Audit 307117

FY End
2023-08-31
Total Expended
$6.10M
Findings
10
Programs
18
Year: 2023 Accepted: 2024-05-23

Organization Exclusion Status:

Checking exclusion status...

Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
398424 2023-001 Material Weakness - I
398425 2023-001 Material Weakness - I
398426 2023-001 Material Weakness - I
398427 2023-001 Material Weakness - I
398428 2023-001 Material Weakness - I
974866 2023-001 Material Weakness - I
974867 2023-001 Material Weakness - I
974868 2023-001 Material Weakness - I
974869 2023-001 Material Weakness - I
974870 2023-001 Material Weakness - I

Contacts

Name Title Type
FZSTKCKMLM27 Dan King Auditee
3602772107 Amy Strzalka Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: NOTE 3—PROGRAM COSTS/MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS Accounting Policies: This Schedule is prepared on the same basis of accounting as North Mason School District’s financial statements. North Mason School District uses the modified accrual basis of accounting. Expenditures represent only the federally funded portions of the program. North Mason School District records should be consulted to determine amounts expended or matched from non-federal sources. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: North Mason School District has not elected to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance. North Mason School District used the federal restricted rate of 2.61% and the federal restricted rate of 18.07%. The amounts shown as current year expenses represent only the federal award portion of the program costs. Entire program costs, including North Mason 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: This Schedule is prepared on the same basis of accounting as North Mason School District’s financial statements. North Mason School District uses the modified accrual basis of accounting. Expenditures represent only the federally funded portions of the program. North Mason School District records should be consulted to determine amounts expended or matched from non-federal sources. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: North Mason School District has not elected to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance. North Mason School District used the federal restricted rate of 2.61% and the federal restricted rate of 18.07%. The total amount of commodities reported on the schedule is the value of commodities distributed by North Mason School District during the 2022-2023 fiscal year and priced as prescribed by OSPI.
Title: NOTE 5—SCHOOLWIDE PROGRAMS Accounting Policies: This Schedule is prepared on the same basis of accounting as North Mason School District’s financial statements. North Mason School District uses the modified accrual basis of accounting. Expenditures represent only the federally funded portions of the program. North Mason School District records should be consulted to determine amounts expended or matched from non-federal sources. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: North Mason School District has not elected to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance. North Mason School District used the federal restricted rate of 2.61% and the federal restricted rate of 18.07%. North Mason School District operates a “schoolwide program” in two elementary buildings, a middle school, and alternative high school. 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) $601,376.55.
Title: NOTE 6—SUPPLY CHAIN ASSISTANCE Accounting Policies: This Schedule is prepared on the same basis of accounting as North Mason School District’s financial statements. North Mason School District uses the modified accrual basis of accounting. Expenditures represent only the federally funded portions of the program. North Mason School District records should be consulted to determine amounts expended or matched from non-federal sources. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: North Mason School District has not elected to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance. North Mason School District used the federal restricted rate of 2.61% and the federal restricted rate of 18.07%. School districts who received Supply Chain Assistance under Revenue Code 6198-11 should report their 2022-23 apportionment allocation amount on their SEFA. Supply Chain Assistance CFDA/ALN #10.555 is considered a formula grant and the revenues should be recorded on the SEFA.
Title: NOTE 7—EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY FUND (ECF) Accounting Policies: This Schedule is prepared on the same basis of accounting as North Mason School District’s financial statements. North Mason School District uses the modified accrual basis of accounting. Expenditures represent only the federally funded portions of the program. North Mason School District records should be consulted to determine amounts expended or matched from non-federal sources. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: North Mason School District has not elected to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance. North Mason School District used the federal restricted rate of 2.61% and the federal restricted rate of 18.07%. The FCC Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) helps schools and libraries ensure students are connected to participate in online learning during the COVID-19 emergency period. The ECF Program will cover reasonable costs of laptop and tablet computers; Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, and broadband connectivity purchases for off-campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons.
Title: NOTE 8—ESSER Community Eligibility Program (CEP) Accounting Policies: This Schedule is prepared on the same basis of accounting as North Mason School District’s financial statements. North Mason School District uses the modified accrual basis of accounting. Expenditures represent only the federally funded portions of the program. North Mason School District records should be consulted to determine amounts expended or matched from non-federal sources. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: North Mason School District has not elected to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance. North Mason School District used the federal restricted rate of 2.61% and the federal restricted rate of 18.07%. Consistent with Legislative intent to spend approximately $36 million of federal COVID relief funds on a combination of the federal Community Eligibility Program (CEP) and the implementation of House Bill 1238, and consistent with Congressional intent to ensure all federal pandemic funds support student well-being and learning, Washington State budget language (ESSB 5187, Section 508) directs the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to utilize up to $28,500,000 of federal ESSER II (CRRSA) funds solely for reimbursements to school districts for schools and groups of schools required to participate in the federal CEP for meals not reimbursed at the federal free meal rate and $7,426,000 of ESSER II and EANS (CRRSA/GEER) funds solely for implementation of HB 1238 (free school meals).
