FINDING 2023-001
Subject: Emergency Connectivity Fund Program - Allowable Costs/Cost
Principles, Special Tests and Provisions - Restricted Purpose
Federal Agency: Federal Communications Commission
Federal Program: Emergency Connectivity Fund Program
Assistance Listings Number: 32.009
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY 2022, FY 2023
Compliance Requirements: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles, Special Tests
and Provisions - Restricted Purpose
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion
Condition and Context
The Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) Program established by the American Rescue Plan Act
of 2021 was for the purchase of eligible equipment, advanced communications, and information services
for use by students, school staff, and library patrons at locations that include locations other than at a school
or library. The ECF Program provides funding to meet the remote learning needs of students, school staff,
and library patrons who would otherwise lack access to connected devices and broadband connections
sufficient to engage in remote learning during the COVID-19 emergency period.
To ensure that funding is focused on unmet need, the grantor agency required schools to certify,
as part of their funding application, that they are only seeking support for eligible equipment and/or
broadband connectivity to provide to students and school staff who would otherwise lack access to
connected devices and/or broadband connectivity sufficient to engage in remote learning. The unmet need
at the time of the funding application can be based on an estimate. However, when the school corporation
files the request for reimbursement, only equipment and services provided to students or school staff who
would otherwise lack broadband services and/or devices sufficient to engage in remote learning should be
requested.
The School Corporation made four reimbursement requests during the audit period. All four reimbursement
requests were selected for testing to verify the expenditures were in conformance with the applicable
cost principles. Of the four reimbursement requests tested, issues were identified with three of the
reimbursement requests. The issues identified were as follows:
For two reimbursement requests, the amount requested, in total, exceeded the
expenditures posted to the grant fund. The total amount requested for reimbursement was
$616,800; however, total expenditures in the fund were $615,400. As such, the amount
requested and received exceeded the amount spent out of the grant fund by $1,400. The
School Corporation did not perform a reconciliation, which would have identified the error
and allowed them to move the associated expenses to the grant fund, nor did the School
Corporation return the additional funds to the grantor agency. At the end of the audit
period, the $1,400 was included in the fund's overall ending cash balance.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
18
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
For one reimbursement request, although an invoice was submitted as evidence of
expenditures, the funding received from the grantor agency was not used to pay the
invoice. Instead, the School Corporation paid for that invoice using a lease and opted
instead to use the funding received over the course of the next five years to cover
maintenance and service costs for school technology. This information was not disclosed
with the initial reimbursement request nor has a substitution request been sent to the
awarding agency. The amount received from the grantor agency and not paid to the
vendor, $500,000, will be considered questioned costs. At the end of the audit period, this
money had not been expended, and was included in the fund's overall ending cash
balance.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the two reimbursements noted
above.
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 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be
allocable thereto under these principles.
(b) Conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in these principles or in the Federal
award as to types or amount of cost items. . . .
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
47 CFR 54.1710(a)(1) states in part:
"The FCC Form 471 shall be signed by a person authorized to order eligible services for the
eligible school, library, or consortium and shall include that person's certification under penalty
of perjury that: . . .
(vii) The school or school consortium listed on the FCC Form 471 application is only
seeking support for eligible equipment and/or services provided to students and school
staff who would otherwise lack connected devices and/or broadband services sufficient to
engage in remote learning. . . ."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
19
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
47 CFR 54.1710(b) states in part:
"(1) A request by an applicant to substitute equipment or service for one identified on its FCC
Form 471 must be in writing.
(2) The Administrator shall approve such written request where:
(i) The equipment or service has the same functionality; and
(ii) This substitution does not violate any contract provisions or state, local, or Tribal
procurement laws. . . . "
47 CFR 54.1711(a)(1) states in part:
"The FCC Form 472 shall be signed by a person authorized to order eligible services for the
eligible school, library, or consortium and shall include that person's certification under penalty
of perjury that: . . .
(iv) The funds sought in the request for reimbursement are for eligible equipment and/or
services that were purchased or ordered in accordance with the Emergency Connectivity
Fund Program rules and requirements in this subpart and received by either the school,
library, or consortium, or the students, school staff, or library patrons as appropriate.
(v) The portion of the costs eligible for reimbursement and not already paid for by another
source was either paid for in full by the school, library, consortium, or will be paid to the
service provider within 30 days of receipt of funds. . . ."
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, reimbursements in excess of expenditures were received and retained by the
School Corporation. In addition, reimbursements received were not used to pay the invoices for which the
reimbursement was sought.
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
Known questioned costs of $500,000 were identified as detailed in the Condition and Context.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
20
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure reimbursement requests are used to pay the
invoices used to support the request and that only the amount spent is requested for reimbursement.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-001
Subject: Emergency Connectivity Fund Program - Allowable Costs/Cost
Principles, Special Tests and Provisions - Restricted Purpose
Federal Agency: Federal Communications Commission
Federal Program: Emergency Connectivity Fund Program
Assistance Listings Number: 32.009
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY 2022, FY 2023
Compliance Requirements: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles, Special Tests
and Provisions - Restricted Purpose
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion
Condition and Context
The Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) Program established by the American Rescue Plan Act
of 2021 was for the purchase of eligible equipment, advanced communications, and information services
for use by students, school staff, and library patrons at locations that include locations other than at a school
or library. The ECF Program provides funding to meet the remote learning needs of students, school staff,
and library patrons who would otherwise lack access to connected devices and broadband connections
sufficient to engage in remote learning during the COVID-19 emergency period.
