliable, and consistent with
relevant professional and technical standards. Within their assessment system, SEAs must have policies
and procedures to maintain test security measures and ensure that LEAs implement those policies and
procedures. As such the Indiana Department of Education created and published the Indiana Assessments
Policy Manual.
As a part of the assessment security, any individual who administers, handles, or has access to
secure test materials at the school or school corporation shall complete assessment training and sign a
testing security and integrity statement that remains on file in the appropriate building-level office each year.
Each individual required to sign the testing integrity agreement shall sign the form by an established date.
The School Corporation had a process to provide assessment system security training and to
ensure each employee that attended training signed the agreement indicating training was received.
However, there was no documentation of a review process to confirm that all appropriate staff completed
assessment system security training as required.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 20
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation,
which would include segregation of key functions. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented
internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect
the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and
procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper design or implementation of the components of a system of internal controls,
including policies and procedures that provide segregation of duties and additional oversight as needed,
the internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure documentation of internal controls is
maintained for audit.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-005
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027A, 84.027X
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 19611-117-PN01, 20611-117-PN01,
21611-117-PN01, 22611-117-ARP
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion
Condition and Context
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with program funds, recipients are
required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise
excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods and services awarded
under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000.
The verification is to be done by checking the SAMs exclusion, collecting a certification from that person,
or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 21
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Upon inquiry of the School Corporation in order to review the procedures in place for verifying that
a person with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not suspended, debarred, or otherwise
excluded, the School Corporation disclosed there were not sufficient procedures in place. Three covered
transactions, totaling $241,059, that equaled or exceeded $25,000 were identified. All three transactions
were selected for testing. For the three transactions, the School Corporation did not verify the vendor's
suspension and debarment status prior to payment.
The lack of effective internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the
audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 180.300 states:
"When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must
verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You
do this by:
(a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or
(b) Collecting a certification from that person; or
(c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls
consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements
of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would
implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, vendors to whom payments equal to or in excess of $25,000 were not verified
to be not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded.
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
22
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are
not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-005
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027A, 84.027X
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 19611-117-PN01, 20611-117-PN01,
21611-117-PN01, 22611-117-ARP
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion
Condition and Context
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with program funds, recipients are
required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise
excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods and services awarded
under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000.
The verification is to be done by checking the SAMs exclusion, collecting a certification from that person,
or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 21
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Upon inquiry of the School Corporation in order to review the procedures in place for verifying that
a person with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not suspended, debarred, or otherwise
excluded, the School Corporation disclosed there were not sufficient procedures in place. Three covered
transactions, totaling $241,059, that equaled or exceeded $25,000 were identified. All three transactions
were selected for testing. For the three transactions, the School Corporation did not verify the vendor's
suspension and debarment status prior to payment.
The lack of effective internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the
audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 180.300 states:
"When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must
verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You
do this by:
(a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or
(b) Collecting a certification from that person; or
(c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls
consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements
of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would
implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, vendors to whom payments equal to or in excess of $25,000 were not verified
to be not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded.
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
22
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are
not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-005
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027A, 84.027X
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 19611-117-PN01, 20611-117-PN01,
21611-117-PN01, 22611-117-ARP
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion
Condition and Context
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with program funds, recipients are
required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise
excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods and services awarded
under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000.
The verification is to be done by checking the SAMs exclusion, collecting a certification from that person,
or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 21
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Upon inquiry of the School Corporation in order to review the procedures in place for verifying that
a person with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not suspended, debarred, or otherwise
excluded, the School Corporation disclosed there were not sufficient procedures in place. Three covered
transactions, totaling $241,059, that equaled or exceeded $25,000 were identified. All three transactions
were selected for testing. For the three transactions, the School Corporation did not verify the vendor's
suspension and debarment status prior to payment.
The lack of effective internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the
audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 180.300 states:
"When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must
verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You
do this by:
(a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or
(b) Collecting a certification from that person; or
(c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls
consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements
of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would
implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, vendors to whom payments equal to or in excess of $25,000 were not verified
to be not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded.
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
22
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are
not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-006
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Number: 84.425U
Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Reporting
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
The School Corporation was required to submit an annual data report to the Indiana Department
of Education (IDOE) via JotForm, a form/report builder. Data to be submitted included, but was not limited
to, current period expenditures, prior period expenditures, and expenditures per activity.
