Audit 306241

FY End
2023-08-31
Total Expended
$4.95M
Findings
22
Programs
15
Year: 2023 Accepted: 2024-05-14

Organization Exclusion Status:

Checking exclusion status...

Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
396632 2023-001 Material Weakness Yes N
396633 2023-001 Material Weakness Yes N
396634 2023-001 Material Weakness Yes N
396635 2023-001 Material Weakness Yes N
396636 2023-001 Material Weakness Yes N
396637 2023-001 Material Weakness Yes N
396638 2023-001 Material Weakness Yes N
396639 2023-001 Material Weakness Yes N
396640 2023-001 Material Weakness Yes N
396641 2023-001 Material Weakness Yes N
396642 2023-001 Material Weakness Yes N
973074 2023-001 Material Weakness Yes N
973075 2023-001 Material Weakness Yes N
973076 2023-001 Material Weakness Yes N
973077 2023-001 Material Weakness Yes N
973078 2023-001 Material Weakness Yes N
973079 2023-001 Material Weakness Yes N
973080 2023-001 Material Weakness Yes N
973081 2023-001 Material Weakness Yes N
973082 2023-001 Material Weakness Yes N
973083 2023-001 Material Weakness Yes N
973084 2023-001 Material Weakness Yes N

Contacts

Name Title Type
LF22CL6J5MP3 Thaynan Knowlton Auditee
5097696338 Alisha Shaw Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: Note 3 – Program Costs/Matching Contributions Accounting Policies: Note 1 - Basis of Accounting: This Schedule is prepared on the same basis of accounting as the Clarkston School District’s financial statements. The District uses the modified accrual basis of accounting. Expenditures represent only the federally funded portions of the program. District records should be consulted to determine amount expended or matched from non-federal sources. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: Note 2 – Federal De Minimis Indirect Cost Rate(s): The Clarkston School District has not elected to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The District used the federal (restricted/unrestricted) rates from 3.31 percent to 17.17 percent based on the detail of the grant. The amounts shown as current year expenditures represent only the federal award portion of the program costs. Entire program costs, including the Clarkston School District’s local matching share, may be more than shown. Such expenditures are recognized following, the cost principles contained in Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement.
Title: Note 4 – Noncash Awards Accounting Policies: Note 1 - Basis of Accounting: This Schedule is prepared on the same basis of accounting as the Clarkston School District’s financial statements. The District uses the modified accrual basis of accounting. Expenditures represent only the federally funded portions of the program. District records should be consulted to determine amount expended or matched from non-federal sources. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: Note 2 – Federal De Minimis Indirect Cost Rate(s): The Clarkston School District has not elected to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The District used the federal (restricted/unrestricted) rates from 3.31 percent to 17.17 percent based on the detail of the grant. The amounts of commodities reported on the schedule is the value of commodities distributed by the Clarkston School District during current year and priced as prescribed by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction – Food Distribution Program.
Title: Note 5 – Schoolwide Programs Accounting Policies: Note 1 - Basis of Accounting: This Schedule is prepared on the same basis of accounting as the Clarkston School District’s financial statements. The District uses the modified accrual basis of accounting. Expenditures represent only the federally funded portions of the program. District records should be consulted to determine amount expended or matched from non-federal sources. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: Note 2 – Federal De Minimis Indirect Cost Rate(s): The Clarkston School District has not elected to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The District used the federal (restricted/unrestricted) rates from 3.31 percent to 17.17 percent based on the detail of the grant. The Clarkston School District operates a “schoolwide program” in three elementary buildings. Using federal funding, schoolwide programs are designed to upgrade an entire educational program within a school for all students, rather than limit services to certain targeted students. The following federal program amounts were expended by the District in its schoolwide program: Title I (84.010) $925,790.00.
Title: Note 6 – Transferability Accounting Policies: Note 1 - Basis of Accounting: This Schedule is prepared on the same basis of accounting as the Clarkston School District’s financial statements. The District uses the modified accrual basis of accounting. Expenditures represent only the federally funded portions of the program. District records should be consulted to determine amount expended or matched from non-federal sources. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: Note 2 – Federal De Minimis Indirect Cost Rate(s): The Clarkston School District has not elected to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The District used the federal (restricted/unrestricted) rates from 3.31 percent to 17.17 percent based on the detail of the grant. As allowed by federal regulations, the District elected to transfer program funds. The District expended $66,023.00 from its Title IV, Part A Student Support and Academic Enrichment (84.424) on allowable activities of the Title II, Part A Teacher & Principal Training & Recruiting Fund (84.367). This amount is reflected in the expenditures of Title II, Part A Teacher & Principal Training & Recruiting Fund (84.367).

Finding Details

SCHEDULE OF FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS Clarkston School District No. J250-185 September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023 2023-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425D 0120416 COVID-19, 84.425U 0138012 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142141 COVID-19, 84.425W 0459522 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142503 COVID-19, 84.425U 0137011 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142368 COVID-19, 84.425D 0135902 COVID-19, 84.425D Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: Yes, Finding 2022-001 Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fiscal year 2023, the District spent a total of $1,724,408 of its ESF awards. This included $245,566 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II) subprogram (84.425D), $1,474,038 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $4,804 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP HCY I & II) subprogram (84.425W). The District spent $162,361 in program funds for installing and upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in one school building. Federal regulations require recipients to establish and maintain internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal funds must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractors and their subcontractors to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. The District may use a contracted project manager to collect certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors, but ultimately it is the District‘s responsibility to comply with these requirements and maintain documentation demonstrating compliance. Description of Condition During the 2023 school year, the District spent $162,361 for payments to one contractor and their subcontractors to install and upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system controls in one school to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect, or ensure the project manager collected, weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor and their subcontractors to confirm they paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness, which led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were unaware of federal wage rate requirements. The District relied on the project manager to manage the project and verify the contractor and subcontractors submitted weekly certified payroll reports to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website before the District paid the contractor, but did not document this process. They did not know that this process, while sufficient for state requirements, does not meet federal requirements. Further, District staff were unaware of the requirement to collect certified payrolls reports each week. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls to ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could also be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractors and subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contracts. The District did not collect all weekly certified payrolls for one contractor and their subcontractors. Recommendation We recommend the District establish internal controls to ensure compliance with federal wage rate requirements. This should include implementing effective monitoring processes to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The Clarkston School District welcomes the State Auditor’s Office review of federal wage rate requirements in our use of federal funds for the Grantham Elementary HVAC construction project. We agree with the auditor’s findings that our internal control structure was inadequate to ensure compliance with wage rate requirements. The following internal control processes have been implemented effective May 2023. 1. Identify public works projects and other contracts that require compliance with federal wage rate requirements through regular communication with District administrators and maintenance/operations management staff. 2. Complete and enhance the Districts contracts checklists for agreements entered into with contractors, agencies or purchasing cooperatives for the contraction of public works projects. 3. Consult with ESD, OSPI, and SAO to assure proper and complete terms are included in agreement documentation. 4. Collect and review weekly Certified Payroll Reports from contractors and subcontractors upon commencement of applicable projects until completion. 5. Confirmation of receipt and review of Certified Payroll Reports shall be verified prior to vendor payments. A contributing factor to this internal control weakness was turnover in key compliance positions during the time the contracts were being processed and construction was commencing. This finding effectively carried over from the prior audit period September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022, to the current audit period September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023. The final invoices for this project were received by the District in March 2023. The finding was originally identified after March 2023 and responded to in May 2023. The opportunity had passed for the District to include prevailing wage clauses in the contract and collect weekly certified payroll from the contractor. The internal control processes listed above were put into place after the project was completed. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolve this finding and thank the District for its cooperation and assistance during the audit. We will review the status of the District’s corrective action during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports.