Title: NOTE 9-FEMA COVID-19 DISASTER GRANT Accounting Policies: This Schedule is prepared on the same basis of accounting as North Mason School District’s financial statements. North Mason School District uses the modified accrual basis of accounting. Expenditures represent only the federally funded portions of the program. North Mason School District records should be consulted to determine amounts expended or matched from non-federal sources. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: North Mason School District has not elected to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance. North Mason School District used the federal restricted rate of 2.61% and the federal restricted rate of 18.07%. North Mason School District applied for and received a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant for COVID-19 Disaster Relief. Expenditures incurred in 2022-23 FY were for costs for extra custodial staff required for clean and safe schools. Custodial staff were essential for sanitizing classrooms and workspaces daily and performed multiple rounds of bathroom cleaning to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Finding Details

2023-001 The District lacked adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal suspension and debarment requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 10.553 – School Breakfast Program 10.555 – National School Lunch Program 10.559 – Summer Food Service Program for Children 10.582 – Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: N/A Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The District participates in the Child Nutrition Cluster, which includes the School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program, and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. These programs provide free or reduced-price meals to students from families with low incomes. In the 2022–2023 school year, the District received $1,161,452 in federal funding to administer these programs. 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. Federal regulations prohibit recipients from contracting with or purchasing from parties suspended or debarred from doing business with the federal government. Whenever the District enters into contracts or purchases goods or services that it expects to equal or exceed $25,000, paid all or in part with federal funds, it must verify that the contractors have not been suspended or debarred or otherwise excluded. The District may verify this by obtaining a written certification from the contractor, adding a clause or condition into the contract that states the contractor is not suspended or debarred or checking for exclusion records in the U.S. General Services Administration’s System for Award Management at SAM.gov. The District must verify this before entering into the contract, and must maintain documentation demonstrating compliance with this federal requirement. Description of Condition Our audit found the District’s controls were ineffective for ensuring that it verified all parties receiving $25,000 or more in federal funds were not suspended or debarred. The District could not provide documentation showing it obtained a written certification, included a clause in the contract or searched for exclusion records in SAM.gov to verify that one of its three contractors we tested was not suspended or debarred before contracting. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition The District experienced turnover in the position responsible for documenting the verification. District staff was unable to find documentation showing evidence that they performed the suspension and debarment verification for one contractor. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls, the District cannot ensure the contractor it paid with federal funds is eligible to participate in federal programs. Any program funds the District used to pay contractors that have been suspended or debarred would be unallowable, and the federal awarding agency could potentially recover them. During the 2022–2023 school year, the District paid the contractor $69,874 of program funds for food service items. We verified the contractor was not suspended or debarred, so we are not questioning these costs. Recommendation We recommend the District strengthen its internal controls to ensure that all contractors it pays $25,000 or more, all or in part with federal funds, are not suspended or debarred from participating in federal programs before entering into contracts with them. District’s Response The District was experiencing high turnover with leadership roles in both its Food Service Department and Business Office when the failure to ensure compliance with federal suspension and debarment requirements occurred with one of its procurement contracts in August 2022. For corrective action the District put in place a requirement that all purchase order requests involving federal funds that amount to (or potentially could amount to) $25,000 or higher must include as an attachment in Skyward Financial Management the contract (when applicable) with verification that the vendor is not suspended and debarred and/or current documentation from Sam.gov verifying the vendor is not suspended or debarred. Any requisition involving federal funds that could amount to or exceed $25,000 that does not also include suspension and debarment verification will not be approved by the finance director and Business Office staff who process purchase order requests (as a control, both the finance director and the accounts payable technician must approve the request). Further, by requiring the suspension and debarment verification in Skyward as an attachment with the purchase order request, Business Office staff (regardless of staff turnover) will be able quickly locate and retrieve the documentation as needed for future audits and other external or internal purposes. 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 corrective action taken during our next regular 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 2 CFR Part 180, OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement), establishes nonprocurement debarment and suspension regulations, implementing Executive Orders 12549 and 12689.