To ensure that funding is focused on unmet need, the grantor agency required schools to certify,
as part of their funding application, that they are only seeking support for eligible equipment and/or
broadband connectivity to provide to students and school staff who would otherwise lack access to
connected devices and/or broadband connectivity sufficient to engage in remote learning. The unmet need
at the time of the funding application can be based on an estimate. However, when the school corporation
files the request for reimbursement, only equipment and services provided to students or school staff who
would otherwise lack broadband services and/or devices sufficient to engage in remote learning should be
requested.
The School Corporation made four reimbursement requests during the audit period. All four reimbursement
requests were selected for testing to verify the expenditures were in conformance with the applicable
cost principles. Of the four reimbursement requests tested, issues were identified with three of the
reimbursement requests. The issues identified were as follows:
For two reimbursement requests, the amount requested, in total, exceeded the
expenditures posted to the grant fund. The total amount requested for reimbursement was
$616,800; however, total expenditures in the fund were $615,400. As such, the amount
requested and received exceeded the amount spent out of the grant fund by $1,400. The
School Corporation did not perform a reconciliation, which would have identified the error
and allowed them to move the associated expenses to the grant fund, nor did the School
Corporation return the additional funds to the grantor agency. At the end of the audit
period, the $1,400 was included in the fund's overall ending cash balance.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
18
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
For one reimbursement request, although an invoice was submitted as evidence of
expenditures, the funding received from the grantor agency was not used to pay the
invoice. Instead, the School Corporation paid for that invoice using a lease and opted
instead to use the funding received over the course of the next five years to cover
maintenance and service costs for school technology. This information was not disclosed
with the initial reimbursement request nor has a substitution request been sent to the
awarding agency. The amount received from the grantor agency and not paid to the
vendor, $500,000, will be considered questioned costs. At the end of the audit period, this
money had not been expended, and was included in the fund's overall ending cash
balance.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the two reimbursements noted
above.
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 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be
allocable thereto under these principles.
(b) Conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in these principles or in the Federal
award as to types or amount of cost items. . . .
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
47 CFR 54.1710(a)(1) states in part:
"The FCC Form 471 shall be signed by a person authorized to order eligible services for the
eligible school, library, or consortium and shall include that person's certification under penalty
of perjury that: . . .
(vii) The school or school consortium listed on the FCC Form 471 application is only
seeking support for eligible equipment and/or services provided to students and school
staff who would otherwise lack connected devices and/or broadband services sufficient to
engage in remote learning. . . ."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
19
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
47 CFR 54.1710(b) states in part:
"(1) A request by an applicant to substitute equipment or service for one identified on its FCC
Form 471 must be in writing.
(2) The Administrator shall approve such written request where:
(i) The equipment or service has the same functionality; and
(ii) This substitution does not violate any contract provisions or state, local, or Tribal
procurement laws. . . . "
47 CFR 54.1711(a)(1) states in part:
"The FCC Form 472 shall be signed by a person authorized to order eligible services for the
eligible school, library, or consortium and shall include that person's certification under penalty
of perjury that: . . .
(iv) The funds sought in the request for reimbursement are for eligible equipment and/or
services that were purchased or ordered in accordance with the Emergency Connectivity
Fund Program rules and requirements in this subpart and received by either the school,
library, or consortium, or the students, school staff, or library patrons as appropriate.
(v) The portion of the costs eligible for reimbursement and not already paid for by another
source was either paid for in full by the school, library, consortium, or will be paid to the
service provider within 30 days of receipt of funds. . . ."
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, reimbursements in excess of expenditures were received and retained by the
School Corporation. In addition, reimbursements received were not used to pay the invoices for which the
reimbursement was sought.
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
Known questioned costs of $500,000 were identified as detailed in the Condition and Context.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
20
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure reimbursement requests are used to pay the
invoices used to support the request and that only the amount spent is requested for reimbursement.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-002
Subject: Emergency Connectivity Fund Program - Equipment and Real Property Management
Federal Agency: Federal Communications Commission
Federal Program: Emergency Connectivity Fund Program
Assistance Listings Number: 32.009
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY 2022, FY 2023
Compliance Requirement: Equipment and Real Property Management
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) Program participants are required to maintain an asset inventory
of the devices purchased with ECF Program support.
For each connected device not provided to an individual student or school staff member, but used
to provide service to multiple eligible users, the asset inventory must identify:
1. The device or equipment type (i.e., laptop, tablet, mobile hotspot, modem, router);
2. The device or equipment make/model;
3. The device or equipment serial number;
4. The name of the school employee responsible for that the device or equipment; and
5 The dates the device or equipment was in service.
The School Corporation had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to
ensure that the devices acquired with ECF program funds were properly supported by inventory records.
A sample of 21 devices were selected for testing to verify that inventory records contained all the necessary
information. Of the 21 devices tested, 8 did not include information with regard to the name of the school
employee responsible for the device as no specific employee was assigned by the School Corporation.
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:
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
21
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
(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). . . ."
47 CFR 54.1715(a)(2) states:
"For each connected device or other piece of eligible equipment not provided to an individual
student, school staff member, or library patron, but used to provide service to multiple eligible
users, the asset inventory must contain:
(i) The device type or equipment type (i.e. laptop, tablet, mobile hotspot, modem,
router);
(ii) The device or equipment make/model;
(iii) The device or equipment serial number;
(iv) The name of the school or library employee responsible for that device or equipment;
and
(v) The dates the device or equipment was in service."