SCHEDULE OF FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS Clarkston School District No. J250-185 September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023 2023-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425D 0120416 COVID-19, 84.425U 0138012 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142141 COVID-19, 84.425W 0459522 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142503 COVID-19, 84.425U 0137011 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142368 COVID-19, 84.425D 0135902 COVID-19, 84.425D Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: Yes, Finding 2022-001 Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fiscal year 2023, the District spent a total of $1,724,408 of its ESF awards. This included $245,566 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II) subprogram (84.425D), $1,474,038 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $4,804 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP HCY I & II) subprogram (84.425W). The District spent $162,361 in program funds for installing and upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in one school building. Federal regulations require recipients to establish and maintain internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal funds must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractors and their subcontractors to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. The District may use a contracted project manager to collect certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors, but ultimately it is the District‘s responsibility to comply with these requirements and maintain documentation demonstrating compliance. Description of Condition During the 2023 school year, the District spent $162,361 for payments to one contractor and their subcontractors to install and upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system controls in one school to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect, or ensure the project manager collected, weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor and their subcontractors to confirm they paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness, which led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were unaware of federal wage rate requirements. The District relied on the project manager to manage the project and verify the contractor and subcontractors submitted weekly certified payroll reports to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website before the District paid the contractor, but did not document this process. They did not know that this process, while sufficient for state requirements, does not meet federal requirements. Further, District staff were unaware of the requirement to collect certified payrolls reports each week. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls to ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could also be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractors and subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contracts. The District did not collect all weekly certified payrolls for one contractor and their subcontractors. Recommendation We recommend the District establish internal controls to ensure compliance with federal wage rate requirements. This should include implementing effective monitoring processes to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The Clarkston School District welcomes the State Auditor’s Office review of federal wage rate requirements in our use of federal funds for the Grantham Elementary HVAC construction project. We agree with the auditor’s findings that our internal control structure was inadequate to ensure compliance with wage rate requirements. The following internal control processes have been implemented effective May 2023. 1. Identify public works projects and other contracts that require compliance with federal wage rate requirements through regular communication with District administrators and maintenance/operations management staff. 2. Complete and enhance the Districts contracts checklists for agreements entered into with contractors, agencies or purchasing cooperatives for the contraction of public works projects. 3. Consult with ESD, OSPI, and SAO to assure proper and complete terms are included in agreement documentation. 4. Collect and review weekly Certified Payroll Reports from contractors and subcontractors upon commencement of applicable projects until completion. 5. Confirmation of receipt and review of Certified Payroll Reports shall be verified prior to vendor payments. A contributing factor to this internal control weakness was turnover in key compliance positions during the time the contracts were being processed and construction was commencing. This finding effectively carried over from the prior audit period September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022, to the current audit period September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023. The final invoices for this project were received by the District in March 2023. The finding was originally identified after March 2023 and responded to in May 2023. The opportunity had passed for the District to include prevailing wage clauses in the contract and collect weekly certified payroll from the contractor. The internal control processes listed above were put into place after the project was completed. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolve this finding and thank the District for its cooperation and assistance during the audit. We will review the status of the District’s corrective action during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports.
SCHEDULE OF FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS Clarkston School District No. J250-185 September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023 2023-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425D 0120416 COVID-19, 84.425U 0138012 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142141 COVID-19, 84.425W 0459522 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142503 COVID-19, 84.425U 0137011 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142368 COVID-19, 84.425D 0135902 COVID-19, 84.425D Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: Yes, Finding 2022-001 Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fiscal year 2023, the District spent a total of $1,724,408 of its ESF awards. This included $245,566 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II) subprogram (84.425D), $1,474,038 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $4,804 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP HCY I & II) subprogram (84.425W). The District spent $162,361 in program funds for installing and upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in one school building. Federal regulations require recipients to establish and maintain internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal funds must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractors and their subcontractors to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. The District may use a contracted project manager to collect certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors, but ultimately it is the District‘s responsibility to comply with these requirements and maintain documentation demonstrating compliance. Description of Condition During the 2023 school year, the District spent $162,361 for payments to one contractor and their subcontractors to install and upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system controls in one school to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect, or ensure the project manager collected, weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor and their subcontractors to confirm they paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness, which led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were unaware of federal wage rate requirements. The District relied on the project manager to manage the project and verify the contractor and subcontractors submitted weekly certified payroll reports to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website before the District paid the contractor, but did not document this process. They did not know that this process, while sufficient for state requirements, does not meet federal requirements. Further, District staff were unaware of the requirement to collect certified payrolls reports each week. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls to ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could also be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractors and subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contracts. The District did not collect all weekly certified payrolls for one contractor and their subcontractors. Recommendation We recommend the District establish internal controls to ensure compliance with federal wage rate requirements. This should include implementing effective monitoring processes to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The Clarkston School District welcomes the State Auditor’s Office review of federal wage rate requirements in our use of federal funds for the Grantham Elementary HVAC construction project. We agree with the auditor’s findings that our internal control structure was inadequate to ensure compliance with wage rate requirements. The following internal control processes have been implemented effective May 2023. 1. Identify public works projects and other contracts that require compliance with federal wage rate requirements through regular communication with District administrators and maintenance/operations management staff. 2. Complete and enhance the Districts contracts checklists for agreements entered into with contractors, agencies or purchasing cooperatives for the contraction of public works projects. 3. Consult with ESD, OSPI, and SAO to assure proper and complete terms are included in agreement documentation. 4. Collect and review weekly Certified Payroll Reports from contractors and subcontractors upon commencement of applicable projects until completion. 5. Confirmation of receipt and review of Certified Payroll Reports shall be verified prior to vendor payments. A contributing factor to this internal control weakness was turnover in key compliance positions during the time the contracts were being processed and construction was commencing. This finding effectively carried over from the prior audit period September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022, to the current audit period September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023. The final invoices for this project were received by the District in March 2023. The finding was originally identified after March 2023 and responded to in May 2023. The opportunity had passed for the District to include prevailing wage clauses in the contract and collect weekly certified payroll from the contractor. The internal control processes listed above were put into place after the project was completed. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolve this finding and thank the District for its cooperation and assistance during the audit. We will review the status of the District’s corrective action during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports.
SCHEDULE OF FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS Clarkston School District No. J250-185 September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023 2023-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425D 0120416 COVID-19, 84.425U 0138012 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142141 COVID-19, 84.425W 0459522 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142503 COVID-19, 84.425U 0137011 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142368 COVID-19, 84.425D 0135902 COVID-19, 84.425D Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: Yes, Finding 2022-001 Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fiscal year 2023, the District spent a total of $1,724,408 of its ESF awards. This included $245,566 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II) subprogram (84.425D), $1,474,038 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $4,804 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP HCY I & II) subprogram (84.425W). The District spent $162,361 in program funds for installing and upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in one school building. Federal regulations require recipients to establish and maintain internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal funds must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractors and their subcontractors to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. The District may use a contracted project manager to collect certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors, but ultimately it is the District‘s responsibility to comply with these requirements and maintain documentation demonstrating compliance. Description of Condition During the 2023 school year, the District spent $162,361 for payments to one contractor and their subcontractors to install and upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system controls in one school to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect, or ensure the project manager collected, weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor and their subcontractors to confirm they paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness, which led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were unaware of federal wage rate requirements. The District relied on the project manager to manage the project and verify the contractor and subcontractors submitted weekly certified payroll reports to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website before the District paid the contractor, but did not document this process. They did not know that this process, while sufficient for state requirements, does not meet federal requirements. Further, District staff were unaware of the requirement to collect certified payrolls reports each week. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls to ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could also be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractors and subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contracts. The District did not collect all weekly certified payrolls for one contractor and their subcontractors. Recommendation We recommend the District establish internal controls to ensure compliance with federal wage rate requirements. This should include implementing effective monitoring processes to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The Clarkston School District welcomes the State Auditor’s Office review of federal wage rate requirements in our use of federal funds for the Grantham Elementary HVAC construction project. We agree with the auditor’s findings that our internal control structure was inadequate to ensure compliance with wage rate requirements. The following internal control processes have been implemented effective May 2023. 1. Identify public works projects and other contracts that require compliance with federal wage rate requirements through regular communication with District administrators and maintenance/operations management staff. 2. Complete and enhance the Districts contracts checklists for agreements entered into with contractors, agencies or purchasing cooperatives for the contraction of public works projects. 3. Consult with ESD, OSPI, and SAO to assure proper and complete terms are included in agreement documentation. 4. Collect and review weekly Certified Payroll Reports from contractors and subcontractors upon commencement of applicable projects until completion. 5. Confirmation of receipt and review of Certified Payroll Reports shall be verified prior to vendor payments. A contributing factor to this internal control weakness was turnover in key compliance positions during the time the contracts were being processed and construction was commencing. This finding effectively carried over from the prior audit period September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022, to the current audit period September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023. The final invoices for this project were received by the District in March 2023. The finding was originally identified after March 2023 and responded to in May 2023. The opportunity had passed for the District to include prevailing wage clauses in the contract and collect weekly certified payroll from the contractor. The internal control processes listed above were put into place after the project was completed. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolve this finding and thank the District for its cooperation and assistance during the audit. We will review the status of the District’s corrective action during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports.