During the audit period, the School Corporation submitted two ESSER I reports, two ESSER II
reports, and two ESSER III reports, for a total of six reports. After the annual data reports were prepared,
they were reviewed by a second knowledgeable individual; however, this process did not allow for the
prevention, or detection and correction, of errors prior to submission.
Due to the lack of effective internal controls, two of the six annual data reports were not supported
by the School Corporation's records. The issues identified are noted below:
1. For the ESSER III, Year 1 report, which covered the period of July 1, 2020 to June 30,
2021, total expenses, per the report, were $2,187,386; however, the School Corporation's
ledger had total expenses for the award, for that time period, of $0.
2. For the ESSER III, Year 2 report, which covered the period of July 1, 2021 to June 30,
2022, total expenses, per the report, were $0; however, the School Corporation's ledger
had total expenses for the award, for that time period, of $438,684.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the ESSER III, Year 1 and Year
2 reports.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
23
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part:
"The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following
. . .
(2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal
award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §§ 200.328
and 200.329. . . ."
34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format
that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other
responsibilities under the program."
34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with
program requirements."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls
consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements
of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would
implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the ESSER III, Year 1 and Year 2 reports were not supported by the School
Corporation's records.
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 24
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure that all reports are supported by the ledgers
or report used to complete the reports.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-006
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Number: 84.425U
Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Reporting
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
The School Corporation was required to submit an annual data report to the Indiana Department
of Education (IDOE) via JotForm, a form/report builder. Data to be submitted included, but was not limited
to, current period expenditures, prior period expenditures, and expenditures per activity.
During the audit period, the School Corporation submitted two ESSER I reports, two ESSER II
reports, and two ESSER III reports, for a total of six reports. After the annual data reports were prepared,
they were reviewed by a second knowledgeable individual; however, this process did not allow for the
prevention, or detection and correction, of errors prior to submission.
Due to the lack of effective internal controls, two of the six annual data reports were not supported
by the School Corporation's records. The issues identified are noted below:
1. For the ESSER III, Year 1 report, which covered the period of July 1, 2020 to June 30,
2021, total expenses, per the report, were $2,187,386; however, the School Corporation's
ledger had total expenses for the award, for that time period, of $0.
2. For the ESSER III, Year 2 report, which covered the period of July 1, 2021 to June 30,
2022, total expenses, per the report, were $0; however, the School Corporation's ledger
had total expenses for the award, for that time period, of $438,684.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the ESSER III, Year 1 and Year
2 reports.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
23
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part:
"The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following
. . .
(2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal
award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §§ 200.328
and 200.329. . . ."
34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format
that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other
responsibilities under the program."
34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with
program requirements."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls
consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements
of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would
implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the ESSER III, Year 1 and Year 2 reports were not supported by the School
Corporation's records.
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 24
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure that all reports are supported by the ledgers
or report used to complete the reports.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-007
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Special Milk
Program for Children, Summer Food Service Program for Children
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555, 10.556, 10.559
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22, FY23
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-004.
Condition and Context
Procurement
The School Corporation was to submit a new procurement plan for fiscal year 2022-2023 to
the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). The School Corporation did not complete or
submit the 2022-2023 Procurement Plan as required. Per inquiry of the Food Service Director,
the plan was not submitted as the School Corporation was unaware that it was required.
Suspension and Debarment
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with program funds, recipients are
required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or
otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods
and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are
expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking the SAMs
exclusion, collecting a certification from that person, or adding a clause or condition to the
covered transaction with that person.
Upon inquiry of the School Corporation in order to review the procedures in place for verifying
that a person with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not suspended, debarred,
or otherwise excluded, the School Corporation disclosed there were not sufficient procedures
in place. Six covered transactions, totaling $403,734, that equaled or exceeded $25,000 were
identified. All six transactions were selected for testing. For four of the six covered
transactions, totaling $171,379, the School Corporation did not verify the vendor's suspension
and debarment status prior to payment.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 25
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.318(a) states:
"The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent
with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section, for the
acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The non-
Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement
standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327."