2023-001 The District lacked adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal suspension and debarment requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 10.553 – School Breakfast Program 10.555 – National School Lunch Program 10.559 – Summer Food Service Program for Children 10.582 – Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: N/A Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The District participates in the Child Nutrition Cluster, which includes the School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program, and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. These programs provide free or reduced-price meals to students from families with low incomes. In the 2022–2023 school year, the District received $1,161,452 in federal funding to administer these programs. 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. Federal regulations prohibit recipients from contracting with or purchasing from parties suspended or debarred from doing business with the federal government. Whenever the District enters into contracts or purchases goods or services that it expects to equal or exceed $25,000, paid all or in part with federal funds, it must verify that the contractors have not been suspended or debarred or otherwise excluded. The District may verify this by obtaining a written certification from the contractor, adding a clause or condition into the contract that states the contractor is not suspended or debarred or checking for exclusion records in the U.S. General Services Administration’s System for Award Management at SAM.gov. The District must verify this before entering into the contract, and must maintain documentation demonstrating compliance with this federal requirement. Description of Condition Our audit found the District’s controls were ineffective for ensuring that it verified all parties receiving $25,000 or more in federal funds were not suspended or debarred. The District could not provide documentation showing it obtained a written certification, included a clause in the contract or searched for exclusion records in SAM.gov to verify that one of its three contractors we tested was not suspended or debarred before contracting. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition The District experienced turnover in the position responsible for documenting the verification. District staff was unable to find documentation showing evidence that they performed the suspension and debarment verification for one contractor. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls, the District cannot ensure the contractor it paid with federal funds is eligible to participate in federal programs. Any program funds the District used to pay contractors that have been suspended or debarred would be unallowable, and the federal awarding agency could potentially recover them. During the 2022–2023 school year, the District paid the contractor $69,874 of program funds for food service items. We verified the contractor was not suspended or debarred, so we are not questioning these costs. Recommendation We recommend the District strengthen its internal controls to ensure that all contractors it pays $25,000 or more, all or in part with federal funds, are not suspended or debarred from participating in federal programs before entering into contracts with them. District’s Response The District was experiencing high turnover with leadership roles in both its Food Service Department and Business Office when the failure to ensure compliance with federal suspension and debarment requirements occurred with one of its procurement contracts in August 2022. For corrective action the District put in place a requirement that all purchase order requests involving federal funds that amount to (or potentially could amount to) $25,000 or higher must include as an attachment in Skyward Financial Management the contract (when applicable) with verification that the vendor is not suspended and debarred and/or current documentation from Sam.gov verifying the vendor is not suspended or debarred. Any requisition involving federal funds that could amount to or exceed $25,000 that does not also include suspension and debarment verification will not be approved by the finance director and Business Office staff who process purchase order requests (as a control, both the finance director and the accounts payable technician must approve the request). Further, by requiring the suspension and debarment verification in Skyward as an attachment with the purchase order request, Business Office staff (regardless of staff turnover) will be able quickly locate and retrieve the documentation as needed for future audits and other external or internal purposes. 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 corrective action taken during our next regular 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 2 CFR Part 180, OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement), establishes nonprocurement debarment and suspension regulations, implementing Executive Orders 12549 and 12689.
2023-001 The District lacked adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal suspension and debarment requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 10.553 – School Breakfast Program 10.555 – National School Lunch Program 10.559 – Summer Food Service Program for Children 10.582 – Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: N/A Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The District participates in the Child Nutrition Cluster, which includes the School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program, and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. These programs provide free or reduced-price meals to students from families with low incomes. In the 2022–2023 school year, the District received $1,161,452 in federal funding to administer these programs. 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. Federal regulations prohibit recipients from contracting with or purchasing from parties suspended or debarred from doing business with the federal government. Whenever the District enters into contracts or purchases goods or services that it expects to equal or exceed $25,000, paid all or in part with federal funds, it must verify that the contractors have not been suspended or debarred or otherwise excluded. The District may verify this by obtaining a written certification from the contractor, adding a clause or condition into the contract that states the contractor is not suspended or debarred or checking for exclusion records in the U.S. General Services Administration’s System for Award Management at SAM.gov. The District must verify this before entering into the contract, and must maintain documentation demonstrating compliance with this federal requirement. Description of Condition Our audit found the District’s controls were ineffective for ensuring that it verified all parties receiving $25,000 or more in federal funds were not suspended or debarred. The District could not provide documentation showing it obtained a written certification, included a clause in the contract or searched for exclusion records in SAM.gov to verify that one of its three contractors we tested was not suspended or debarred before contracting. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition The District experienced turnover in the position responsible for documenting the verification. District staff was unable to find documentation showing evidence that they performed the suspension and debarment verification for one contractor. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls, the District cannot ensure the contractor it paid with federal funds is eligible to participate in federal programs. Any program funds the District used to pay contractors that have been suspended or debarred would be unallowable, and the federal awarding agency could potentially recover them. During the 2022–2023 school year, the District paid the contractor $69,874 of program funds for food service items. We verified the contractor was not suspended or debarred, so we are not questioning these costs. Recommendation We recommend the District strengthen its internal controls to ensure that all contractors it pays $25,000 or more, all or in part with federal funds, are not suspended or debarred from participating in federal programs before entering into contracts with them. District’s Response The District was experiencing high turnover with leadership roles in both its Food Service Department and Business Office when the failure to ensure compliance with federal suspension and debarment requirements occurred with one of its procurement contracts in August 2022. For corrective action the District put in place a requirement that all purchase order requests involving federal funds that amount to (or potentially could amount to) $25,000 or higher must include as an attachment in Skyward Financial Management the contract (when applicable) with verification that the vendor is not suspended and debarred and/or current documentation from Sam.gov verifying the vendor is not suspended or debarred. Any requisition involving federal funds that could amount to or exceed $25,000 that does not also include suspension and debarment verification will not be approved by the finance director and Business Office staff who process purchase order requests (as a control, both the finance director and the accounts payable technician must approve the request). Further, by requiring the suspension and debarment verification in Skyward as an attachment with the purchase order request, Business Office staff (regardless of staff turnover) will be able quickly locate and retrieve the documentation as needed for future audits and other external or internal purposes. 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 corrective action taken during our next regular 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 2 CFR Part 180, OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement), establishes nonprocurement debarment and suspension regulations, implementing Executive Orders 12549 and 12689.