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 asset inventory did not contain all the necessary information.
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 that the asset inventory contain all the necessary
information.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
22
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-002
Subject: Emergency Connectivity Fund Program - Equipment and Real Property Management
Federal Agency: Federal Communications Commission
Federal Program: Emergency Connectivity Fund Program
Assistance Listings Number: 32.009
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY 2022, FY 2023
Compliance Requirement: Equipment and Real Property Management
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) Program participants are required to maintain an asset inventory
of the devices purchased with ECF Program support.
For each connected device not provided to an individual student or school staff member, but used
to provide service to multiple eligible users, the asset inventory must identify:
1. The device or equipment type (i.e., laptop, tablet, mobile hotspot, modem, router);
2. The device or equipment make/model;
3. The device or equipment serial number;
4. The name of the school employee responsible for that the device or equipment; and
5 The dates the device or equipment was in service.
The School Corporation had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to
ensure that the devices acquired with ECF program funds were properly supported by inventory records.
A sample of 21 devices were selected for testing to verify that inventory records contained all the necessary
information. Of the 21 devices tested, 8 did not include information with regard to the name of the school
employee responsible for the device as no specific employee was assigned by the School Corporation.
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:
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
21
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
(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). . . ."
47 CFR 54.1715(a)(2) states:
"For each connected device or other piece of eligible equipment not provided to an individual
student, school staff member, or library patron, but used to provide service to multiple eligible
users, the asset inventory must contain:
(i) The device type or equipment type (i.e. laptop, tablet, mobile hotspot, modem,
router);
(ii) The device or equipment make/model;
(iii) The device or equipment serial number;
(iv) The name of the school or library employee responsible for that device or equipment;
and
(v) The dates the device or equipment was in service."
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 asset inventory did not contain all the necessary information.
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 that the asset inventory contain all the necessary
information.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
22
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
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: Emergency Connectivity Fund Program - Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Federal Communications Commission
Federal Program: Emergency Connectivity Fund Program
Assistance Listings Number: 32.009
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY 2022, FY 2023
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 federal award 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 exclusions, collecting a certification from that vendor,
or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that vendor.
Upon inquiry of the School Corporation in order to review the procedures in place for verifying that
a vendor with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not suspended, debarred, or otherwise
excluded, the School Corporation disclosed there were not any documented internal controls. Three
covered transactions with two vendors that equaled or exceeded $25,000 were identified. The covered
transactions, totaling $735,400, were selected for testing. For the two vendors, the School Corporation did
not verify the vendor's suspension and debarment status prior to payment.
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 180.300 states:
"When you enter into a covered transaction with another person as 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:
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
23
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
(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."
47 CFR 54.8(d) states in part: "Effect of suspension and debarment. Unless otherwise ordered,
any persons suspended or debarred shall be excluded from activities associated with or related to the
schools and libraries support mechanism . . ."
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 were 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.
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 that 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 2023-003
Subject: Emergency Connectivity Fund Program - Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Federal Communications Commission
Federal Program: Emergency Connectivity Fund Program
Assistance Listings Number: 32.009
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY 2022, FY 2023
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 federal award 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 exclusions, collecting a certification from that vendor,
or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that vendor.
Upon inquiry of the School Corporation in order to review the procedures in place for verifying that
a vendor with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not suspended, debarred, or otherwise
excluded, the School Corporation disclosed there were not any documented internal controls. Three
covered transactions with two vendors that equaled or exceeded $25,000 were identified. The covered
transactions, totaling $735,400, were selected for testing. For the two vendors, the School Corporation did
not verify the vendor's suspension and debarment status prior to payment.
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 180.300 states:
"When you enter into a covered transaction with another person as 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:
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
23
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
(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."
47 CFR 54.8(d) states in part: "Effect of suspension and debarment. Unless otherwise ordered,
any persons suspended or debarred shall be excluded from activities associated with or related to the
schools and libraries support mechanism . . ."
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 were 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.
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 that 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 2023-004
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Earmarking
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 20611-021-PN01, 21611-021-PN01,
22619-021-PN01
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-003.
Condition and Context
The School Corporation is a member of the Greater Lafayette Area Special Services Cooperative
(Cooperative). During fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, the Cooperative operated the special
education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements
were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school corporation, the
School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However,
there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with
the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement.
The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative
complied with the earmarking requirements. The Cooperative did not have adequate procedures in place
to ensure that the required level of expenditures for nonpublic school students with disabilities was met for
each member school. The Cooperative did not have effective internal controls to ensure nonpublic school
expenditures were appropriately identified and reported.
The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 20611-021-PN01, 21611-021-PN01, and
22619-021-PN01 grant awards could not be verified for the individual member school corporations. Total
grant expenditures were posted as expended. The nonpublic proportionate share expenditures were
determined by applying a percentage to the nonpublic school budgeted expenditures. As such, we were
unable to identify if the minimum amount per the grant awards was expended and properly reported to the
IDOE as required.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the 20611-021-PN01,
21611-021-PN01, and 22619-021-PN01 grant awards.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
25
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
(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 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards: . . .
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust
specific Federal award conditions as needed, . . ."
511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states:
"The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic
schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total
subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities,
who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total
number of students with disabilities of the same age range."