SCHEDULE OF FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS Clarkston School District No. J250-185 September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023 2023-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425D 0120416 COVID-19, 84.425U 0138012 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142141 COVID-19, 84.425W 0459522 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142503 COVID-19, 84.425U 0137011 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142368 COVID-19, 84.425D 0135902 COVID-19, 84.425D Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: Yes, Finding 2022-001 Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fiscal year 2023, the District spent a total of $1,724,408 of its ESF awards. This included $245,566 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II) subprogram (84.425D), $1,474,038 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $4,804 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP HCY I & II) subprogram (84.425W). The District spent $162,361 in program funds for installing and upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in one school building. Federal regulations require recipients to establish and maintain internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal funds must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractors and their subcontractors to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. The District may use a contracted project manager to collect certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors, but ultimately it is the District‘s responsibility to comply with these requirements and maintain documentation demonstrating compliance. Description of Condition During the 2023 school year, the District spent $162,361 for payments to one contractor and their subcontractors to install and upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system controls in one school to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect, or ensure the project manager collected, weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor and their subcontractors to confirm they paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness, which led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were unaware of federal wage rate requirements. The District relied on the project manager to manage the project and verify the contractor and subcontractors submitted weekly certified payroll reports to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website before the District paid the contractor, but did not document this process. They did not know that this process, while sufficient for state requirements, does not meet federal requirements. Further, District staff were unaware of the requirement to collect certified payrolls reports each week. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls to ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could also be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractors and subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contracts. The District did not collect all weekly certified payrolls for one contractor and their subcontractors. Recommendation We recommend the District establish internal controls to ensure compliance with federal wage rate requirements. This should include implementing effective monitoring processes to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The Clarkston School District welcomes the State Auditor’s Office review of federal wage rate requirements in our use of federal funds for the Grantham Elementary HVAC construction project. We agree with the auditor’s findings that our internal control structure was inadequate to ensure compliance with wage rate requirements. The following internal control processes have been implemented effective May 2023. 1. Identify public works projects and other contracts that require compliance with federal wage rate requirements through regular communication with District administrators and maintenance/operations management staff. 2. Complete and enhance the Districts contracts checklists for agreements entered into with contractors, agencies or purchasing cooperatives for the contraction of public works projects. 3. Consult with ESD, OSPI, and SAO to assure proper and complete terms are included in agreement documentation. 4. Collect and review weekly Certified Payroll Reports from contractors and subcontractors upon commencement of applicable projects until completion. 5. Confirmation of receipt and review of Certified Payroll Reports shall be verified prior to vendor payments. A contributing factor to this internal control weakness was turnover in key compliance positions during the time the contracts were being processed and construction was commencing. This finding effectively carried over from the prior audit period September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022, to the current audit period September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023. The final invoices for this project were received by the District in March 2023. The finding was originally identified after March 2023 and responded to in May 2023. The opportunity had passed for the District to include prevailing wage clauses in the contract and collect weekly certified payroll from the contractor. The internal control processes listed above were put into place after the project was completed. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolve this finding and thank the District for its cooperation and assistance during the audit. We will review the status of the District’s corrective action during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports.
SCHEDULE OF FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS Clarkston School District No. J250-185 September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023 2023-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425D 0120416 COVID-19, 84.425U 0138012 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142141 COVID-19, 84.425W 0459522 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142503 COVID-19, 84.425U 0137011 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142368 COVID-19, 84.425D 0135902 COVID-19, 84.425D Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: Yes, Finding 2022-001 Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fiscal year 2023, the District spent a total of $1,724,408 of its ESF awards. This included $245,566 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II) subprogram (84.425D), $1,474,038 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $4,804 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP HCY I & II) subprogram (84.425W). The District spent $162,361 in program funds for installing and upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in one school building. Federal regulations require recipients to establish and maintain internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal funds must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractors and their subcontractors to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. The District may use a contracted project manager to collect certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors, but ultimately it is the District‘s responsibility to comply with these requirements and maintain documentation demonstrating compliance. Description of Condition During the 2023 school year, the District spent $162,361 for payments to one contractor and their subcontractors to install and upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system controls in one school to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect, or ensure the project manager collected, weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor and their subcontractors to confirm they paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness, which led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were unaware of federal wage rate requirements. The District relied on the project manager to manage the project and verify the contractor and subcontractors submitted weekly certified payroll reports to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website before the District paid the contractor, but did not document this process. They did not know that this process, while sufficient for state requirements, does not meet federal requirements. Further, District staff were unaware of the requirement to collect certified payrolls reports each week. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls to ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could also be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractors and subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contracts. The District did not collect all weekly certified payrolls for one contractor and their subcontractors. Recommendation We recommend the District establish internal controls to ensure compliance with federal wage rate requirements. This should include implementing effective monitoring processes to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The Clarkston School District welcomes the State Auditor’s Office review of federal wage rate requirements in our use of federal funds for the Grantham Elementary HVAC construction project. We agree with the auditor’s findings that our internal control structure was inadequate to ensure compliance with wage rate requirements. The following internal control processes have been implemented effective May 2023. 1. Identify public works projects and other contracts that require compliance with federal wage rate requirements through regular communication with District administrators and maintenance/operations management staff. 2. Complete and enhance the Districts contracts checklists for agreements entered into with contractors, agencies or purchasing cooperatives for the contraction of public works projects. 3. Consult with ESD, OSPI, and SAO to assure proper and complete terms are included in agreement documentation. 4. Collect and review weekly Certified Payroll Reports from contractors and subcontractors upon commencement of applicable projects until completion. 5. Confirmation of receipt and review of Certified Payroll Reports shall be verified prior to vendor payments. A contributing factor to this internal control weakness was turnover in key compliance positions during the time the contracts were being processed and construction was commencing. This finding effectively carried over from the prior audit period September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022, to the current audit period September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023. The final invoices for this project were received by the District in March 2023. The finding was originally identified after March 2023 and responded to in May 2023. The opportunity had passed for the District to include prevailing wage clauses in the contract and collect weekly certified payroll from the contractor. The internal control processes listed above were put into place after the project was completed. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolve this finding and thank the District for its cooperation and assistance during the audit. We will review the status of the District’s corrective action during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports.
SCHEDULE OF FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS Clarkston School District No. J250-185 September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023 2023-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425D 0120416 COVID-19, 84.425U 0138012 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142141 COVID-19, 84.425W 0459522 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142503 COVID-19, 84.425U 0137011 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142368 COVID-19, 84.425D 0135902 COVID-19, 84.425D Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: Yes, Finding 2022-001 Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fiscal year 2023, the District spent a total of $1,724,408 of its ESF awards. This included $245,566 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II) subprogram (84.425D), $1,474,038 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $4,804 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP HCY I & II) subprogram (84.425W). The District spent $162,361 in program funds for installing and upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in one school building. Federal regulations require recipients to establish and maintain internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal funds must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractors and their subcontractors to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. The District may use a contracted project manager to collect certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors, but ultimately it is the District‘s responsibility to comply with these requirements and maintain documentation demonstrating compliance. Description of Condition During the 2023 school year, the District spent $162,361 for payments to one contractor and their subcontractors to install and upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system controls in one school to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect, or ensure the project manager collected, weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor and their subcontractors to confirm they paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness, which led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were unaware of federal wage rate requirements. The District relied on the project manager to manage the project and verify the contractor and subcontractors submitted weekly certified payroll reports to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website before the District paid the contractor, but did not document this process. They did not know that this process, while sufficient for state requirements, does not meet federal requirements. Further, District staff were unaware of the requirement to collect certified payrolls reports each week. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls to ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could also be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractors and subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contracts. The District did not collect all weekly certified payrolls for one contractor and their subcontractors. Recommendation We recommend the District establish internal controls to ensure compliance with federal wage rate requirements. This should include implementing effective monitoring processes to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The Clarkston School District welcomes the State Auditor’s Office review of federal wage rate requirements in our use of federal funds for the Grantham Elementary HVAC construction project. We agree with the auditor’s findings that our internal control structure was inadequate to ensure compliance with wage rate requirements. The following internal control processes have been implemented effective May 2023. 1. Identify public works projects and other contracts that require compliance with federal wage rate requirements through regular communication with District administrators and maintenance/operations management staff. 2. Complete and enhance the Districts contracts checklists for agreements entered into with contractors, agencies or purchasing cooperatives for the contraction of public works projects. 3. Consult with ESD, OSPI, and SAO to assure proper and complete terms are included in agreement documentation. 4. Collect and review weekly Certified Payroll Reports from contractors and subcontractors upon commencement of applicable projects until completion. 5. Confirmation of receipt and review of Certified Payroll Reports shall be verified prior to vendor payments. A contributing factor to this internal control weakness was turnover in key compliance positions during the time the contracts were being processed and construction was commencing. This finding effectively carried over from the prior audit period September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022, to the current audit period September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023. The final invoices for this project were received by the District in March 2023. The finding was originally identified after March 2023 and responded to in May 2023. The opportunity had passed for the District to include prevailing wage clauses in the contract and collect weekly certified payroll from the contractor. The internal control processes listed above were put into place after the project was completed. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolve this finding and thank the District for its cooperation and assistance during the audit. We will review the status of the District’s corrective action during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports.