2023-001 The District lacked adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal suspension and debarment requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 10.553 – School Breakfast Program 10.555 – National School Lunch Program 10.559 – Summer Food Service Program for Children 10.582 – Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: N/A Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The District participates in the Child Nutrition Cluster, which includes the School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program, and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. These programs provide free or reduced-price meals to students from families with low incomes. In the 2022–2023 school year, the District received $1,161,452 in federal funding to administer these programs. 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. Federal regulations prohibit recipients from contracting with or purchasing from parties suspended or debarred from doing business with the federal government. Whenever the District enters into contracts or purchases goods or services that it expects to equal or exceed $25,000, paid all or in part with federal funds, it must verify that the contractors have not been suspended or debarred or otherwise excluded. The District may verify this by obtaining a written certification from the contractor, adding a clause or condition into the contract that states the contractor is not suspended or debarred or checking for exclusion records in the U.S. General Services Administration’s System for Award Management at SAM.gov. The District must verify this before entering into the contract, and must maintain documentation demonstrating compliance with this federal requirement. Description of Condition Our audit found the District’s controls were ineffective for ensuring that it verified all parties receiving $25,000 or more in federal funds were not suspended or debarred. The District could not provide documentation showing it obtained a written certification, included a clause in the contract or searched for exclusion records in SAM.gov to verify that one of its three contractors we tested was not suspended or debarred before contracting. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition The District experienced turnover in the position responsible for documenting the verification. District staff was unable to find documentation showing evidence that they performed the suspension and debarment verification for one contractor. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls, the District cannot ensure the contractor it paid with federal funds is eligible to participate in federal programs. Any program funds the District used to pay contractors that have been suspended or debarred would be unallowable, and the federal awarding agency could potentially recover them. During the 2022–2023 school year, the District paid the contractor $69,874 of program funds for food service items. We verified the contractor was not suspended or debarred, so we are not questioning these costs. Recommendation We recommend the District strengthen its internal controls to ensure that all contractors it pays $25,000 or more, all or in part with federal funds, are not suspended or debarred from participating in federal programs before entering into contracts with them. District’s Response The District was experiencing high turnover with leadership roles in both its Food Service Department and Business Office when the failure to ensure compliance with federal suspension and debarment requirements occurred with one of its procurement contracts in August 2022. For corrective action the District put in place a requirement that all purchase order requests involving federal funds that amount to (or potentially could amount to) $25,000 or higher must include as an attachment in Skyward Financial Management the contract (when applicable) with verification that the vendor is not suspended and debarred and/or current documentation from Sam.gov verifying the vendor is not suspended or debarred. Any requisition involving federal funds that could amount to or exceed $25,000 that does not also include suspension and debarment verification will not be approved by the finance director and Business Office staff who process purchase order requests (as a control, both the finance director and the accounts payable technician must approve the request). Further, by requiring the suspension and debarment verification in Skyward as an attachment with the purchase order request, Business Office staff (regardless of staff turnover) will be able quickly locate and retrieve the documentation as needed for future audits and other external or internal purposes. 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 corrective action taken during our next regular 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 2 CFR Part 180, OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement), establishes nonprocurement debarment and suspension regulations, implementing Executive Orders 12549 and 12689.