2 CFR 180.300 states:
"When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must
verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You do
this by:
(a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or
(b) Collecting a certification from that person; or
(c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls
consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements
of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would
implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, vendors to whom payments equal to or in excess of $25,000 were not verified
to be not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. In addition, the 2022-2023 procurement plan was
not submitted to the IDOE as required.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
26
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are
not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards and that
the procurement pan is submitted to the IDOE.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-007
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Special Milk
Program for Children, Summer Food Service Program for Children
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555, 10.556, 10.559
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22, FY23
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-004.
Condition and Context
Procurement
The School Corporation was to submit a new procurement plan for fiscal year 2022-2023 to
the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). The School Corporation did not complete or
submit the 2022-2023 Procurement Plan as required. Per inquiry of the Food Service Director,
the plan was not submitted as the School Corporation was unaware that it was required.
Suspension and Debarment
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with program funds, recipients are
required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or
otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods
and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are
expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking the SAMs
exclusion, collecting a certification from that person, or adding a clause or condition to the
covered transaction with that person.
Upon inquiry of the School Corporation in order to review the procedures in place for verifying
that a person with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not suspended, debarred,
or otherwise excluded, the School Corporation disclosed there were not sufficient procedures
in place. Six covered transactions, totaling $403,734, that equaled or exceeded $25,000 were
identified. All six transactions were selected for testing. For four of the six covered
transactions, totaling $171,379, the School Corporation did not verify the vendor's suspension
and debarment status prior to payment.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 25
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.318(a) states:
"The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent
with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section, for the
acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The non-
Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement
standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327."
2 CFR 180.300 states:
"When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must
verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You do
this by:
(a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or
(b) Collecting a certification from that person; or
(c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls
consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements
of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would
implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, vendors to whom payments equal to or in excess of $25,000 were not verified
to be not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. In addition, the 2022-2023 procurement plan was
not submitted to the IDOE as required.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
26
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are
not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards and that
the procurement pan is submitted to the IDOE.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-007
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Special Milk
Program for Children, Summer Food Service Program for Children
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555, 10.556, 10.559
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22, FY23
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-004.
Condition and Context
Procurement
The School Corporation was to submit a new procurement plan for fiscal year 2022-2023 to
the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). The School Corporation did not complete or
submit the 2022-2023 Procurement Plan as required. Per inquiry of the Food Service Director,
the plan was not submitted as the School Corporation was unaware that it was required.
Suspension and Debarment
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with program funds, recipients are
required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or
otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods
and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are
expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking the SAMs
exclusion, collecting a certification from that person, or adding a clause or condition to the
covered transaction with that person.
Upon inquiry of the School Corporation in order to review the procedures in place for verifying
that a person with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not suspended, debarred,
or otherwise excluded, the School Corporation disclosed there were not sufficient procedures
in place. Six covered transactions, totaling $403,734, that equaled or exceeded $25,000 were
identified. All six transactions were selected for testing. For four of the six covered
transactions, totaling $171,379, the School Corporation did not verify the vendor's suspension
and debarment status prior to payment.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 25
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.318(a) states:
"The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent
with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section, for the
acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The non-
Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement
standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327."
2 CFR 180.300 states:
"When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must
verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You do
this by:
(a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or
(b) Collecting a certification from that person; or
(c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls
consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements
of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would
implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, vendors to whom payments equal to or in excess of $25,000 were not verified
to be not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. In addition, the 2022-2023 procurement plan was
not submitted to the IDOE as required.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
26
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are
not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards and that
the procurement pan is submitted to the IDOE.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-007
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Special Milk
Program for Children, Summer Food Service Program for Children
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555, 10.556, 10.559
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22, FY23
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-004.
Condition and Context
Procurement
The School Corporation was to submit a new procurement plan for fiscal year 2022-2023 to
the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). The School Corporation did not complete or
submit the 2022-2023 Procurement Plan as required. Per inquiry of the Food Service Director,
the plan was not submitted as the School Corporation was unaware that it was required.
Suspension and Debarment
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with program funds, recipients are
required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or
otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods
and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are
expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking the SAMs
exclusion, collecting a certification from that person, or adding a clause or condition to the
covered transaction with that person.