SCHEDULE OF FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS Clarkston School District No. J250-185 September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023 2023-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425D 0120416 COVID-19, 84.425U 0138012 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142141 COVID-19, 84.425W 0459522 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142503 COVID-19, 84.425U 0137011 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142368 COVID-19, 84.425D 0135902 COVID-19, 84.425D Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: Yes, Finding 2022-001 Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fiscal year 2023, the District spent a total of $1,724,408 of its ESF awards. This included $245,566 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II) subprogram (84.425D), $1,474,038 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $4,804 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP HCY I & II) subprogram (84.425W). The District spent $162,361 in program funds for installing and upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in one school building. Federal regulations require recipients to establish and maintain internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal funds must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractors and their subcontractors to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. The District may use a contracted project manager to collect certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors, but ultimately it is the District‘s responsibility to comply with these requirements and maintain documentation demonstrating compliance. Description of Condition During the 2023 school year, the District spent $162,361 for payments to one contractor and their subcontractors to install and upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system controls in one school to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect, or ensure the project manager collected, weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor and their subcontractors to confirm they paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness, which led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were unaware of federal wage rate requirements. The District relied on the project manager to manage the project and verify the contractor and subcontractors submitted weekly certified payroll reports to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website before the District paid the contractor, but did not document this process. They did not know that this process, while sufficient for state requirements, does not meet federal requirements. Further, District staff were unaware of the requirement to collect certified payrolls reports each week. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls to ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could also be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractors and subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contracts. The District did not collect all weekly certified payrolls for one contractor and their subcontractors. Recommendation We recommend the District establish internal controls to ensure compliance with federal wage rate requirements. This should include implementing effective monitoring processes to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The Clarkston School District welcomes the State Auditor’s Office review of federal wage rate requirements in our use of federal funds for the Grantham Elementary HVAC construction project. We agree with the auditor’s findings that our internal control structure was inadequate to ensure compliance with wage rate requirements. The following internal control processes have been implemented effective May 2023. 1. Identify public works projects and other contracts that require compliance with federal wage rate requirements through regular communication with District administrators and maintenance/operations management staff. 2. Complete and enhance the Districts contracts checklists for agreements entered into with contractors, agencies or purchasing cooperatives for the contraction of public works projects. 3. Consult with ESD, OSPI, and SAO to assure proper and complete terms are included in agreement documentation. 4. Collect and review weekly Certified Payroll Reports from contractors and subcontractors upon commencement of applicable projects until completion. 5. Confirmation of receipt and review of Certified Payroll Reports shall be verified prior to vendor payments. A contributing factor to this internal control weakness was turnover in key compliance positions during the time the contracts were being processed and construction was commencing. This finding effectively carried over from the prior audit period September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022, to the current audit period September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023. The final invoices for this project were received by the District in March 2023. The finding was originally identified after March 2023 and responded to in May 2023. The opportunity had passed for the District to include prevailing wage clauses in the contract and collect weekly certified payroll from the contractor. The internal control processes listed above were put into place after the project was completed. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolve this finding and thank the District for its cooperation and assistance during the audit. We will review the status of the District’s corrective action during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports.
SCHEDULE OF FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS Clarkston School District No. J250-185 September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023 2023-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425D 0120416 COVID-19, 84.425U 0138012 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142141 COVID-19, 84.425W 0459522 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142503 COVID-19, 84.425U 0137011 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142368 COVID-19, 84.425D 0135902 COVID-19, 84.425D Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: Yes, Finding 2022-001 Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fiscal year 2023, the District spent a total of $1,724,408 of its ESF awards. This included $245,566 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II) subprogram (84.425D), $1,474,038 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $4,804 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP HCY I & II) subprogram (84.425W). The District spent $162,361 in program funds for installing and upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in one school building. Federal regulations require recipients to establish and maintain internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal funds must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractors and their subcontractors to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. The District may use a contracted project manager to collect certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors, but ultimately it is the District‘s responsibility to comply with these requirements and maintain documentation demonstrating compliance. Description of Condition During the 2023 school year, the District spent $162,361 for payments to one contractor and their subcontractors to install and upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system controls in one school to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect, or ensure the project manager collected, weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor and their subcontractors to confirm they paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness, which led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were unaware of federal wage rate requirements. The District relied on the project manager to manage the project and verify the contractor and subcontractors submitted weekly certified payroll reports to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website before the District paid the contractor, but did not document this process. They did not know that this process, while sufficient for state requirements, does not meet federal requirements. Further, District staff were unaware of the requirement to collect certified payrolls reports each week. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls to ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could also be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractors and subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contracts. The District did not collect all weekly certified payrolls for one contractor and their subcontractors. Recommendation We recommend the District establish internal controls to ensure compliance with federal wage rate requirements. This should include implementing effective monitoring processes to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The Clarkston School District welcomes the State Auditor’s Office review of federal wage rate requirements in our use of federal funds for the Grantham Elementary HVAC construction project. We agree with the auditor’s findings that our internal control structure was inadequate to ensure compliance with wage rate requirements. The following internal control processes have been implemented effective May 2023. 1. Identify public works projects and other contracts that require compliance with federal wage rate requirements through regular communication with District administrators and maintenance/operations management staff. 2. Complete and enhance the Districts contracts checklists for agreements entered into with contractors, agencies or purchasing cooperatives for the contraction of public works projects. 3. Consult with ESD, OSPI, and SAO to assure proper and complete terms are included in agreement documentation. 4. Collect and review weekly Certified Payroll Reports from contractors and subcontractors upon commencement of applicable projects until completion. 5. Confirmation of receipt and review of Certified Payroll Reports shall be verified prior to vendor payments. A contributing factor to this internal control weakness was turnover in key compliance positions during the time the contracts were being processed and construction was commencing. This finding effectively carried over from the prior audit period September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022, to the current audit period September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023. The final invoices for this project were received by the District in March 2023. The finding was originally identified after March 2023 and responded to in May 2023. The opportunity had passed for the District to include prevailing wage clauses in the contract and collect weekly certified payroll from the contractor. The internal control processes listed above were put into place after the project was completed. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolve this finding and thank the District for its cooperation and assistance during the audit. We will review the status of the District’s corrective action during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports.
SCHEDULE OF FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS Clarkston School District No. J250-185 September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023 2023-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425D 0120416 COVID-19, 84.425U 0138012 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142141 COVID-19, 84.425W 0459522 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142503 COVID-19, 84.425U 0137011 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142368 COVID-19, 84.425D 0135902 COVID-19, 84.425D Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: Yes, Finding 2022-001 Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fiscal year 2023, the District spent a total of $1,724,408 of its ESF awards. This included $245,566 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II) subprogram (84.425D), $1,474,038 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $4,804 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP HCY I & II) subprogram (84.425W). The District spent $162,361 in program funds for installing and upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in one school building. Federal regulations require recipients to establish and maintain internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal funds must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractors and their subcontractors to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. The District may use a contracted project manager to collect certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors, but ultimately it is the District‘s responsibility to comply with these requirements and maintain documentation demonstrating compliance. Description of Condition During the 2023 school year, the District spent $162,361 for payments to one contractor and their subcontractors to install and upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system controls in one school to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect, or ensure the project manager collected, weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor and their subcontractors to confirm they paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness, which led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were unaware of federal wage rate requirements. The District relied on the project manager to manage the project and verify the contractor and subcontractors submitted weekly certified payroll reports to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website before the District paid the contractor, but did not document this process. They did not know that this process, while sufficient for state requirements, does not meet federal requirements. Further, District staff were unaware of the requirement to collect certified payrolls reports each week. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls to ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could also be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractors and subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contracts. The District did not collect all weekly certified payrolls for one contractor and their subcontractors. Recommendation We recommend the District establish internal controls to ensure compliance with federal wage rate requirements. This should include implementing effective monitoring processes to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The Clarkston School District welcomes the State Auditor’s Office review of federal wage rate requirements in our use of federal funds for the Grantham Elementary HVAC construction project. We agree with the auditor’s findings that our internal control structure was inadequate to ensure compliance with wage rate requirements. The following internal control processes have been implemented effective May 2023. 1. Identify public works projects and other contracts that require compliance with federal wage rate requirements through regular communication with District administrators and maintenance/operations management staff. 2. Complete and enhance the Districts contracts checklists for agreements entered into with contractors, agencies or purchasing cooperatives for the contraction of public works projects. 3. Consult with ESD, OSPI, and SAO to assure proper and complete terms are included in agreement documentation. 4. Collect and review weekly Certified Payroll Reports from contractors and subcontractors upon commencement of applicable projects until completion. 5. Confirmation of receipt and review of Certified Payroll Reports shall be verified prior to vendor payments. A contributing factor to this internal control weakness was turnover in key compliance positions during the time the contracts were being processed and construction was commencing. This finding effectively carried over from the prior audit period September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022, to the current audit period September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023. The final invoices for this project were received by the District in March 2023. The finding was originally identified after March 2023 and responded to in May 2023. The opportunity had passed for the District to include prevailing wage clauses in the contract and collect weekly certified payroll from the contractor. The internal control processes listed above were put into place after the project was completed. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolve this finding and thank the District for its cooperation and assistance during the audit. We will review the status of the District’s corrective action during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports.