2023-001 The District lacked adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal suspension and debarment requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 10.553 – School Breakfast Program 10.555 – National School Lunch Program 10.559 – Summer Food Service Program for Children 10.582 – Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: N/A Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The District participates in the Child Nutrition Cluster, which includes the School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program, and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. These programs provide free or reduced-price meals to students from families with low incomes. In the 2022–2023 school year, the District received $1,161,452 in federal funding to administer these programs. 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. Federal regulations prohibit recipients from contracting with or purchasing from parties suspended or debarred from doing business with the federal government. Whenever the District enters into contracts or purchases goods or services that it expects to equal or exceed $25,000, paid all or in part with federal funds, it must verify that the contractors have not been suspended or debarred or otherwise excluded. The District may verify this by obtaining a written certification from the contractor, adding a clause or condition into the contract that states the contractor is not suspended or debarred or checking for exclusion records in the U.S. General Services Administration’s System for Award Management at SAM.gov. The District must verify this before entering into the contract, and must maintain documentation demonstrating compliance with this federal requirement. Description of Condition Our audit found the District’s controls were ineffective for ensuring that it verified all parties receiving $25,000 or more in federal funds were not suspended or debarred. The District could not provide documentation showing it obtained a written certification, included a clause in the contract or searched for exclusion records in SAM.gov to verify that one of its three contractors we tested was not suspended or debarred before contracting. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition The District experienced turnover in the position responsible for documenting the verification. District staff was unable to find documentation showing evidence that they performed the suspension and debarment verification for one contractor. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls, the District cannot ensure the contractor it paid with federal funds is eligible to participate in federal programs. Any program funds the District used to pay contractors that have been suspended or debarred would be unallowable, and the federal awarding agency could potentially recover them. During the 2022–2023 school year, the District paid the contractor $69,874 of program funds for food service items. We verified the contractor was not suspended or debarred, so we are not questioning these costs. Recommendation We recommend the District strengthen its internal controls to ensure that all contractors it pays $25,000 or more, all or in part with federal funds, are not suspended or debarred from participating in federal programs before entering into contracts with them. District’s Response The District was experiencing high turnover with leadership roles in both its Food Service Department and Business Office when the failure to ensure compliance with federal suspension and debarment requirements occurred with one of its procurement contracts in August 2022. For corrective action the District put in place a requirement that all purchase order requests involving federal funds that amount to (or potentially could amount to) $25,000 or higher must include as an attachment in Skyward Financial Management the contract (when applicable) with verification that the vendor is not suspended and debarred and/or current documentation from Sam.gov verifying the vendor is not suspended or debarred. Any requisition involving federal funds that could amount to or exceed $25,000 that does not also include suspension and debarment verification will not be approved by the finance director and Business Office staff who process purchase order requests (as a control, both the finance director and the accounts payable technician must approve the request). Further, by requiring the suspension and debarment verification in Skyward as an attachment with the purchase order request, Business Office staff (regardless of staff turnover) will be able quickly locate and retrieve the documentation as needed for future audits and other external or internal purposes. 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 corrective action taken during our next regular 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 2 CFR Part 180, OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement), establishes nonprocurement debarment and suspension regulations, implementing Executive Orders 12549 and 12689.
2023-001 The District lacked adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal suspension and debarment requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 10.553 – School Breakfast Program 10.555 – National School Lunch Program 10.559 – Summer Food Service Program for Children 10.582 – Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: N/A Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The District participates in the Child Nutrition Cluster, which includes the School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program, and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. These programs provide free or reduced-price meals to students from families with low incomes. In the 2022–2023 school year, the District received $1,161,452 in federal funding to administer these programs. 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. Federal regulations prohibit recipients from contracting with or purchasing from parties suspended or debarred from doing business with the federal government. Whenever the District enters into contracts or purchases goods or services that it expects to equal or exceed $25,000, paid all or in part with federal funds, it must verify that the contractors have not been suspended or debarred or otherwise excluded. The District may verify this by obtaining a written certification from the contractor, adding a clause or condition into the contract that states the contractor is not suspended or debarred or checking for exclusion records in the U.S. General Services Administration’s System for Award Management at SAM.gov. The District must verify this before entering into the contract, and must maintain documentation demonstrating compliance with this federal requirement. Description of Condition Our audit found the District’s controls were ineffective for ensuring that it verified all parties receiving $25,000 or more in federal funds were not suspended or debarred. The District could not provide documentation showing it obtained a written certification, included a clause in the contract or searched for exclusion records in SAM.gov to verify that one of its three contractors we tested was not suspended or debarred before contracting. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition The District experienced turnover in the position responsible for documenting the verification. District staff was unable to find documentation showing evidence that they performed the suspension and debarment verification for one contractor. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls, the District cannot ensure the contractor it paid with federal funds is eligible to participate in federal programs. Any program funds the District used to pay contractors that have been suspended or debarred would be unallowable, and the federal awarding agency could potentially recover them. During the 2022–2023 school year, the District paid the contractor $69,874 of program funds for food service items. We verified the contractor was not suspended or debarred, so we are not questioning these costs. Recommendation We recommend the District strengthen its internal controls to ensure that all contractors it pays $25,000 or more, all or in part with federal funds, are not suspended or debarred from participating in federal programs before entering into contracts with them. District’s Response The District was experiencing high turnover with leadership roles in both its Food Service Department and Business Office when the failure to ensure compliance with federal suspension and debarment requirements occurred with one of its procurement contracts in August 2022. For corrective action the District put in place a requirement that all purchase order requests involving federal funds that amount to (or potentially could amount to) $25,000 or higher must include as an attachment in Skyward Financial Management the contract (when applicable) with verification that the vendor is not suspended and debarred and/or current documentation from Sam.gov verifying the vendor is not suspended or debarred. Any requisition involving federal funds that could amount to or exceed $25,000 that does not also include suspension and debarment verification will not be approved by the finance director and Business Office staff who process purchase order requests (as a control, both the finance director and the accounts payable technician must approve the request). Further, by requiring the suspension and debarment verification in Skyward as an attachment with the purchase order request, Business Office staff (regardless of staff turnover) will be able quickly locate and retrieve the documentation as needed for future audits and other external or internal purposes. 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 corrective action taken during our next regular 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 2 CFR Part 180, OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement), establishes nonprocurement debarment and suspension regulations, implementing Executive Orders 12549 and 12689.