Upon inquiry of the School Corporation in order to review the procedures in place for verifying
that a person with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not suspended, debarred,
or otherwise excluded, the School Corporation disclosed there were not sufficient procedures
in place. Six covered transactions, totaling $403,734, that equaled or exceeded $25,000 were
identified. All six transactions were selected for testing. For four of the six covered
transactions, totaling $171,379, the School Corporation did not verify the vendor's suspension
and debarment status prior to payment.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 25
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.318(a) states:
"The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent
with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section, for the
acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The non-
Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement
standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327."
2 CFR 180.300 states:
"When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must
verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You do
this by:
(a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or
(b) Collecting a certification from that person; or
(c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls
consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements
of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would
implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, vendors to whom payments equal to or in excess of $25,000 were not verified
to be not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. In addition, the 2022-2023 procurement plan was
not submitted to the IDOE as required.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
26
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are
not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards and that
the procurement pan is submitted to the IDOE.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-007
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Special Milk
Program for Children, Summer Food Service Program for Children
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555, 10.556, 10.559
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22, FY23
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-004.
Condition and Context
Procurement
The School Corporation was to submit a new procurement plan for fiscal year 2022-2023 to
the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). The School Corporation did not complete or
submit the 2022-2023 Procurement Plan as required. Per inquiry of the Food Service Director,
the plan was not submitted as the School Corporation was unaware that it was required.
Suspension and Debarment
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with program funds, recipients are
required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or
otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods
and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are
expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking the SAMs
exclusion, collecting a certification from that person, or adding a clause or condition to the
covered transaction with that person.
Upon inquiry of the School Corporation in order to review the procedures in place for verifying
that a person with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not suspended, debarred,
or otherwise excluded, the School Corporation disclosed there were not sufficient procedures
in place. Six covered transactions, totaling $403,734, that equaled or exceeded $25,000 were
identified. All six transactions were selected for testing. For four of the six covered
transactions, totaling $171,379, the School Corporation did not verify the vendor's suspension
and debarment status prior to payment.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 25
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.318(a) states:
"The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent
with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section, for the
acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The non-
Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement
standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327."
2 CFR 180.300 states:
"When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must
verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You do
this by:
(a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or
(b) Collecting a certification from that person; or
(c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls
consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements
of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would
implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, vendors to whom payments equal to or in excess of $25,000 were not verified
to be not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. In addition, the 2022-2023 procurement plan was
not submitted to the IDOE as required.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
26
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are
not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards and that
the procurement pan is submitted to the IDOE.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-007
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Special Milk
Program for Children, Summer Food Service Program for Children
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555, 10.556, 10.559
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22, FY23
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-004.
Condition and Context
Procurement
The School Corporation was to submit a new procurement plan for fiscal year 2022-2023 to
the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). The School Corporation did not complete or
submit the 2022-2023 Procurement Plan as required. Per inquiry of the Food Service Director,
the plan was not submitted as the School Corporation was unaware that it was required.
Suspension and Debarment
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with program funds, recipients are
required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or
otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods
and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are
expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking the SAMs
exclusion, collecting a certification from that person, or adding a clause or condition to the
covered transaction with that person.
Upon inquiry of the School Corporation in order to review the procedures in place for verifying
that a person with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not suspended, debarred,
or otherwise excluded, the School Corporation disclosed there were not sufficient procedures
in place. Six covered transactions, totaling $403,734, that equaled or exceeded $25,000 were
identified. All six transactions were selected for testing. For four of the six covered
transactions, totaling $171,379, the School Corporation did not verify the vendor's suspension
and debarment status prior to payment.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 25
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.318(a) states:
"The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent
with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section, for the
acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The non-
Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement
standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327."
2 CFR 180.300 states:
"When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must
verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You do
this by:
(a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or
(b) Collecting a certification from that person; or
(c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls
consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements
of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would
implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, vendors to whom payments equal to or in excess of $25,000 were not verified
to be not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. In addition, the 2022-2023 procurement plan was
not submitted to the IDOE as required.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
26
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are
not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards and that
the procurement pan is submitted to the IDOE.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-007
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Special Milk
Program for Children, Summer Food Service Program for Children
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555, 10.556, 10.559
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY22, FY23
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-004.
Condition and Context
Procurement
The School Corporation was to submit a new procurement plan for fiscal year 2022-2023 to
the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). The School Corporation did not complete or
submit the 2022-2023 Procurement Plan as required. Per inquiry of the Food Service Director,
the plan was not submitted as the School Corporation was unaware that it was required.