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 such, the school's Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures could not be determined,
and it could not be determined if the School Corporation met their minimum Non-Public
Proportionate Share as required by the grant agreement.
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
26
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
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 proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure nonpublic school share funds are appropriately
allocated to the member school corporation based on expenses charged directly on behalf of the
member school corporation. Supporting documentation for these expenses should be retained for audit.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
27
FINDING 2023-004
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Earmarking
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 20611-021-PN01, 21611-021-PN01,
22619-021-PN01
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-003.
Condition and Context
The School Corporation is a member of the Greater Lafayette Area Special Services Cooperative
(Cooperative). During fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, the Cooperative operated the special
education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements
were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school corporation, the
School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However,
there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with
the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement.
The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative
complied with the earmarking requirements. The Cooperative did not have adequate procedures in place
to ensure that the required level of expenditures for nonpublic school students with disabilities was met for
each member school. The Cooperative did not have effective internal controls to ensure nonpublic school
expenditures were appropriately identified and reported.
The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 20611-021-PN01, 21611-021-PN01, and
22619-021-PN01 grant awards could not be verified for the individual member school corporations. Total
grant expenditures were posted as expended. The nonpublic proportionate share expenditures were
determined by applying a percentage to the nonpublic school budgeted expenditures. As such, we were
unable to identify if the minimum amount per the grant awards was expended and properly reported to the
IDOE as required.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the 20611-021-PN01,
21611-021-PN01, and 22619-021-PN01 grant awards.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
25
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
(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 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards: . . .
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust
specific Federal award conditions as needed, . . ."
511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states:
"The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic
schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total
subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities,
who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total
number of students with disabilities of the same age range."
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 such, the school's Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures could not be determined,
and it could not be determined if the School Corporation met their minimum Non-Public
Proportionate Share as required by the grant agreement.
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
26
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
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 proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure nonpublic school share funds are appropriately
allocated to the member school corporation based on expenses charged directly on behalf of the
member school corporation. Supporting documentation for these expenses should be retained for audit.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
27
FINDING 2023-004
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Earmarking
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 20611-021-PN01, 21611-021-PN01,
22619-021-PN01
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-003.
Condition and Context
The School Corporation is a member of the Greater Lafayette Area Special Services Cooperative
(Cooperative). During fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, the Cooperative operated the special
education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements
were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school corporation, the
School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However,
there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with
the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement.
The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative
complied with the earmarking requirements. The Cooperative did not have adequate procedures in place
to ensure that the required level of expenditures for nonpublic school students with disabilities was met for
each member school. The Cooperative did not have effective internal controls to ensure nonpublic school
expenditures were appropriately identified and reported.
The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 20611-021-PN01, 21611-021-PN01, and
22619-021-PN01 grant awards could not be verified for the individual member school corporations. Total
grant expenditures were posted as expended. The nonpublic proportionate share expenditures were
determined by applying a percentage to the nonpublic school budgeted expenditures. As such, we were
unable to identify if the minimum amount per the grant awards was expended and properly reported to the
IDOE as required.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the 20611-021-PN01,
21611-021-PN01, and 22619-021-PN01 grant awards.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
25
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
(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 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards: . . .
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust
specific Federal award conditions as needed, . . ."
511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states:
"The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic
schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total
subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities,
who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total
number of students with disabilities of the same age range."
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 such, the school's Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures could not be determined,
and it could not be determined if the School Corporation met their minimum Non-Public
Proportionate Share as required by the grant agreement.
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
26
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
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 proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure nonpublic school share funds are appropriately
allocated to the member school corporation based on expenses charged directly on behalf of the
member school corporation. Supporting documentation for these expenses should be retained for audit.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
27
FINDING 2023-004
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Earmarking
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 20611-021-PN01, 21611-021-PN01,
22619-021-PN01
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-003.
Condition and Context
The School Corporation is a member of the Greater Lafayette Area Special Services Cooperative
(Cooperative). During fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, the Cooperative operated the special
education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements
were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school corporation, the
School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However,
there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with
the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement.
The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative
complied with the earmarking requirements. The Cooperative did not have adequate procedures in place
to ensure that the required level of expenditures for nonpublic school students with disabilities was met for
each member school. The Cooperative did not have effective internal controls to ensure nonpublic school
expenditures were appropriately identified and reported.
The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 20611-021-PN01, 21611-021-PN01, and
22619-021-PN01 grant awards could not be verified for the individual member school corporations. Total
grant expenditures were posted as expended. The nonpublic proportionate share expenditures were
determined by applying a percentage to the nonpublic school budgeted expenditures. As such, we were
unable to identify if the minimum amount per the grant awards was expended and properly reported to the
IDOE as required.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the 20611-021-PN01,
21611-021-PN01, and 22619-021-PN01 grant awards.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
25
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
(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 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards: . . .
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust
specific Federal award conditions as needed, . . ."
511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states:
"The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic
schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total
subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities,
who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total
number of students with disabilities of the same age range."
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 such, the school's Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures could not be determined,
and it could not be determined if the School Corporation met their minimum Non-Public
Proportionate Share as required by the grant agreement.