SCHEDULE OF FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS Clarkston School District No. J250-185 September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023 2023-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425D 0120416 COVID-19, 84.425U 0138012 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142141 COVID-19, 84.425W 0459522 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142503 COVID-19, 84.425U 0137011 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142368 COVID-19, 84.425D 0135902 COVID-19, 84.425D Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: Yes, Finding 2022-001 Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fiscal year 2023, the District spent a total of $1,724,408 of its ESF awards. This included $245,566 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II) subprogram (84.425D), $1,474,038 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $4,804 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP HCY I & II) subprogram (84.425W). The District spent $162,361 in program funds for installing and upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in one school building. Federal regulations require recipients to establish and maintain internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal funds must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractors and their subcontractors to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. The District may use a contracted project manager to collect certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors, but ultimately it is the District‘s responsibility to comply with these requirements and maintain documentation demonstrating compliance. Description of Condition During the 2023 school year, the District spent $162,361 for payments to one contractor and their subcontractors to install and upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system controls in one school to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect, or ensure the project manager collected, weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor and their subcontractors to confirm they paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness, which led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were unaware of federal wage rate requirements. The District relied on the project manager to manage the project and verify the contractor and subcontractors submitted weekly certified payroll reports to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website before the District paid the contractor, but did not document this process. They did not know that this process, while sufficient for state requirements, does not meet federal requirements. Further, District staff were unaware of the requirement to collect certified payrolls reports each week. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls to ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could also be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractors and subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contracts. The District did not collect all weekly certified payrolls for one contractor and their subcontractors. Recommendation We recommend the District establish internal controls to ensure compliance with federal wage rate requirements. This should include implementing effective monitoring processes to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The Clarkston School District welcomes the State Auditor’s Office review of federal wage rate requirements in our use of federal funds for the Grantham Elementary HVAC construction project. We agree with the auditor’s findings that our internal control structure was inadequate to ensure compliance with wage rate requirements. The following internal control processes have been implemented effective May 2023. 1. Identify public works projects and other contracts that require compliance with federal wage rate requirements through regular communication with District administrators and maintenance/operations management staff. 2. Complete and enhance the Districts contracts checklists for agreements entered into with contractors, agencies or purchasing cooperatives for the contraction of public works projects. 3. Consult with ESD, OSPI, and SAO to assure proper and complete terms are included in agreement documentation. 4. Collect and review weekly Certified Payroll Reports from contractors and subcontractors upon commencement of applicable projects until completion. 5. Confirmation of receipt and review of Certified Payroll Reports shall be verified prior to vendor payments. A contributing factor to this internal control weakness was turnover in key compliance positions during the time the contracts were being processed and construction was commencing. This finding effectively carried over from the prior audit period September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022, to the current audit period September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023. The final invoices for this project were received by the District in March 2023. The finding was originally identified after March 2023 and responded to in May 2023. The opportunity had passed for the District to include prevailing wage clauses in the contract and collect weekly certified payroll from the contractor. The internal control processes listed above were put into place after the project was completed. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolve this finding and thank the District for its cooperation and assistance during the audit. We will review the status of the District’s corrective action during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports.
SCHEDULE OF FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS Clarkston School District No. J250-185 September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023 2023-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425D 0120416 COVID-19, 84.425U 0138012 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142141 COVID-19, 84.425W 0459522 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142503 COVID-19, 84.425U 0137011 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142368 COVID-19, 84.425D 0135902 COVID-19, 84.425D Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: Yes, Finding 2022-001 Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fiscal year 2023, the District spent a total of $1,724,408 of its ESF awards. This included $245,566 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II) subprogram (84.425D), $1,474,038 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $4,804 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP HCY I & II) subprogram (84.425W). The District spent $162,361 in program funds for installing and upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in one school building. Federal regulations require recipients to establish and maintain internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal funds must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractors and their subcontractors to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. The District may use a contracted project manager to collect certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors, but ultimately it is the District‘s responsibility to comply with these requirements and maintain documentation demonstrating compliance. Description of Condition During the 2023 school year, the District spent $162,361 for payments to one contractor and their subcontractors to install and upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system controls in one school to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect, or ensure the project manager collected, weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor and their subcontractors to confirm they paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness, which led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were unaware of federal wage rate requirements. The District relied on the project manager to manage the project and verify the contractor and subcontractors submitted weekly certified payroll reports to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website before the District paid the contractor, but did not document this process. They did not know that this process, while sufficient for state requirements, does not meet federal requirements. Further, District staff were unaware of the requirement to collect certified payrolls reports each week. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls to ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could also be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractors and subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contracts. The District did not collect all weekly certified payrolls for one contractor and their subcontractors. Recommendation We recommend the District establish internal controls to ensure compliance with federal wage rate requirements. This should include implementing effective monitoring processes to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The Clarkston School District welcomes the State Auditor’s Office review of federal wage rate requirements in our use of federal funds for the Grantham Elementary HVAC construction project. We agree with the auditor’s findings that our internal control structure was inadequate to ensure compliance with wage rate requirements. The following internal control processes have been implemented effective May 2023. 1. Identify public works projects and other contracts that require compliance with federal wage rate requirements through regular communication with District administrators and maintenance/operations management staff. 2. Complete and enhance the Districts contracts checklists for agreements entered into with contractors, agencies or purchasing cooperatives for the contraction of public works projects. 3. Consult with ESD, OSPI, and SAO to assure proper and complete terms are included in agreement documentation. 4. Collect and review weekly Certified Payroll Reports from contractors and subcontractors upon commencement of applicable projects until completion. 5. Confirmation of receipt and review of Certified Payroll Reports shall be verified prior to vendor payments. A contributing factor to this internal control weakness was turnover in key compliance positions during the time the contracts were being processed and construction was commencing. This finding effectively carried over from the prior audit period September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022, to the current audit period September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023. The final invoices for this project were received by the District in March 2023. The finding was originally identified after March 2023 and responded to in May 2023. The opportunity had passed for the District to include prevailing wage clauses in the contract and collect weekly certified payroll from the contractor. The internal control processes listed above were put into place after the project was completed. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolve this finding and thank the District for its cooperation and assistance during the audit. We will review the status of the District’s corrective action during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports.
SCHEDULE OF FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS Clarkston School District No. J250-185 September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023 2023-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425D 0120416 COVID-19, 84.425U 0138012 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142141 COVID-19, 84.425W 0459522 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142503 COVID-19, 84.425U 0137011 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142368 COVID-19, 84.425D 0135902 COVID-19, 84.425D Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: Yes, Finding 2022-001 Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fiscal year 2023, the District spent a total of $1,724,408 of its ESF awards. This included $245,566 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II) subprogram (84.425D), $1,474,038 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $4,804 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP HCY I & II) subprogram (84.425W). The District spent $162,361 in program funds for installing and upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in one school building. Federal regulations require recipients to establish and maintain internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal funds must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractors and their subcontractors to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. The District may use a contracted project manager to collect certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors, but ultimately it is the District‘s responsibility to comply with these requirements and maintain documentation demonstrating compliance. Description of Condition During the 2023 school year, the District spent $162,361 for payments to one contractor and their subcontractors to install and upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system controls in one school to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect, or ensure the project manager collected, weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor and their subcontractors to confirm they paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness, which led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were unaware of federal wage rate requirements. The District relied on the project manager to manage the project and verify the contractor and subcontractors submitted weekly certified payroll reports to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website before the District paid the contractor, but did not document this process. They did not know that this process, while sufficient for state requirements, does not meet federal requirements. Further, District staff were unaware of the requirement to collect certified payrolls reports each week. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls to ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could also be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractors and subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contracts. The District did not collect all weekly certified payrolls for one contractor and their subcontractors. Recommendation We recommend the District establish internal controls to ensure compliance with federal wage rate requirements. This should include implementing effective monitoring processes to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The Clarkston School District welcomes the State Auditor’s Office review of federal wage rate requirements in our use of federal funds for the Grantham Elementary HVAC construction project. We agree with the auditor’s findings that our internal control structure was inadequate to ensure compliance with wage rate requirements. The following internal control processes have been implemented effective May 2023. 1. Identify public works projects and other contracts that require compliance with federal wage rate requirements through regular communication with District administrators and maintenance/operations management staff. 2. Complete and enhance the Districts contracts checklists for agreements entered into with contractors, agencies or purchasing cooperatives for the contraction of public works projects. 3. Consult with ESD, OSPI, and SAO to assure proper and complete terms are included in agreement documentation. 4. Collect and review weekly Certified Payroll Reports from contractors and subcontractors upon commencement of applicable projects until completion. 5. Confirmation of receipt and review of Certified Payroll Reports shall be verified prior to vendor payments. A contributing factor to this internal control weakness was turnover in key compliance positions during the time the contracts were being processed and construction was commencing. This finding effectively carried over from the prior audit period September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022, to the current audit period September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023. The final invoices for this project were received by the District in March 2023. The finding was originally identified after March 2023 and responded to in May 2023. The opportunity had passed for the District to include prevailing wage clauses in the contract and collect weekly certified payroll from the contractor. The internal control processes listed above were put into place after the project was completed. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolve this finding and thank the District for its cooperation and assistance during the audit. We will review the status of the District’s corrective action during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports.