Suspension and Debarment
Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with program funds, recipients are
required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or
otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods
and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are
expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking the SAMs
exclusion, collecting a certification from that person, or adding a clause or condition to the
covered transaction with that person.
Upon inquiry of the School Corporation in order to review the procedures in place for verifying
that a person with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not suspended, debarred,
or otherwise excluded, the School Corporation disclosed there were not sufficient procedures
in place. Six covered transactions, totaling $403,734, that equaled or exceeded $25,000 were
identified. All six transactions were selected for testing. For four of the six covered
transactions, totaling $171,379, the School Corporation did not verify the vendor's suspension
and debarment status prior to payment.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 25
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.318(a) states:
"The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent
with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section, for the
acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The non-
Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement
standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327."
2 CFR 180.300 states:
"When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must
verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You do
this by:
(a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or
(b) Collecting a certification from that person; or
(c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation.
Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls
consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements
of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would
implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, vendors to whom payments equal to or in excess of $25,000 were not verified
to be not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. In addition, the 2022-2023 procurement plan was
not submitted to the IDOE as required.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
26
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are
not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards and that
the procurement pan is submitted to the IDOE.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-008
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Special Tests and Provisions - Verification
of Free and Reduced Price Applications (NSLP)
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Program: National School Lunch Program
Assistance Listings Number: 10.555
Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): FY23
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions - Verification of Free
and Reduced Price Applications (NSLP)
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-003.
Condition and Context
By November 15 of each school year, the local educational agencies (LEA) must verify the current
free and reduced price eligibility of households selected from a sample of applications that it has approved
for free and reduced price meals, unless the LEA is otherwise exempt from the verification requirement.
The verification sample size is based on the total number of approved applications on file on October 1.
As instructed, the LEAs must select a sample of applications to be verified utilizing one of the
following methods:
a. Standard sample size - The lesser of three percent or 3,000 of the approved applications
on file as of October 1, selected from error-prone applications. For this purpose, error prone
applications are those showing household incomes within $100 monthly or $1,200 annually of
the income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced price meals.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 27
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
b. Alternative sample sizes - 1) The lesser of 3 percent or 3,000 applications selected at
random from approved applications on file as of October 1 of the school year, or (2) The sum
of (a) the lesser of 1 percent of all applications identified as error-prone or 1,000 error-prone
applications, and (b) the lesser of 1/2 of 1 percent of, or 500, approved applications in which
the household provided, in lieu of income information, a case number showing participation in
the SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR.
In accordance with the above guidance, the School Corporation selected a sample of verifications
based on the alternative sample size. As such, the School Corporation was required to review the lesser
of 3 percent or 3,000 applications selected at random from approved applications on file as of October 1 of
the 2022-2023 school year. On October 1, the School Corporation had 180 applications on file and
determined that 6 applications were required to be verified.
Although one employee was responsible for performing the required verification of the 6 free and
reduced-price applications and another employee reviewed the applications, the internal control was not
effective and did not prevent, or detect and correct, errors. There was no documentation of an oversight,
review, or approval process to ensure that the verifications were properly performed.
All 6 of the required verifications were selected for testing. There were 2 of the 6 verified
applications that were calculated incorrectly resulting in improper eligibility status changes.
The lack of effective internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to 2022-2023.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
7 CFR 245.6a states in part:
". . . (f) Verification procedures and assistance for households . . .
(7) Eligibility changes. Based on the verification activities, the local educational agency
shall make appropriate modifications to the eligibility determinations made initially. The
local educational agency must notify the household of any change. Households must
be notified of any reduction in benefits in accordance with paragraph (j) of this section.
Households with reduced benefits or that are longer eligible for free or reduced price
meals must be notified of their right to reapply at any time with documentation of
income or participation in one of the eligible programs in paragraph (a)(1) of this
section. . . ."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 28
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not implemented by management of the School
Corporation, which would include segregation of key functions. Embedded within a properly designed and
implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures.
Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal
controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, verifications for free and reduced price applications were not appropriately
changed.
Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of
the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure verifications for free and reduced price
applications are appropriately changed.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-009
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Internal Controls
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY23
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Eligibility
Audit Finding: Material Weakness
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-003.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 29
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Condition and Context
Any child enrolled in a participating school or summer camp, or attending a SFSP meal service
site, who meets the applicable program's definition of "child," may receive meals under the applicable
program. In the case of the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, children
belonging to households meeting nationwide income eligibility requirements may receive meals at no
charge or at reduced price. Children who have been determined ineligible for free or reduced-price school
meals pay the full price, set by the School Food Authority, for their meals. Children attending SFSP meal
service sites receive their meals at no charge. As a general rule, a child's eligibility for free or reducedprice
meals under a Child Nutrition Cluster program may be established by the submission of an annual
application or statement which furnishes such information as family income and family size. Local educational
agencies, institutions, and sponsors then determine eligibility by comparing the data reported by the
child's household to published income eligibility guidelines. Additionally, a child may be direct certified. For
a direct certification, annual eligibility determinations are based on the child's household receiving benefits
under SNAP, FDPIR, the Head Start Program (ALN 93.600), or, under most circumstances, the TANF
program (ALN 93.558). A household may furnish documentation of its participation in one of these
programs, or the school, institution, or sponsor may obtain the information directly from the State or local
agency that administers these programs. Certain foster, runaway, homeless, and migrant children are
categorically eligible for free school lunches and breakfasts. Direct certified households do not need to
complete an application.
For fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cafeteria Secretary was responsible for making the eligibility
determinations without an oversight or review process to ensure income verification, calculations, and
information entered in the software system was accurate and the eligibility status was correct. For
2022-2023, the School Corporation changed its process, and the Food Service Director started reviewing
the eligibility determinations made by the Cafeteria Secretary. However, there was not always documented
evidence of the review.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation,
which would include segregation of key functions. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented
internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect
the School Corporation's management of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures
should consist of actions that would implement these policies.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 30
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Effect
Without the proper design or implementation of the components of a system of internal controls,
including policies and procedures that provide segregation of duties and additional oversight as needed,
the internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation design and implement a proper
system of internal controls, including policies and procedures that would provide segregation of duties to
ensure appropriate reviews, approvals, and oversight are taking place.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-009
Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Internal Controls
Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture
Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program
Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY23
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Eligibility
Audit Finding: Material Weakness
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-003.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 29
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Condition and Context
Any child enrolled in a participating school or summer camp, or attending a SFSP meal service
site, who meets the applicable program's definition of "child," may receive meals under the applicable
program. In the case of the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, children
belonging to households meeting nationwide income eligibility requirements may receive meals at no
charge or at reduced price. Children who have been determined ineligible for free or reduced-price school
meals pay the full price, set by the School Food Authority, for their meals. Children attending SFSP meal
service sites receive their meals at no charge. As a general rule, a child's eligibility for free or reducedprice
meals under a Child Nutrition Cluster program may be established by the submission of an annual
application or statement which furnishes such information as family income and family size. Local educational
agencies, institutions, and sponsors then determine eligibility by comparing the data reported by the
child's household to published income eligibility guidelines. Additionally, a child may be direct certified. For
a direct certification, annual eligibility determinations are based on the child's household receiving benefits
under SNAP, FDPIR, the Head Start Program (ALN 93.600), or, under most circumstances, the TANF
program (ALN 93.558). A household may furnish documentation of its participation in one of these
programs, or the school, institution, or sponsor may obtain the information directly from the State or local
agency that administers these programs. Certain foster, runaway, homeless, and migrant children are
categorically eligible for free school lunches and breakfasts. Direct certified households do not need to
complete an application.
For fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cafeteria Secretary was responsible for making the eligibility
determinations without an oversight or review process to ensure income verification, calculations, and
information entered in the software system was accurate and the eligibility status was correct. For
2022-2023, the School Corporation changed its process, and the Food Service Director started reviewing
the eligibility determinations made by the Cafeteria Secretary. However, there was not always documented
evidence of the review.
The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
Cause
A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation,
which would include segregation of key functions. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented
internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect
the School Corporation's management of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures
should consist of actions that would implement these policies.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 30
RUSH COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Effect
Without the proper design or implementation of the components of a system of internal controls,
including policies and procedures that provide segregation of duties and additional oversight as needed,
the internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation design and implement a proper
system of internal controls, including policies and procedures that would provide segregation of duties to
ensure appropriate reviews, approvals, and oversight are taking place.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.