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
26
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
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 proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure nonpublic school share funds are appropriately
allocated to the member school corporation based on expenses charged directly on behalf of the
member school corporation. Supporting documentation for these expenses should be retained for audit.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
27
FINDING 2023-001
Subject: Emergency Connectivity Fund Program - Allowable Costs/Cost
Principles, Special Tests and Provisions - Restricted Purpose
Federal Agency: Federal Communications Commission
Federal Program: Emergency Connectivity Fund Program
Assistance Listings Number: 32.009
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY 2022, FY 2023
Compliance Requirements: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles, Special Tests
and Provisions - Restricted Purpose
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion
Condition and Context
The Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) Program established by the American Rescue Plan Act
of 2021 was for the purchase of eligible equipment, advanced communications, and information services
for use by students, school staff, and library patrons at locations that include locations other than at a school
or library. The ECF Program provides funding to meet the remote learning needs of students, school staff,
and library patrons who would otherwise lack access to connected devices and broadband connections
sufficient to engage in remote learning during the COVID-19 emergency period.
To ensure that funding is focused on unmet need, the grantor agency required schools to certify,
as part of their funding application, that they are only seeking support for eligible equipment and/or
broadband connectivity to provide to students and school staff who would otherwise lack access to
connected devices and/or broadband connectivity sufficient to engage in remote learning. The unmet need
at the time of the funding application can be based on an estimate. However, when the school corporation
files the request for reimbursement, only equipment and services provided to students or school staff who
would otherwise lack broadband services and/or devices sufficient to engage in remote learning should be
requested.
The School Corporation made four reimbursement requests during the audit period. All four reimbursement
requests were selected for testing to verify the expenditures were in conformance with the applicable
cost principles. Of the four reimbursement requests tested, issues were identified with three of the
reimbursement requests. The issues identified were as follows:
For two reimbursement requests, the amount requested, in total, exceeded the
expenditures posted to the grant fund. The total amount requested for reimbursement was
$616,800; however, total expenditures in the fund were $615,400. As such, the amount
requested and received exceeded the amount spent out of the grant fund by $1,400. The
School Corporation did not perform a reconciliation, which would have identified the error
and allowed them to move the associated expenses to the grant fund, nor did the School
Corporation return the additional funds to the grantor agency. At the end of the audit
period, the $1,400 was included in the fund's overall ending cash balance.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
18
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
For one reimbursement request, although an invoice was submitted as evidence of
expenditures, the funding received from the grantor agency was not used to pay the
invoice. Instead, the School Corporation paid for that invoice using a lease and opted
instead to use the funding received over the course of the next five years to cover
maintenance and service costs for school technology. This information was not disclosed
with the initial reimbursement request nor has a substitution request been sent to the
awarding agency. The amount received from the grantor agency and not paid to the
vendor, $500,000, will be considered questioned costs. At the end of the audit period, this
money had not been expended, and was included in the fund's overall ending cash
balance.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the two reimbursements noted
above.
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 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be
allocable thereto under these principles.
(b) Conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in these principles or in the Federal
award as to types or amount of cost items. . . .
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
47 CFR 54.1710(a)(1) states in part:
"The FCC Form 471 shall be signed by a person authorized to order eligible services for the
eligible school, library, or consortium and shall include that person's certification under penalty
of perjury that: . . .
(vii) The school or school consortium listed on the FCC Form 471 application is only
seeking support for eligible equipment and/or services provided to students and school
staff who would otherwise lack connected devices and/or broadband services sufficient to
engage in remote learning. . . ."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
19
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
47 CFR 54.1710(b) states in part:
"(1) A request by an applicant to substitute equipment or service for one identified on its FCC
Form 471 must be in writing.
(2) The Administrator shall approve such written request where:
(i) The equipment or service has the same functionality; and
(ii) This substitution does not violate any contract provisions or state, local, or Tribal
procurement laws. . . . "
47 CFR 54.1711(a)(1) states in part:
"The FCC Form 472 shall be signed by a person authorized to order eligible services for the
eligible school, library, or consortium and shall include that person's certification under penalty
of perjury that: . . .
(iv) The funds sought in the request for reimbursement are for eligible equipment and/or
services that were purchased or ordered in accordance with the Emergency Connectivity
Fund Program rules and requirements in this subpart and received by either the school,
library, or consortium, or the students, school staff, or library patrons as appropriate.
(v) The portion of the costs eligible for reimbursement and not already paid for by another
source was either paid for in full by the school, library, consortium, or will be paid to the
service provider within 30 days of receipt of funds. . . ."
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, reimbursements in excess of expenditures were received and retained by the
School Corporation. In addition, reimbursements received were not used to pay the invoices for which the
reimbursement was sought.
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
Known questioned costs of $500,000 were identified as detailed in the Condition and Context.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
20
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure reimbursement requests are used to pay the
invoices used to support the request and that only the amount spent is requested for reimbursement.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-001
Subject: Emergency Connectivity Fund Program - Allowable Costs/Cost
Principles, Special Tests and Provisions - Restricted Purpose
Federal Agency: Federal Communications Commission
Federal Program: Emergency Connectivity Fund Program
Assistance Listings Number: 32.009
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY 2022, FY 2023
Compliance Requirements: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles, Special Tests
and Provisions - Restricted Purpose
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion
Condition and Context
The Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) Program established by the American Rescue Plan Act
of 2021 was for the purchase of eligible equipment, advanced communications, and information services
for use by students, school staff, and library patrons at locations that include locations other than at a school
or library. The ECF Program provides funding to meet the remote learning needs of students, school staff,
and library patrons who would otherwise lack access to connected devices and broadband connections
sufficient to engage in remote learning during the COVID-19 emergency period.