SCHEDULE OF FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS Clarkston School District No. J250-185 September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023 2023-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425D 0120416 COVID-19, 84.425U 0138012 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142141 COVID-19, 84.425W 0459522 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142503 COVID-19, 84.425U 0137011 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142368 COVID-19, 84.425D 0135902 COVID-19, 84.425D Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: Yes, Finding 2022-001 Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fiscal year 2023, the District spent a total of $1,724,408 of its ESF awards. This included $245,566 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II) subprogram (84.425D), $1,474,038 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $4,804 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP HCY I & II) subprogram (84.425W). The District spent $162,361 in program funds for installing and upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in one school building. Federal regulations require recipients to establish and maintain internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal funds must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractors and their subcontractors to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. The District may use a contracted project manager to collect certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors, but ultimately it is the District‘s responsibility to comply with these requirements and maintain documentation demonstrating compliance. Description of Condition During the 2023 school year, the District spent $162,361 for payments to one contractor and their subcontractors to install and upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system controls in one school to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect, or ensure the project manager collected, weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor and their subcontractors to confirm they paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness, which led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were unaware of federal wage rate requirements. The District relied on the project manager to manage the project and verify the contractor and subcontractors submitted weekly certified payroll reports to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website before the District paid the contractor, but did not document this process. They did not know that this process, while sufficient for state requirements, does not meet federal requirements. Further, District staff were unaware of the requirement to collect certified payrolls reports each week. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls to ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could also be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractors and subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contracts. The District did not collect all weekly certified payrolls for one contractor and their subcontractors. Recommendation We recommend the District establish internal controls to ensure compliance with federal wage rate requirements. This should include implementing effective monitoring processes to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The Clarkston School District welcomes the State Auditor’s Office review of federal wage rate requirements in our use of federal funds for the Grantham Elementary HVAC construction project. We agree with the auditor’s findings that our internal control structure was inadequate to ensure compliance with wage rate requirements. The following internal control processes have been implemented effective May 2023. 1. Identify public works projects and other contracts that require compliance with federal wage rate requirements through regular communication with District administrators and maintenance/operations management staff. 2. Complete and enhance the Districts contracts checklists for agreements entered into with contractors, agencies or purchasing cooperatives for the contraction of public works projects. 3. Consult with ESD, OSPI, and SAO to assure proper and complete terms are included in agreement documentation. 4. Collect and review weekly Certified Payroll Reports from contractors and subcontractors upon commencement of applicable projects until completion. 5. Confirmation of receipt and review of Certified Payroll Reports shall be verified prior to vendor payments. A contributing factor to this internal control weakness was turnover in key compliance positions during the time the contracts were being processed and construction was commencing. This finding effectively carried over from the prior audit period September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022, to the current audit period September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023. The final invoices for this project were received by the District in March 2023. The finding was originally identified after March 2023 and responded to in May 2023. The opportunity had passed for the District to include prevailing wage clauses in the contract and collect weekly certified payroll from the contractor. The internal control processes listed above were put into place after the project was completed. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolve this finding and thank the District for its cooperation and assistance during the audit. We will review the status of the District’s corrective action during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports.
SCHEDULE OF FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS Clarkston School District No. J250-185 September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023 2023-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425D 0120416 COVID-19, 84.425U 0138012 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142141 COVID-19, 84.425W 0459522 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142503 COVID-19, 84.425U 0137011 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142368 COVID-19, 84.425D 0135902 COVID-19, 84.425D Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: Yes, Finding 2022-001 Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fiscal year 2023, the District spent a total of $1,724,408 of its ESF awards. This included $245,566 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II) subprogram (84.425D), $1,474,038 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $4,804 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP HCY I & II) subprogram (84.425W). The District spent $162,361 in program funds for installing and upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in one school building. Federal regulations require recipients to establish and maintain internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal funds must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractors and their subcontractors to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. The District may use a contracted project manager to collect certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors, but ultimately it is the District‘s responsibility to comply with these requirements and maintain documentation demonstrating compliance. Description of Condition During the 2023 school year, the District spent $162,361 for payments to one contractor and their subcontractors to install and upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system controls in one school to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect, or ensure the project manager collected, weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor and their subcontractors to confirm they paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness, which led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were unaware of federal wage rate requirements. The District relied on the project manager to manage the project and verify the contractor and subcontractors submitted weekly certified payroll reports to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website before the District paid the contractor, but did not document this process. They did not know that this process, while sufficient for state requirements, does not meet federal requirements. Further, District staff were unaware of the requirement to collect certified payrolls reports each week. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls to ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could also be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractors and subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contracts. The District did not collect all weekly certified payrolls for one contractor and their subcontractors. Recommendation We recommend the District establish internal controls to ensure compliance with federal wage rate requirements. This should include implementing effective monitoring processes to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The Clarkston School District welcomes the State Auditor’s Office review of federal wage rate requirements in our use of federal funds for the Grantham Elementary HVAC construction project. We agree with the auditor’s findings that our internal control structure was inadequate to ensure compliance with wage rate requirements. The following internal control processes have been implemented effective May 2023. 1. Identify public works projects and other contracts that require compliance with federal wage rate requirements through regular communication with District administrators and maintenance/operations management staff. 2. Complete and enhance the Districts contracts checklists for agreements entered into with contractors, agencies or purchasing cooperatives for the contraction of public works projects. 3. Consult with ESD, OSPI, and SAO to assure proper and complete terms are included in agreement documentation. 4. Collect and review weekly Certified Payroll Reports from contractors and subcontractors upon commencement of applicable projects until completion. 5. Confirmation of receipt and review of Certified Payroll Reports shall be verified prior to vendor payments. A contributing factor to this internal control weakness was turnover in key compliance positions during the time the contracts were being processed and construction was commencing. This finding effectively carried over from the prior audit period September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022, to the current audit period September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023. The final invoices for this project were received by the District in March 2023. The finding was originally identified after March 2023 and responded to in May 2023. The opportunity had passed for the District to include prevailing wage clauses in the contract and collect weekly certified payroll from the contractor. The internal control processes listed above were put into place after the project was completed. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolve this finding and thank the District for its cooperation and assistance during the audit. We will review the status of the District’s corrective action during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports.
SCHEDULE OF FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS Clarkston School District No. J250-185 September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023 2023-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425D 0120416 COVID-19, 84.425U 0138012 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142141 COVID-19, 84.425W 0459522 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142503 COVID-19, 84.425U 0137011 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142368 COVID-19, 84.425D 0135902 COVID-19, 84.425D Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: Yes, Finding 2022-001 Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fiscal year 2023, the District spent a total of $1,724,408 of its ESF awards. This included $245,566 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II) subprogram (84.425D), $1,474,038 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $4,804 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP HCY I & II) subprogram (84.425W). The District spent $162,361 in program funds for installing and upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in one school building. Federal regulations require recipients to establish and maintain internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal funds must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractors and their subcontractors to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. The District may use a contracted project manager to collect certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors, but ultimately it is the District‘s responsibility to comply with these requirements and maintain documentation demonstrating compliance. Description of Condition During the 2023 school year, the District spent $162,361 for payments to one contractor and their subcontractors to install and upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system controls in one school to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect, or ensure the project manager collected, weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor and their subcontractors to confirm they paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness, which led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were unaware of federal wage rate requirements. The District relied on the project manager to manage the project and verify the contractor and subcontractors submitted weekly certified payroll reports to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website before the District paid the contractor, but did not document this process. They did not know that this process, while sufficient for state requirements, does not meet federal requirements. Further, District staff were unaware of the requirement to collect certified payrolls reports each week. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls to ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could also be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractors and subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contracts. The District did not collect all weekly certified payrolls for one contractor and their subcontractors. Recommendation We recommend the District establish internal controls to ensure compliance with federal wage rate requirements. This should include implementing effective monitoring processes to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The Clarkston School District welcomes the State Auditor’s Office review of federal wage rate requirements in our use of federal funds for the Grantham Elementary HVAC construction project. We agree with the auditor’s findings that our internal control structure was inadequate to ensure compliance with wage rate requirements. The following internal control processes have been implemented effective May 2023. 1. Identify public works projects and other contracts that require compliance with federal wage rate requirements through regular communication with District administrators and maintenance/operations management staff. 2. Complete and enhance the Districts contracts checklists for agreements entered into with contractors, agencies or purchasing cooperatives for the contraction of public works projects. 3. Consult with ESD, OSPI, and SAO to assure proper and complete terms are included in agreement documentation. 4. Collect and review weekly Certified Payroll Reports from contractors and subcontractors upon commencement of applicable projects until completion. 5. Confirmation of receipt and review of Certified Payroll Reports shall be verified prior to vendor payments. A contributing factor to this internal control weakness was turnover in key compliance positions during the time the contracts were being processed and construction was commencing. This finding effectively carried over from the prior audit period September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022, to the current audit period September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023. The final invoices for this project were received by the District in March 2023. The finding was originally identified after March 2023 and responded to in May 2023. The opportunity had passed for the District to include prevailing wage clauses in the contract and collect weekly certified payroll from the contractor. The internal control processes listed above were put into place after the project was completed. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolve this finding and thank the District for its cooperation and assistance during the audit. We will review the status of the District’s corrective action during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports.