2023-001 The District lacked adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal suspension and debarment requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 10.553 – School Breakfast Program 10.555 – National School Lunch Program 10.559 – Summer Food Service Program for Children 10.582 – Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: N/A Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The District participates in the Child Nutrition Cluster, which includes the School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program, and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. These programs provide free or reduced-price meals to students from families with low incomes. In the 2022–2023 school year, the District received $1,161,452 in federal funding to administer these programs. 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. Federal regulations prohibit recipients from contracting with or purchasing from parties suspended or debarred from doing business with the federal government. Whenever the District enters into contracts or purchases goods or services that it expects to equal or exceed $25,000, paid all or in part with federal funds, it must verify that the contractors have not been suspended or debarred or otherwise excluded. The District may verify this by obtaining a written certification from the contractor, adding a clause or condition into the contract that states the contractor is not suspended or debarred or checking for exclusion records in the U.S. General Services Administration’s System for Award Management at SAM.gov. The District must verify this before entering into the contract, and must maintain documentation demonstrating compliance with this federal requirement. Description of Condition Our audit found the District’s controls were ineffective for ensuring that it verified all parties receiving $25,000 or more in federal funds were not suspended or debarred. The District could not provide documentation showing it obtained a written certification, included a clause in the contract or searched for exclusion records in SAM.gov to verify that one of its three contractors we tested was not suspended or debarred before contracting. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition The District experienced turnover in the position responsible for documenting the verification. District staff was unable to find documentation showing evidence that they performed the suspension and debarment verification for one contractor. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls, the District cannot ensure the contractor it paid with federal funds is eligible to participate in federal programs. Any program funds the District used to pay contractors that have been suspended or debarred would be unallowable, and the federal awarding agency could potentially recover them. During the 2022–2023 school year, the District paid the contractor $69,874 of program funds for food service items. We verified the contractor was not suspended or debarred, so we are not questioning these costs. Recommendation We recommend the District strengthen its internal controls to ensure that all contractors it pays $25,000 or more, all or in part with federal funds, are not suspended or debarred from participating in federal programs before entering into contracts with them. District’s Response The District was experiencing high turnover with leadership roles in both its Food Service Department and Business Office when the failure to ensure compliance with federal suspension and debarment requirements occurred with one of its procurement contracts in August 2022. For corrective action the District put in place a requirement that all purchase order requests involving federal funds that amount to (or potentially could amount to) $25,000 or higher must include as an attachment in Skyward Financial Management the contract (when applicable) with verification that the vendor is not suspended and debarred and/or current documentation from Sam.gov verifying the vendor is not suspended or debarred. Any requisition involving federal funds that could amount to or exceed $25,000 that does not also include suspension and debarment verification will not be approved by the finance director and Business Office staff who process purchase order requests (as a control, both the finance director and the accounts payable technician must approve the request). Further, by requiring the suspension and debarment verification in Skyward as an attachment with the purchase order request, Business Office staff (regardless of staff turnover) will be able quickly locate and retrieve the documentation as needed for future audits and other external or internal purposes. 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 corrective action taken during our next regular 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 2 CFR Part 180, OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement), establishes nonprocurement debarment and suspension regulations, implementing Executive Orders 12549 and 12689.