To ensure that funding is focused on unmet need, the grantor agency required schools to certify,
as part of their funding application, that they are only seeking support for eligible equipment and/or
broadband connectivity to provide to students and school staff who would otherwise lack access to
connected devices and/or broadband connectivity sufficient to engage in remote learning. The unmet need
at the time of the funding application can be based on an estimate. However, when the school corporation
files the request for reimbursement, only equipment and services provided to students or school staff who
would otherwise lack broadband services and/or devices sufficient to engage in remote learning should be
requested.
The School Corporation made four reimbursement requests during the audit period. All four reimbursement
requests were selected for testing to verify the expenditures were in conformance with the applicable
cost principles. Of the four reimbursement requests tested, issues were identified with three of the
reimbursement requests. The issues identified were as follows:
For two reimbursement requests, the amount requested, in total, exceeded the
expenditures posted to the grant fund. The total amount requested for reimbursement was
$616,800; however, total expenditures in the fund were $615,400. As such, the amount
requested and received exceeded the amount spent out of the grant fund by $1,400. The
School Corporation did not perform a reconciliation, which would have identified the error
and allowed them to move the associated expenses to the grant fund, nor did the School
Corporation return the additional funds to the grantor agency. At the end of the audit
period, the $1,400 was included in the fund's overall ending cash balance.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
18
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
For one reimbursement request, although an invoice was submitted as evidence of
expenditures, the funding received from the grantor agency was not used to pay the
invoice. Instead, the School Corporation paid for that invoice using a lease and opted
instead to use the funding received over the course of the next five years to cover
maintenance and service costs for school technology. This information was not disclosed
with the initial reimbursement request nor has a substitution request been sent to the
awarding agency. The amount received from the grantor agency and not paid to the
vendor, $500,000, will be considered questioned costs. At the end of the audit period, this
money had not been expended, and was included in the fund's overall ending cash
balance.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the two reimbursements noted
above.
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 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be
allocable thereto under these principles.
(b) Conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in these principles or in the Federal
award as to types or amount of cost items. . . .
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
47 CFR 54.1710(a)(1) states in part:
"The FCC Form 471 shall be signed by a person authorized to order eligible services for the
eligible school, library, or consortium and shall include that person's certification under penalty
of perjury that: . . .
(vii) The school or school consortium listed on the FCC Form 471 application is only
seeking support for eligible equipment and/or services provided to students and school
staff who would otherwise lack connected devices and/or broadband services sufficient to
engage in remote learning. . . ."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
19
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
47 CFR 54.1710(b) states in part:
"(1) A request by an applicant to substitute equipment or service for one identified on its FCC
Form 471 must be in writing.
(2) The Administrator shall approve such written request where:
(i) The equipment or service has the same functionality; and
(ii) This substitution does not violate any contract provisions or state, local, or Tribal
procurement laws. . . . "
47 CFR 54.1711(a)(1) states in part:
"The FCC Form 472 shall be signed by a person authorized to order eligible services for the
eligible school, library, or consortium and shall include that person's certification under penalty
of perjury that: . . .
(iv) The funds sought in the request for reimbursement are for eligible equipment and/or
services that were purchased or ordered in accordance with the Emergency Connectivity
Fund Program rules and requirements in this subpart and received by either the school,
library, or consortium, or the students, school staff, or library patrons as appropriate.
(v) The portion of the costs eligible for reimbursement and not already paid for by another
source was either paid for in full by the school, library, consortium, or will be paid to the
service provider within 30 days of receipt of funds. . . ."
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, reimbursements in excess of expenditures were received and retained by the
School Corporation. In addition, reimbursements received were not used to pay the invoices for which the
reimbursement was sought.
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
Known questioned costs of $500,000 were identified as detailed in the Condition and Context.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
20
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure reimbursement requests are used to pay the
invoices used to support the request and that only the amount spent is requested for reimbursement.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-002
Subject: Emergency Connectivity Fund Program - Equipment and Real Property Management
Federal Agency: Federal Communications Commission
Federal Program: Emergency Connectivity Fund Program
Assistance Listings Number: 32.009
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY 2022, FY 2023
Compliance Requirement: Equipment and Real Property Management
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) Program participants are required to maintain an asset inventory
of the devices purchased with ECF Program support.
For each connected device not provided to an individual student or school staff member, but used
to provide service to multiple eligible users, the asset inventory must identify:
1. The device or equipment type (i.e., laptop, tablet, mobile hotspot, modem, router);
2. The device or equipment make/model;
3. The device or equipment serial number;
4. The name of the school employee responsible for that the device or equipment; and
5 The dates the device or equipment was in service.
The School Corporation had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to
ensure that the devices acquired with ECF program funds were properly supported by inventory records.
A sample of 21 devices were selected for testing to verify that inventory records contained all the necessary
information. Of the 21 devices tested, 8 did not include information with regard to the name of the school
employee responsible for the device as no specific employee was assigned by the School Corporation.
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:
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
21
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
(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). . . ."
47 CFR 54.1715(a)(2) states:
"For each connected device or other piece of eligible equipment not provided to an individual
student, school staff member, or library patron, but used to provide service to multiple eligible
users, the asset inventory must contain:
(i) The device type or equipment type (i.e. laptop, tablet, mobile hotspot, modem,
router);
(ii) The device or equipment make/model;
(iii) The device or equipment serial number;
(iv) The name of the school or library employee responsible for that device or equipment;
and
(v) The dates the device or equipment was in service."
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 asset inventory did not contain all the necessary information.
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 that the asset inventory contain all the necessary
information.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
22
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-002
Subject: Emergency Connectivity Fund Program - Equipment and Real Property Management
Federal Agency: Federal Communications Commission
Federal Program: Emergency Connectivity Fund Program
Assistance Listings Number: 32.009
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY 2022, FY 2023
Compliance Requirement: Equipment and Real Property Management
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) Program participants are required to maintain an asset inventory
of the devices purchased with ECF Program support.
For each connected device not provided to an individual student or school staff member, but used
to provide service to multiple eligible users, the asset inventory must identify:
1. The device or equipment type (i.e., laptop, tablet, mobile hotspot, modem, router);
2. The device or equipment make/model;
3. The device or equipment serial number;
4. The name of the school employee responsible for that the device or equipment; and
5 The dates the device or equipment was in service.
The School Corporation had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to
ensure that the devices acquired with ECF program funds were properly supported by inventory records.
A sample of 21 devices were selected for testing to verify that inventory records contained all the necessary
information. Of the 21 devices tested, 8 did not include information with regard to the name of the school
employee responsible for the device as no specific employee was assigned by the School Corporation.
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:
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
21
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
(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). . . ."
47 CFR 54.1715(a)(2) states:
"For each connected device or other piece of eligible equipment not provided to an individual
student, school staff member, or library patron, but used to provide service to multiple eligible
users, the asset inventory must contain:
(i) The device type or equipment type (i.e. laptop, tablet, mobile hotspot, modem,
router);
(ii) The device or equipment make/model;
(iii) The device or equipment serial number;
(iv) The name of the school or library employee responsible for that device or equipment;
and
(v) The dates the device or equipment was in service."
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 asset inventory did not contain all the necessary information.
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 that the asset inventory contain all the necessary
information.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
22
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
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: Emergency Connectivity Fund Program - Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Federal Communications Commission
Federal Program: Emergency Connectivity Fund Program
Assistance Listings Number: 32.009
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY 2022, FY 2023
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 federal award 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 exclusions, collecting a certification from that vendor,
or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that vendor.
Upon inquiry of the School Corporation in order to review the procedures in place for verifying that
a vendor with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not suspended, debarred, or otherwise
excluded, the School Corporation disclosed there were not any documented internal controls. Three
covered transactions with two vendors that equaled or exceeded $25,000 were identified. The covered
transactions, totaling $735,400, were selected for testing. For the two vendors, the School Corporation did
not verify the vendor's suspension and debarment status prior to payment.
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 180.300 states:
"When you enter into a covered transaction with another person as 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:
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
23
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
(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."
47 CFR 54.8(d) states in part: "Effect of suspension and debarment. Unless otherwise ordered,
any persons suspended or debarred shall be excluded from activities associated with or related to the
schools and libraries support mechanism . . ."
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 were 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.
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 that 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 2023-003
Subject: Emergency Connectivity Fund Program - Suspension and Debarment
Federal Agency: Federal Communications Commission
Federal Program: Emergency Connectivity Fund Program
Assistance Listings Number: 32.009
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY 2022, FY 2023
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 federal award 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 exclusions, collecting a certification from that vendor,
or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that vendor.
Upon inquiry of the School Corporation in order to review the procedures in place for verifying that
a vendor with which it plans to enter into a covered transaction is not suspended, debarred, or otherwise
excluded, the School Corporation disclosed there were not any documented internal controls. Three
covered transactions with two vendors that equaled or exceeded $25,000 were identified. The covered
transactions, totaling $735,400, were selected for testing. For the two vendors, the School Corporation did
not verify the vendor's suspension and debarment status prior to payment.
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 180.300 states:
"When you enter into a covered transaction with another person as 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:
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
23
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
(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."
47 CFR 54.8(d) states in part: "Effect of suspension and debarment. Unless otherwise ordered,
any persons suspended or debarred shall be excluded from activities associated with or related to the
schools and libraries support mechanism . . ."
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 were 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.
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 that 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 2023-004
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Earmarking
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 20611-021-PN01, 21611-021-PN01,
22619-021-PN01
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-003.
Condition and Context
The School Corporation is a member of the Greater Lafayette Area Special Services Cooperative
(Cooperative). During fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, the Cooperative operated the special
education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements
were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school corporation, the
School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However,
there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with
the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement.
The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative
complied with the earmarking requirements. The Cooperative did not have adequate procedures in place
to ensure that the required level of expenditures for nonpublic school students with disabilities was met for
each member school. The Cooperative did not have effective internal controls to ensure nonpublic school
expenditures were appropriately identified and reported.
The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 20611-021-PN01, 21611-021-PN01, and
22619-021-PN01 grant awards could not be verified for the individual member school corporations. Total
grant expenditures were posted as expended. The nonpublic proportionate share expenditures were
determined by applying a percentage to the nonpublic school budgeted expenditures. As such, we were
unable to identify if the minimum amount per the grant awards was expended and properly reported to the
IDOE as required.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the 20611-021-PN01,
21611-021-PN01, and 22619-021-PN01 grant awards.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
25
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
(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 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards: . . .
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust
specific Federal award conditions as needed, . . ."
511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states:
"The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic
schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total
subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities,
who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total
number of students with disabilities of the same age range."
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 such, the school's Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures could not be determined,
and it could not be determined if the School Corporation met their minimum Non-Public
Proportionate Share as required by the grant agreement.
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
26
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
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 proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure nonpublic school share funds are appropriately
allocated to the member school corporation based on expenses charged directly on behalf of the
member school corporation. Supporting documentation for these expenses should be retained for audit.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
27
FINDING 2023-004
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Earmarking
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 20611-021-PN01, 21611-021-PN01,
22619-021-PN01
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-003.
Condition and Context
The School Corporation is a member of the Greater Lafayette Area Special Services Cooperative
(Cooperative). During fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, the Cooperative operated the special
education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements
were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school corporation, the
School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However,
there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with
the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement.
The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative
complied with the earmarking requirements. The Cooperative did not have adequate procedures in place
to ensure that the required level of expenditures for nonpublic school students with disabilities was met for
each member school. The Cooperative did not have effective internal controls to ensure nonpublic school
expenditures were appropriately identified and reported.
The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 20611-021-PN01, 21611-021-PN01, and
22619-021-PN01 grant awards could not be verified for the individual member school corporations. Total
grant expenditures were posted as expended. The nonpublic proportionate share expenditures were
determined by applying a percentage to the nonpublic school budgeted expenditures. As such, we were
unable to identify if the minimum amount per the grant awards was expended and properly reported to the
IDOE as required.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the 20611-021-PN01,
21611-021-PN01, and 22619-021-PN01 grant awards.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
25
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
(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 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards: . . .
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust
specific Federal award conditions as needed, . . ."
511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states:
"The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic
schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total
subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities,
who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total
number of students with disabilities of the same age range."
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 such, the school's Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures could not be determined,
and it could not be determined if the School Corporation met their minimum Non-Public
Proportionate Share as required by the grant agreement.
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
26
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
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 proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure nonpublic school share funds are appropriately
allocated to the member school corporation based on expenses charged directly on behalf of the
member school corporation. Supporting documentation for these expenses should be retained for audit.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
27
FINDING 2023-004
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Earmarking
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 20611-021-PN01, 21611-021-PN01,
22619-021-PN01
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-003.
Condition and Context
The School Corporation is a member of the Greater Lafayette Area Special Services Cooperative
(Cooperative). During fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, the Cooperative operated the special
education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements
were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school corporation, the
School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However,
there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with
the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement.
The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative
complied with the earmarking requirements. The Cooperative did not have adequate procedures in place
to ensure that the required level of expenditures for nonpublic school students with disabilities was met for
each member school. The Cooperative did not have effective internal controls to ensure nonpublic school
expenditures were appropriately identified and reported.
The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 20611-021-PN01, 21611-021-PN01, and
22619-021-PN01 grant awards could not be verified for the individual member school corporations. Total
grant expenditures were posted as expended. The nonpublic proportionate share expenditures were
determined by applying a percentage to the nonpublic school budgeted expenditures. As such, we were
unable to identify if the minimum amount per the grant awards was expended and properly reported to the
IDOE as required.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the 20611-021-PN01,
21611-021-PN01, and 22619-021-PN01 grant awards.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
25
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
(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 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards: . . .
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust
specific Federal award conditions as needed, . . ."
511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states:
"The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic
schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total
subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities,
who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total
number of students with disabilities of the same age range."
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 such, the school's Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures could not be determined,
and it could not be determined if the School Corporation met their minimum Non-Public
Proportionate Share as required by the grant agreement.
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
26
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
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 proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure nonpublic school share funds are appropriately
allocated to the member school corporation based on expenses charged directly on behalf of the
member school corporation. Supporting documentation for these expenses should be retained for audit.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
27
FINDING 2023-004
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Earmarking
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 20611-021-PN01, 21611-021-PN01,
22619-021-PN01
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2021-003.
Condition and Context
The School Corporation is a member of the Greater Lafayette Area Special Services Cooperative
(Cooperative). During fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, the Cooperative operated the special
education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements
were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school corporation, the
School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However,
there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with
the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement.
The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative
complied with the earmarking requirements. The Cooperative did not have adequate procedures in place
to ensure that the required level of expenditures for nonpublic school students with disabilities was met for
each member school. The Cooperative did not have effective internal controls to ensure nonpublic school
expenditures were appropriately identified and reported.
The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 20611-021-PN01, 21611-021-PN01, and
22619-021-PN01 grant awards could not be verified for the individual member school corporations. Total
grant expenditures were posted as expended. The nonpublic proportionate share expenditures were
determined by applying a percentage to the nonpublic school budgeted expenditures. As such, we were
unable to identify if the minimum amount per the grant awards was expended and properly reported to the
IDOE as required.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the 20611-021-PN01,
21611-021-PN01, and 22619-021-PN01 grant awards.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
25
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
(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 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards: . . .
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust
specific Federal award conditions as needed, . . ."
511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states:
"The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic
schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total
subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities,
who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total
number of students with disabilities of the same age range."
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 such, the school's Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures could not be determined,
and it could not be determined if the School Corporation met their minimum Non-Public
Proportionate Share as required by the grant agreement.
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
26
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION
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 proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure nonpublic school share funds are appropriately
allocated to the member school corporation based on expenses charged directly on behalf of the
member school corporation. Supporting documentation for these expenses should be retained for audit.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
27