SCHEDULE OF FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS Clarkston School District No. J250-185 September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023 2023-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425D 0120416 COVID-19, 84.425U 0138012 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142141 COVID-19, 84.425W 0459522 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142503 COVID-19, 84.425U 0137011 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142368 COVID-19, 84.425D 0135902 COVID-19, 84.425D Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: Yes, Finding 2022-001 Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fiscal year 2023, the District spent a total of $1,724,408 of its ESF awards. This included $245,566 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II) subprogram (84.425D), $1,474,038 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $4,804 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP HCY I & II) subprogram (84.425W). The District spent $162,361 in program funds for installing and upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in one school building. Federal regulations require recipients to establish and maintain internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal funds must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractors and their subcontractors to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. The District may use a contracted project manager to collect certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors, but ultimately it is the District‘s responsibility to comply with these requirements and maintain documentation demonstrating compliance. Description of Condition During the 2023 school year, the District spent $162,361 for payments to one contractor and their subcontractors to install and upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system controls in one school to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect, or ensure the project manager collected, weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor and their subcontractors to confirm they paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness, which led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were unaware of federal wage rate requirements. The District relied on the project manager to manage the project and verify the contractor and subcontractors submitted weekly certified payroll reports to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website before the District paid the contractor, but did not document this process. They did not know that this process, while sufficient for state requirements, does not meet federal requirements. Further, District staff were unaware of the requirement to collect certified payrolls reports each week. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls to ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could also be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractors and subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contracts. The District did not collect all weekly certified payrolls for one contractor and their subcontractors. Recommendation We recommend the District establish internal controls to ensure compliance with federal wage rate requirements. This should include implementing effective monitoring processes to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The Clarkston School District welcomes the State Auditor’s Office review of federal wage rate requirements in our use of federal funds for the Grantham Elementary HVAC construction project. We agree with the auditor’s findings that our internal control structure was inadequate to ensure compliance with wage rate requirements. The following internal control processes have been implemented effective May 2023. 1. Identify public works projects and other contracts that require compliance with federal wage rate requirements through regular communication with District administrators and maintenance/operations management staff. 2. Complete and enhance the Districts contracts checklists for agreements entered into with contractors, agencies or purchasing cooperatives for the contraction of public works projects. 3. Consult with ESD, OSPI, and SAO to assure proper and complete terms are included in agreement documentation. 4. Collect and review weekly Certified Payroll Reports from contractors and subcontractors upon commencement of applicable projects until completion. 5. Confirmation of receipt and review of Certified Payroll Reports shall be verified prior to vendor payments. A contributing factor to this internal control weakness was turnover in key compliance positions during the time the contracts were being processed and construction was commencing. This finding effectively carried over from the prior audit period September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022, to the current audit period September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023. The final invoices for this project were received by the District in March 2023. The finding was originally identified after March 2023 and responded to in May 2023. The opportunity had passed for the District to include prevailing wage clauses in the contract and collect weekly certified payroll from the contractor. The internal control processes listed above were put into place after the project was completed. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolve this finding and thank the District for its cooperation and assistance during the audit. We will review the status of the District’s corrective action during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports.
SCHEDULE OF FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS Clarkston School District No. J250-185 September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023 2023-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425D 0120416 COVID-19, 84.425U 0138012 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142141 COVID-19, 84.425W 0459522 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142503 COVID-19, 84.425U 0137011 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142368 COVID-19, 84.425D 0135902 COVID-19, 84.425D Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: Yes, Finding 2022-001 Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fiscal year 2023, the District spent a total of $1,724,408 of its ESF awards. This included $245,566 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II) subprogram (84.425D), $1,474,038 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $4,804 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP HCY I & II) subprogram (84.425W). The District spent $162,361 in program funds for installing and upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in one school building. Federal regulations require recipients to establish and maintain internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal funds must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractors and their subcontractors to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. The District may use a contracted project manager to collect certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors, but ultimately it is the District‘s responsibility to comply with these requirements and maintain documentation demonstrating compliance. Description of Condition During the 2023 school year, the District spent $162,361 for payments to one contractor and their subcontractors to install and upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system controls in one school to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect, or ensure the project manager collected, weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor and their subcontractors to confirm they paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness, which led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were unaware of federal wage rate requirements. The District relied on the project manager to manage the project and verify the contractor and subcontractors submitted weekly certified payroll reports to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website before the District paid the contractor, but did not document this process. They did not know that this process, while sufficient for state requirements, does not meet federal requirements. Further, District staff were unaware of the requirement to collect certified payrolls reports each week. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls to ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could also be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractors and subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contracts. The District did not collect all weekly certified payrolls for one contractor and their subcontractors. Recommendation We recommend the District establish internal controls to ensure compliance with federal wage rate requirements. This should include implementing effective monitoring processes to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The Clarkston School District welcomes the State Auditor’s Office review of federal wage rate requirements in our use of federal funds for the Grantham Elementary HVAC construction project. We agree with the auditor’s findings that our internal control structure was inadequate to ensure compliance with wage rate requirements. The following internal control processes have been implemented effective May 2023. 1. Identify public works projects and other contracts that require compliance with federal wage rate requirements through regular communication with District administrators and maintenance/operations management staff. 2. Complete and enhance the Districts contracts checklists for agreements entered into with contractors, agencies or purchasing cooperatives for the contraction of public works projects. 3. Consult with ESD, OSPI, and SAO to assure proper and complete terms are included in agreement documentation. 4. Collect and review weekly Certified Payroll Reports from contractors and subcontractors upon commencement of applicable projects until completion. 5. Confirmation of receipt and review of Certified Payroll Reports shall be verified prior to vendor payments. A contributing factor to this internal control weakness was turnover in key compliance positions during the time the contracts were being processed and construction was commencing. This finding effectively carried over from the prior audit period September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022, to the current audit period September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023. The final invoices for this project were received by the District in March 2023. The finding was originally identified after March 2023 and responded to in May 2023. The opportunity had passed for the District to include prevailing wage clauses in the contract and collect weekly certified payroll from the contractor. The internal control processes listed above were put into place after the project was completed. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolve this finding and thank the District for its cooperation and assistance during the audit. We will review the status of the District’s corrective action during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports.
SCHEDULE OF FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS Clarkston School District No. J250-185 September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023 2023-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425D 0120416 COVID-19, 84.425U 0138012 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142141 COVID-19, 84.425W 0459522 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142503 COVID-19, 84.425U 0137011 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142368 COVID-19, 84.425D 0135902 COVID-19, 84.425D Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: Yes, Finding 2022-001 Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fiscal year 2023, the District spent a total of $1,724,408 of its ESF awards. This included $245,566 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II) subprogram (84.425D), $1,474,038 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $4,804 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP HCY I & II) subprogram (84.425W). The District spent $162,361 in program funds for installing and upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in one school building. Federal regulations require recipients to establish and maintain internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal funds must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractors and their subcontractors to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. The District may use a contracted project manager to collect certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors, but ultimately it is the District‘s responsibility to comply with these requirements and maintain documentation demonstrating compliance. Description of Condition During the 2023 school year, the District spent $162,361 for payments to one contractor and their subcontractors to install and upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system controls in one school to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect, or ensure the project manager collected, weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor and their subcontractors to confirm they paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness, which led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were unaware of federal wage rate requirements. The District relied on the project manager to manage the project and verify the contractor and subcontractors submitted weekly certified payroll reports to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website before the District paid the contractor, but did not document this process. They did not know that this process, while sufficient for state requirements, does not meet federal requirements. Further, District staff were unaware of the requirement to collect certified payrolls reports each week. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls to ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could also be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractors and subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contracts. The District did not collect all weekly certified payrolls for one contractor and their subcontractors. Recommendation We recommend the District establish internal controls to ensure compliance with federal wage rate requirements. This should include implementing effective monitoring processes to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The Clarkston School District welcomes the State Auditor’s Office review of federal wage rate requirements in our use of federal funds for the Grantham Elementary HVAC construction project. We agree with the auditor’s findings that our internal control structure was inadequate to ensure compliance with wage rate requirements. The following internal control processes have been implemented effective May 2023. 1. Identify public works projects and other contracts that require compliance with federal wage rate requirements through regular communication with District administrators and maintenance/operations management staff. 2. Complete and enhance the Districts contracts checklists for agreements entered into with contractors, agencies or purchasing cooperatives for the contraction of public works projects. 3. Consult with ESD, OSPI, and SAO to assure proper and complete terms are included in agreement documentation. 4. Collect and review weekly Certified Payroll Reports from contractors and subcontractors upon commencement of applicable projects until completion. 5. Confirmation of receipt and review of Certified Payroll Reports shall be verified prior to vendor payments. A contributing factor to this internal control weakness was turnover in key compliance positions during the time the contracts were being processed and construction was commencing. This finding effectively carried over from the prior audit period September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022, to the current audit period September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023. The final invoices for this project were received by the District in March 2023. The finding was originally identified after March 2023 and responded to in May 2023. The opportunity had passed for the District to include prevailing wage clauses in the contract and collect weekly certified payroll from the contractor. The internal control processes listed above were put into place after the project was completed. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolve this finding and thank the District for its cooperation and assistance during the audit. We will review the status of the District’s corrective action during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports.