2023-001 The District lacked adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal suspension and debarment requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 10.553 – School Breakfast Program 10.555 – National School Lunch Program 10.559 – Summer Food Service Program for Children 10.582 – Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: N/A Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The District participates in the Child Nutrition Cluster, which includes the School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program, and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. These programs provide free or reduced-price meals to students from families with low incomes. In the 2022–2023 school year, the District received $1,161,452 in federal funding to administer these programs. 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. Federal regulations prohibit recipients from contracting with or purchasing from parties suspended or debarred from doing business with the federal government. Whenever the District enters into contracts or purchases goods or services that it expects to equal or exceed $25,000, paid all or in part with federal funds, it must verify that the contractors have not been suspended or debarred or otherwise excluded. The District may verify this by obtaining a written certification from the contractor, adding a clause or condition into the contract that states the contractor is not suspended or debarred or checking for exclusion records in the U.S. General Services Administration’s System for Award Management at SAM.gov. The District must verify this before entering into the contract, and must maintain documentation demonstrating compliance with this federal requirement. Description of Condition Our audit found the District’s controls were ineffective for ensuring that it verified all parties receiving $25,000 or more in federal funds were not suspended or debarred. The District could not provide documentation showing it obtained a written certification, included a clause in the contract or searched for exclusion records in SAM.gov to verify that one of its three contractors we tested was not suspended or debarred before contracting. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition The District experienced turnover in the position responsible for documenting the verification. District staff was unable to find documentation showing evidence that they performed the suspension and debarment verification for one contractor. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls, the District cannot ensure the contractor it paid with federal funds is eligible to participate in federal programs. Any program funds the District used to pay contractors that have been suspended or debarred would be unallowable, and the federal awarding agency could potentially recover them. During the 2022–2023 school year, the District paid the contractor $69,874 of program funds for food service items. We verified the contractor was not suspended or debarred, so we are not questioning these costs. Recommendation We recommend the District strengthen its internal controls to ensure that all contractors it pays $25,000 or more, all or in part with federal funds, are not suspended or debarred from participating in federal programs before entering into contracts with them. District’s Response The District was experiencing high turnover with leadership roles in both its Food Service Department and Business Office when the failure to ensure compliance with federal suspension and debarment requirements occurred with one of its procurement contracts in August 2022. For corrective action the District put in place a requirement that all purchase order requests involving federal funds that amount to (or potentially could amount to) $25,000 or higher must include as an attachment in Skyward Financial Management the contract (when applicable) with verification that the vendor is not suspended and debarred and/or current documentation from Sam.gov verifying the vendor is not suspended or debarred. Any requisition involving federal funds that could amount to or exceed $25,000 that does not also include suspension and debarment verification will not be approved by the finance director and Business Office staff who process purchase order requests (as a control, both the finance director and the accounts payable technician must approve the request). Further, by requiring the suspension and debarment verification in Skyward as an attachment with the purchase order request, Business Office staff (regardless of staff turnover) will be able quickly locate and retrieve the documentation as needed for future audits and other external or internal purposes. 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 corrective action taken during our next regular 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 2 CFR Part 180, OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement), establishes nonprocurement debarment and suspension regulations, implementing Executive Orders 12549 and 12689.
2023-001 The District lacked adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal suspension and debarment requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 10.553 – School Breakfast Program 10.555 – National School Lunch Program 10.559 – Summer Food Service Program for Children 10.582 – Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: N/A Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The District participates in the Child Nutrition Cluster, which includes the School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program, and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. These programs provide free or reduced-price meals to students from families with low incomes. In the 2022–2023 school year, the District received $1,161,452 in federal funding to administer these programs. 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. Federal regulations prohibit recipients from contracting with or purchasing from parties suspended or debarred from doing business with the federal government. Whenever the District enters into contracts or purchases goods or services that it expects to equal or exceed $25,000, paid all or in part with federal funds, it must verify that the contractors have not been suspended or debarred or otherwise excluded. The District may verify this by obtaining a written certification from the contractor, adding a clause or condition into the contract that states the contractor is not suspended or debarred or checking for exclusion records in the U.S. General Services Administration’s System for Award Management at SAM.gov. The District must verify this before entering into the contract, and must maintain documentation demonstrating compliance with this federal requirement. Description of Condition Our audit found the District’s controls were ineffective for ensuring that it verified all parties receiving $25,000 or more in federal funds were not suspended or debarred. The District could not provide documentation showing it obtained a written certification, included a clause in the contract or searched for exclusion records in SAM.gov to verify that one of its three contractors we tested was not suspended or debarred before contracting. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition The District experienced turnover in the position responsible for documenting the verification. District staff was unable to find documentation showing evidence that they performed the suspension and debarment verification for one contractor. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls, the District cannot ensure the contractor it paid with federal funds is eligible to participate in federal programs. Any program funds the District used to pay contractors that have been suspended or debarred would be unallowable, and the federal awarding agency could potentially recover them. During the 2022–2023 school year, the District paid the contractor $69,874 of program funds for food service items. We verified the contractor was not suspended or debarred, so we are not questioning these costs. Recommendation We recommend the District strengthen its internal controls to ensure that all contractors it pays $25,000 or more, all or in part with federal funds, are not suspended or debarred from participating in federal programs before entering into contracts with them. District’s Response The District was experiencing high turnover with leadership roles in both its Food Service Department and Business Office when the failure to ensure compliance with federal suspension and debarment requirements occurred with one of its procurement contracts in August 2022. For corrective action the District put in place a requirement that all purchase order requests involving federal funds that amount to (or potentially could amount to) $25,000 or higher must include as an attachment in Skyward Financial Management the contract (when applicable) with verification that the vendor is not suspended and debarred and/or current documentation from Sam.gov verifying the vendor is not suspended or debarred. Any requisition involving federal funds that could amount to or exceed $25,000 that does not also include suspension and debarment verification will not be approved by the finance director and Business Office staff who process purchase order requests (as a control, both the finance director and the accounts payable technician must approve the request). Further, by requiring the suspension and debarment verification in Skyward as an attachment with the purchase order request, Business Office staff (regardless of staff turnover) will be able quickly locate and retrieve the documentation as needed for future audits and other external or internal purposes. 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 corrective action taken during our next regular 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 2 CFR Part 180, OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement), establishes nonprocurement debarment and suspension regulations, implementing Executive Orders 12549 and 12689.
2023-001 The District lacked adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal suspension and debarment requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 10.553 – School Breakfast Program 10.555 – National School Lunch Program 10.559 – Summer Food Service Program for Children 10.582 – Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: N/A Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The District participates in the Child Nutrition Cluster, which includes the School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program, and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. These programs provide free or reduced-price meals to students from families with low incomes. In the 2022–2023 school year, the District received $1,161,452 in federal funding to administer these programs. 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. Federal regulations prohibit recipients from contracting with or purchasing from parties suspended or debarred from doing business with the federal government. Whenever the District enters into contracts or purchases goods or services that it expects to equal or exceed $25,000, paid all or in part with federal funds, it must verify that the contractors have not been suspended or debarred or otherwise excluded. The District may verify this by obtaining a written certification from the contractor, adding a clause or condition into the contract that states the contractor is not suspended or debarred or checking for exclusion records in the U.S. General Services Administration’s System for Award Management at SAM.gov. The District must verify this before entering into the contract, and must maintain documentation demonstrating compliance with this federal requirement. Description of Condition Our audit found the District’s controls were ineffective for ensuring that it verified all parties receiving $25,000 or more in federal funds were not suspended or debarred. The District could not provide documentation showing it obtained a written certification, included a clause in the contract or searched for exclusion records in SAM.gov to verify that one of its three contractors we tested was not suspended or debarred before contracting. We consider this deficiency in internal controls to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition The District experienced turnover in the position responsible for documenting the verification. District staff was unable to find documentation showing evidence that they performed the suspension and debarment verification for one contractor. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls, the District cannot ensure the contractor it paid with federal funds is eligible to participate in federal programs. Any program funds the District used to pay contractors that have been suspended or debarred would be unallowable, and the federal awarding agency could potentially recover them. During the 2022–2023 school year, the District paid the contractor $69,874 of program funds for food service items. We verified the contractor was not suspended or debarred, so we are not questioning these costs. Recommendation We recommend the District strengthen its internal controls to ensure that all contractors it pays $25,000 or more, all or in part with federal funds, are not suspended or debarred from participating in federal programs before entering into contracts with them. District’s Response The District was experiencing high turnover with leadership roles in both its Food Service Department and Business Office when the failure to ensure compliance with federal suspension and debarment requirements occurred with one of its procurement contracts in August 2022. For corrective action the District put in place a requirement that all purchase order requests involving federal funds that amount to (or potentially could amount to) $25,000 or higher must include as an attachment in Skyward Financial Management the contract (when applicable) with verification that the vendor is not suspended and debarred and/or current documentation from Sam.gov verifying the vendor is not suspended or debarred. Any requisition involving federal funds that could amount to or exceed $25,000 that does not also include suspension and debarment verification will not be approved by the finance director and Business Office staff who process purchase order requests (as a control, both the finance director and the accounts payable technician must approve the request). Further, by requiring the suspension and debarment verification in Skyward as an attachment with the purchase order request, Business Office staff (regardless of staff turnover) will be able quickly locate and retrieve the documentation as needed for future audits and other external or internal purposes. 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 corrective action taken during our next regular 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 2 CFR Part 180, OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement), establishes nonprocurement debarment and suspension regulations, implementing Executive Orders 12549 and 12689.