Audit 297617

FY End
2023-06-30
Total Expended
$34.14M
Findings
20
Programs
32
Organization: Lafayette School Corporation (IN)
Year: 2023 Accepted: 2024-03-26

Organization Exclusion Status:

Checking exclusion status...

Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
384517 2023-001 Material Weakness - BN
384518 2023-001 Material Weakness - BN
384519 2023-002 Material Weakness - F
384520 2023-002 Material Weakness - F
384521 2023-003 Material Weakness - I
384522 2023-003 Material Weakness - I
384523 2023-004 Material Weakness Yes G
384524 2023-004 Material Weakness Yes G
384525 2023-004 Material Weakness Yes G
384526 2023-004 Material Weakness Yes G
960959 2023-001 Material Weakness - BN
960960 2023-001 Material Weakness - BN
960961 2023-002 Material Weakness - F
960962 2023-002 Material Weakness - F
960963 2023-003 Material Weakness - I
960964 2023-003 Material Weakness - I
960965 2023-004 Material Weakness Yes G
960966 2023-004 Material Weakness Yes G
960967 2023-004 Material Weakness Yes G
960968 2023-004 Material Weakness Yes G

Programs

ALN Program Spent Major Findings
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund 2023 $6.02M Yes 0
10.555 National School Lunch Program 2023 $4.21M - 0
10.555 National School Lunch Program 2022 $3.84M - 0
84.027 Special Education_grants to States 2023 $2.85M Yes 1
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies 2022 $2.48M - 0
84.027 Special Education_grants to States 2022 $2.36M Yes 1
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies 2023 $2.28M - 0
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund 2022 $1.36M Yes 0
10.553 School Breakfast Program 2023 $1.33M - 0
10.553 School Breakfast Program 2022 $1.25M - 0
32.009 Emergency Connectivity Fund Program 2022 $736,800 Yes 3
93.778 Medical Assistance Program 2023 $683,302 Yes 0
93.778 Medical Assistance Program 2022 $586,016 Yes 0
84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants 2022 $545,532 - 0
32.009 Emergency Connectivity Fund Program 2023 $500,000 Yes 3
84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants 2023 $392,275 - 0
84.002 Adult Education - Basic Grants to States 2022 $368,258 - 0
84.002 Adult Education - Basic Grants to States 2023 $297,516 - 0
84.287 Twenty-First Century Community Learning Centers 2023 $236,069 - 0
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program 2022 $210,416 - 0
10.559 Summer Food Service Program for Children 2022 $167,971 - 0
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program 2023 $161,680 - 0
10.558 Child and Adult Care Food Program 2023 $153,793 - 0
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants 2023 $131,522 Yes 1
84.365 English Language Acquisition State Grants 2022 $129,777 - 0
10.558 Child and Adult Care Food Program 2022 $128,816 - 0
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants 2022 $124,639 Yes 1
84.365 English Language Acquisition State Grants 2023 $111,336 - 0
10.559 Summer Food Service Program for Children 2023 $102,819 - 0
84.287 Twenty-First Century Community Learning Centers 2022 $88,225 - 0
10.649 Pandemic Ebt Administrative Costs 2022 $5,814 - 0
10.649 Pandemic Ebt Administrative Costs 2023 $3,135 - 0

Contacts

Name Title Type
XGXYK8624FC7 Troy Cloum Auditee
7657716065 Beth Kelley, Cpa, Cfe Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: Note 3. Special Education Cooperative Accounting Policies: Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies A. Basis of Presentation The accompanying Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) includes the federal grant activity of the School Corporation under programs of the federal government for the years ended June 30, 2022, and 2023. The information in the SEFA is presented in accordance with the requirements of Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). Because the SEFA presents only a select portion of the operations of the School Corporation, it is not intended to and does not present the financial position of the School Corporation. The Uniform Guidance requires an annual audit of nonfederal entities expending a total amount of federal awards equal to or in excess of $750,000 in any fiscal year unless by constitution or statute a less frequent audit is required. In accordance with Indiana Code (IC 5-11-1-25), audits of school corporations shall be conducted biennially. Such audits shall include both years within the biennial period. B. Other Significant Accounting Policies Expenditures reported on the SEFA are reported on the cash basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following, as applicable, either the cost principles in OMB Circular A-87, Cost Principles for State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments, or the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowed or are limited as to reimbursement. When federal grants are received on a reimbursement basis, the federal awards are considered expended when the reimbursement is received. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The School Corporation has elected not to use the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The School Corporation is a member of the Greater Lafayette Area Special Services (GLASS) Cooperative (Cooperative) and serves as the fiscal agent. As a result, some of the activity for the Special Education Cluster (IDEA) that is presented as receipts and disbursements in the financial statement is not presented on the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) for the School Corporation. This activity is reported on the SEFA's of the member school corporations as appropriate.

Finding Details

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