SCHEDULE OF FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS Clarkston School District No. J250-185 September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023 2023-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425D 0120416 COVID-19, 84.425U 0138012 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142141 COVID-19, 84.425W 0459522 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142503 COVID-19, 84.425U 0137011 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142368 COVID-19, 84.425D 0135902 COVID-19, 84.425D Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: Yes, Finding 2022-001 Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fiscal year 2023, the District spent a total of $1,724,408 of its ESF awards. This included $245,566 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II) subprogram (84.425D), $1,474,038 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $4,804 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP HCY I & II) subprogram (84.425W). The District spent $162,361 in program funds for installing and upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in one school building. Federal regulations require recipients to establish and maintain internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal funds must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractors and their subcontractors to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. The District may use a contracted project manager to collect certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors, but ultimately it is the District‘s responsibility to comply with these requirements and maintain documentation demonstrating compliance. Description of Condition During the 2023 school year, the District spent $162,361 for payments to one contractor and their subcontractors to install and upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system controls in one school to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect, or ensure the project manager collected, weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor and their subcontractors to confirm they paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness, which led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were unaware of federal wage rate requirements. The District relied on the project manager to manage the project and verify the contractor and subcontractors submitted weekly certified payroll reports to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website before the District paid the contractor, but did not document this process. They did not know that this process, while sufficient for state requirements, does not meet federal requirements. Further, District staff were unaware of the requirement to collect certified payrolls reports each week. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls to ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could also be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractors and subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contracts. The District did not collect all weekly certified payrolls for one contractor and their subcontractors. Recommendation We recommend the District establish internal controls to ensure compliance with federal wage rate requirements. This should include implementing effective monitoring processes to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The Clarkston School District welcomes the State Auditor’s Office review of federal wage rate requirements in our use of federal funds for the Grantham Elementary HVAC construction project. We agree with the auditor’s findings that our internal control structure was inadequate to ensure compliance with wage rate requirements. The following internal control processes have been implemented effective May 2023. 1. Identify public works projects and other contracts that require compliance with federal wage rate requirements through regular communication with District administrators and maintenance/operations management staff. 2. Complete and enhance the Districts contracts checklists for agreements entered into with contractors, agencies or purchasing cooperatives for the contraction of public works projects. 3. Consult with ESD, OSPI, and SAO to assure proper and complete terms are included in agreement documentation. 4. Collect and review weekly Certified Payroll Reports from contractors and subcontractors upon commencement of applicable projects until completion. 5. Confirmation of receipt and review of Certified Payroll Reports shall be verified prior to vendor payments. A contributing factor to this internal control weakness was turnover in key compliance positions during the time the contracts were being processed and construction was commencing. This finding effectively carried over from the prior audit period September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022, to the current audit period September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023. The final invoices for this project were received by the District in March 2023. The finding was originally identified after March 2023 and responded to in May 2023. The opportunity had passed for the District to include prevailing wage clauses in the contract and collect weekly certified payroll from the contractor. The internal control processes listed above were put into place after the project was completed. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolve this finding and thank the District for its cooperation and assistance during the audit. We will review the status of the District’s corrective action during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports.
SCHEDULE OF FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS Clarkston School District No. J250-185 September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023 2023-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425D 0120416 COVID-19, 84.425U 0138012 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142141 COVID-19, 84.425W 0459522 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142503 COVID-19, 84.425U 0137011 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142368 COVID-19, 84.425D 0135902 COVID-19, 84.425D Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: Yes, Finding 2022-001 Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fiscal year 2023, the District spent a total of $1,724,408 of its ESF awards. This included $245,566 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II) subprogram (84.425D), $1,474,038 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $4,804 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP HCY I & II) subprogram (84.425W). The District spent $162,361 in program funds for installing and upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in one school building. Federal regulations require recipients to establish and maintain internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal funds must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractors and their subcontractors to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. The District may use a contracted project manager to collect certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors, but ultimately it is the District‘s responsibility to comply with these requirements and maintain documentation demonstrating compliance. Description of Condition During the 2023 school year, the District spent $162,361 for payments to one contractor and their subcontractors to install and upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system controls in one school to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect, or ensure the project manager collected, weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor and their subcontractors to confirm they paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness, which led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were unaware of federal wage rate requirements. The District relied on the project manager to manage the project and verify the contractor and subcontractors submitted weekly certified payroll reports to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website before the District paid the contractor, but did not document this process. They did not know that this process, while sufficient for state requirements, does not meet federal requirements. Further, District staff were unaware of the requirement to collect certified payrolls reports each week. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls to ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could also be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractors and subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contracts. The District did not collect all weekly certified payrolls for one contractor and their subcontractors. Recommendation We recommend the District establish internal controls to ensure compliance with federal wage rate requirements. This should include implementing effective monitoring processes to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The Clarkston School District welcomes the State Auditor’s Office review of federal wage rate requirements in our use of federal funds for the Grantham Elementary HVAC construction project. We agree with the auditor’s findings that our internal control structure was inadequate to ensure compliance with wage rate requirements. The following internal control processes have been implemented effective May 2023. 1. Identify public works projects and other contracts that require compliance with federal wage rate requirements through regular communication with District administrators and maintenance/operations management staff. 2. Complete and enhance the Districts contracts checklists for agreements entered into with contractors, agencies or purchasing cooperatives for the contraction of public works projects. 3. Consult with ESD, OSPI, and SAO to assure proper and complete terms are included in agreement documentation. 4. Collect and review weekly Certified Payroll Reports from contractors and subcontractors upon commencement of applicable projects until completion. 5. Confirmation of receipt and review of Certified Payroll Reports shall be verified prior to vendor payments. A contributing factor to this internal control weakness was turnover in key compliance positions during the time the contracts were being processed and construction was commencing. This finding effectively carried over from the prior audit period September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022, to the current audit period September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023. The final invoices for this project were received by the District in March 2023. The finding was originally identified after March 2023 and responded to in May 2023. The opportunity had passed for the District to include prevailing wage clauses in the contract and collect weekly certified payroll from the contractor. The internal control processes listed above were put into place after the project was completed. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolve this finding and thank the District for its cooperation and assistance during the audit. We will review the status of the District’s corrective action during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports.
SCHEDULE OF FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS Clarkston School District No. J250-185 September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023 2023-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425D 0120416 COVID-19, 84.425U 0138012 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142141 COVID-19, 84.425W 0459522 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142503 COVID-19, 84.425U 0137011 COVID-19, 84.425U 0142368 COVID-19, 84.425D 0135902 COVID-19, 84.425D Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: Yes, Finding 2022-001 Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fiscal year 2023, the District spent a total of $1,724,408 of its ESF awards. This included $245,566 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II) subprogram (84.425D), $1,474,038 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $4,804 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP HCY I & II) subprogram (84.425W). The District spent $162,361 in program funds for installing and upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in one school building. Federal regulations require recipients to establish and maintain internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal funds must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractors and their subcontractors to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. The District may use a contracted project manager to collect certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors, but ultimately it is the District‘s responsibility to comply with these requirements and maintain documentation demonstrating compliance. Description of Condition During the 2023 school year, the District spent $162,361 for payments to one contractor and their subcontractors to install and upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system controls in one school to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect, or ensure the project manager collected, weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor and their subcontractors to confirm they paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness, which led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were unaware of federal wage rate requirements. The District relied on the project manager to manage the project and verify the contractor and subcontractors submitted weekly certified payroll reports to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website before the District paid the contractor, but did not document this process. They did not know that this process, while sufficient for state requirements, does not meet federal requirements. Further, District staff were unaware of the requirement to collect certified payrolls reports each week. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls to ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could also be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractors and subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contracts. The District did not collect all weekly certified payrolls for one contractor and their subcontractors. Recommendation We recommend the District establish internal controls to ensure compliance with federal wage rate requirements. This should include implementing effective monitoring processes to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The Clarkston School District welcomes the State Auditor’s Office review of federal wage rate requirements in our use of federal funds for the Grantham Elementary HVAC construction project. We agree with the auditor’s findings that our internal control structure was inadequate to ensure compliance with wage rate requirements. The following internal control processes have been implemented effective May 2023. 1. Identify public works projects and other contracts that require compliance with federal wage rate requirements through regular communication with District administrators and maintenance/operations management staff. 2. Complete and enhance the Districts contracts checklists for agreements entered into with contractors, agencies or purchasing cooperatives for the contraction of public works projects. 3. Consult with ESD, OSPI, and SAO to assure proper and complete terms are included in agreement documentation. 4. Collect and review weekly Certified Payroll Reports from contractors and subcontractors upon commencement of applicable projects until completion. 5. Confirmation of receipt and review of Certified Payroll Reports shall be verified prior to vendor payments. A contributing factor to this internal control weakness was turnover in key compliance positions during the time the contracts were being processed and construction was commencing. This finding effectively carried over from the prior audit period September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022, to the current audit period September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023. The final invoices for this project were received by the District in March 2023. The finding was originally identified after March 2023 and responded to in May 2023. The opportunity had passed for the District to include prevailing wage clauses in the contract and collect weekly certified payroll from the contractor. The internal control processes listed above were put into place after the project was completed. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolve this finding and thank the District for its cooperation and assistance during the audit. We will review the status of the District’s corrective action during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports.