Audit 308341

FY End
2023-06-30
Total Expended
$1.63M
Findings
8
Programs
10
Organization: Blackhawk School District (PA)
Year: 2023 Accepted: 2024-06-07

Organization Exclusion Status:

Checking exclusion status...

Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
400227 2023-002 Material Weakness - L
400228 2023-003 Material Weakness - I
400229 2023-002 Material Weakness - L
400230 2023-002 Material Weakness - L
976669 2023-002 Material Weakness - L
976670 2023-003 Material Weakness - I
976671 2023-002 Material Weakness - L
976672 2023-002 Material Weakness - L

Programs

ALN Program Spent Major Findings
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $344,321 - 0
10.553 School Breakfast Program $130,302 Yes 0
10.555 National School Lunch Program $82,516 Yes 0
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $48,153 - 0
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $22,481 Yes 1
93.778 Medical Assistance Program $5,852 - 0
84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants $5,594 - 0
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $3,139 - 0
10.649 Pandemic Ebt Administrative Costs $628 - 0
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants $518 - 0

Contacts

Name Title Type
LW7DWJJ1JHM5 Chad Agnew Auditee
7245137984 Mark Turnley Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: NOTE 1 - BASIS OF PRESENTATION Accounting Policies: BASIS OF ACCOUNTING: Expenditures reported on the Schedule are presented using the accrual method of accounting. Under this method, grant revenue is recognized to the extent expenditures are incurred. Expenditures are recognized when the liability for the expenditure is incurred rather than when the disbursement is actually made. The federal expenditures are recognized, as applicable, under 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 limited to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The Blackhawk School District utilizes the indirect cost rate as prescribed under the terms of the grant agreement if applicable. The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards (the ‘Schedule’) includes the federal grant activity administered by the Blackhawk School District for the year ended June 30, 2023. The information in this schedule is presented in accordance with the requirements of Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Grant Guidance – UGG). Because the Schedule presents only a selected portion of the operations of the School District, it is not intended to and does not present the financial position or changes in net position of the Blackhawk School District.
Title: NOTE 3 - RELATIONSHIP TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Accounting Policies: BASIS OF ACCOUNTING: Expenditures reported on the Schedule are presented using the accrual method of accounting. Under this method, grant revenue is recognized to the extent expenditures are incurred. Expenditures are recognized when the liability for the expenditure is incurred rather than when the disbursement is actually made. The federal expenditures are recognized, as applicable, under 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 limited to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The Blackhawk School District utilizes the indirect cost rate as prescribed under the terms of the grant agreement if applicable. Federal financial award revenues are included in the financial statements as ‘local source’ and 'federal source' revenues.
Title: NOTE 4 - RECEIVABLES AND UNEARNED REVENUE Accounting Policies: BASIS OF ACCOUNTING: Expenditures reported on the Schedule are presented using the accrual method of accounting. Under this method, grant revenue is recognized to the extent expenditures are incurred. Expenditures are recognized when the liability for the expenditure is incurred rather than when the disbursement is actually made. The federal expenditures are recognized, as applicable, under 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 limited to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The Blackhawk School District utilizes the indirect cost rate as prescribed under the terms of the grant agreement if applicable. Federal grants receivable is included as part of 'due from other governments' in Exhibit A and Exhibit C as referenced in Note 4 to the Financial Statements. Unearned federal grant revenue, if any, is included as part of 'unearned revenue' in Exhibit A and Exhibit C and is referenced in Note 6 to the Financial Statements.
Title: NOTE 5 - NON-CASH ASSISTANCE Accounting Policies: BASIS OF ACCOUNTING: Expenditures reported on the Schedule are presented using the accrual method of accounting. Under this method, grant revenue is recognized to the extent expenditures are incurred. Expenditures are recognized when the liability for the expenditure is incurred rather than when the disbursement is actually made. The federal expenditures are recognized, as applicable, under 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 limited to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The Blackhawk School District utilizes the indirect cost rate as prescribed under the terms of the grant agreement if applicable. The Blackhawk School District received donated commodities from the Department of Agriculture in connection with its food service program. The amount of non-cash assistance expended in the accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards reflects the fair market value of the commodities used during the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

Finding Details

CONDITION: During my review of the District’s compliance with the laws and regulations related to filing its federal grant program ‘Quarterly Cash On Hand Reconciliations’, and ‘Final Expenditure Reports (FER)’, I noted that 1) the School District did not file the required Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliation for its ESSER and ARP ESSER funding for the 3rd fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2023, and 2) the School District did not file the required Final Expenditure Report (FER) for the ESSER II grant program until December 14, 2023. The report was required to be filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) within 30 days of the close of the grant (September 30, 2023), or as soon as funds are obligated, whichever comes first. CRITERIA: The Department of Education requires the completion of the Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliation by the 10th working day after each quarter, and submission of a ‘Final Expenditure Report’ (FER) within 30 days of expending all grant funding. In addition, Section 2 CFR 200.344 of the Uniform Guidance requires the submission of financial reports no later than 90 calendar days after the end date of the grant period for performance (or an earlier date as agreed-upon by the pass-through entity and subrecipient, which in this case is 30 days as required by PDE). EFFECT: The District is not in compliance with the financial reporting requirements for submission and/or timely submission of its Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliations for the 3rd fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2023, and the ‘final expenditure report’ (FER) for its ESSER II grant program in accordance with PDE policy and Section 2 CFR 200.344 of the Uniform Guidance. QUESTIONED COST: None CAUSE: The District had a changeover in the business office during the fiscal year and was without a business manager for a period of months, including the 3rd fiscal quarter of the District’s fiscal year which resulted in the oversight of not filing the required Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliations. In addition, the process of onboarding the District’s contracted third-party accountants and the necessary time needed to ensure the accuracy of the federal reporting of ESSER II funding, caused a delay in the submission of the Final Expenditure Report (FER). RECOMMENDATION: I recommend that the District develop fiscal procedures to ensure that ‘Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliations’ and ‘Final Expenditure Reports’ for future fiscal years are completed and filed in a timely manner based on supporting financial information obtained from the District’s business office, in order to 1) comply with PDE reporting requirements for the District’s applicable federal programs, and 2) to avoid any future sanctions such as suspension of grant payments by PDE as a result of not filing these reports in a timely manner. These procedures should include, at a minimum, cross-training of business office personnel with regard to the completion of these reports so that the absence of one individual would not result in these reports not being filed in a timely manner. VIEWS OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS: The School District concurs with the above noted finding and addresses this issue in the ‘Corrective Action Plan’ included within this report.
CONDITION: During my review of the District’s compliance with the requirements for noncompetitive procurement, I noted the District did not document its rationale for purchases made from ‘Western PA Psych Care’ totaling $26,667. CRITERIA: In accordance with Section 2 CFR 200.318(i) of the Uniform Guidance, the District must maintain records sufficient to detail the history of procurement. These records include but are not limited to the rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type, contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price. Furthermore, Section 2 CFR 200.320(c’) of the Uniform Guidance details five (5) circumstances in which noncompetitive procurement can be used. EFFECT: The District did not comply with Section 2 CFR 200.318(i) and Section 2CFR 200.320(c’) of the Uniform Guidance, and District Procurement Policy #626, regarding the proper documentation required for noncompetitive procurement. QUESTIONED COST: $26,667 CAUSE: The District has had a long-standing relationship with Western PA Psych Care and feels that this vendor best fits the needs of the District. However, the additional procedures addressed in its Procurement Policy for Federal Programs (#626) which addresses the issue of noncompetitive procurement as outlined in Section 2 CFR 200.320(c’), were inadvertently not performed. RECOMMENDATION: I recommend that for all future purchases involving noncompetitive procurement, that the District adhere to the requirements of 1) the District’s Procurement Policy for Federal Programs (#626), and 2) Section 2 CFR 200.320(c) of the Uniform Guidance. VIEWS OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS: The School District concurs with the above noted finding and addresses this issue in the ‘Corrective Action Plan’ included within this report.
CONDITION: During my review of the District’s compliance with the laws and regulations related to filing its federal grant program ‘Quarterly Cash On Hand Reconciliations’, and ‘Final Expenditure Reports (FER)’, I noted that 1) the School District did not file the required Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliation for its ESSER and ARP ESSER funding for the 3rd fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2023, and 2) the School District did not file the required Final Expenditure Report (FER) for the ESSER II grant program until December 14, 2023. The report was required to be filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) within 30 days of the close of the grant (September 30, 2023), or as soon as funds are obligated, whichever comes first. CRITERIA: The Department of Education requires the completion of the Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliation by the 10th working day after each quarter, and submission of a ‘Final Expenditure Report’ (FER) within 30 days of expending all grant funding. In addition, Section 2 CFR 200.344 of the Uniform Guidance requires the submission of financial reports no later than 90 calendar days after the end date of the grant period for performance (or an earlier date as agreed-upon by the pass-through entity and subrecipient, which in this case is 30 days as required by PDE). EFFECT: The District is not in compliance with the financial reporting requirements for submission and/or timely submission of its Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliations for the 3rd fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2023, and the ‘final expenditure report’ (FER) for its ESSER II grant program in accordance with PDE policy and Section 2 CFR 200.344 of the Uniform Guidance. QUESTIONED COST: None CAUSE: The District had a changeover in the business office during the fiscal year and was without a business manager for a period of months, including the 3rd fiscal quarter of the District’s fiscal year which resulted in the oversight of not filing the required Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliations. In addition, the process of onboarding the District’s contracted third-party accountants and the necessary time needed to ensure the accuracy of the federal reporting of ESSER II funding, caused a delay in the submission of the Final Expenditure Report (FER). RECOMMENDATION: I recommend that the District develop fiscal procedures to ensure that ‘Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliations’ and ‘Final Expenditure Reports’ for future fiscal years are completed and filed in a timely manner based on supporting financial information obtained from the District’s business office, in order to 1) comply with PDE reporting requirements for the District’s applicable federal programs, and 2) to avoid any future sanctions such as suspension of grant payments by PDE as a result of not filing these reports in a timely manner. These procedures should include, at a minimum, cross-training of business office personnel with regard to the completion of these reports so that the absence of one individual would not result in these reports not being filed in a timely manner. VIEWS OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS: The School District concurs with the above noted finding and addresses this issue in the ‘Corrective Action Plan’ included within this report.
CONDITION: During my review of the District’s compliance with the laws and regulations related to filing its federal grant program ‘Quarterly Cash On Hand Reconciliations’, and ‘Final Expenditure Reports (FER)’, I noted that 1) the School District did not file the required Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliation for its ESSER and ARP ESSER funding for the 3rd fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2023, and 2) the School District did not file the required Final Expenditure Report (FER) for the ESSER II grant program until December 14, 2023. The report was required to be filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) within 30 days of the close of the grant (September 30, 2023), or as soon as funds are obligated, whichever comes first. CRITERIA: The Department of Education requires the completion of the Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliation by the 10th working day after each quarter, and submission of a ‘Final Expenditure Report’ (FER) within 30 days of expending all grant funding. In addition, Section 2 CFR 200.344 of the Uniform Guidance requires the submission of financial reports no later than 90 calendar days after the end date of the grant period for performance (or an earlier date as agreed-upon by the pass-through entity and subrecipient, which in this case is 30 days as required by PDE). EFFECT: The District is not in compliance with the financial reporting requirements for submission and/or timely submission of its Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliations for the 3rd fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2023, and the ‘final expenditure report’ (FER) for its ESSER II grant program in accordance with PDE policy and Section 2 CFR 200.344 of the Uniform Guidance. QUESTIONED COST: None CAUSE: The District had a changeover in the business office during the fiscal year and was without a business manager for a period of months, including the 3rd fiscal quarter of the District’s fiscal year which resulted in the oversight of not filing the required Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliations. In addition, the process of onboarding the District’s contracted third-party accountants and the necessary time needed to ensure the accuracy of the federal reporting of ESSER II funding, caused a delay in the submission of the Final Expenditure Report (FER). RECOMMENDATION: I recommend that the District develop fiscal procedures to ensure that ‘Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliations’ and ‘Final Expenditure Reports’ for future fiscal years are completed and filed in a timely manner based on supporting financial information obtained from the District’s business office, in order to 1) comply with PDE reporting requirements for the District’s applicable federal programs, and 2) to avoid any future sanctions such as suspension of grant payments by PDE as a result of not filing these reports in a timely manner. These procedures should include, at a minimum, cross-training of business office personnel with regard to the completion of these reports so that the absence of one individual would not result in these reports not being filed in a timely manner. VIEWS OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS: The School District concurs with the above noted finding and addresses this issue in the ‘Corrective Action Plan’ included within this report.
CONDITION: During my review of the District’s compliance with the laws and regulations related to filing its federal grant program ‘Quarterly Cash On Hand Reconciliations’, and ‘Final Expenditure Reports (FER)’, I noted that 1) the School District did not file the required Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliation for its ESSER and ARP ESSER funding for the 3rd fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2023, and 2) the School District did not file the required Final Expenditure Report (FER) for the ESSER II grant program until December 14, 2023. The report was required to be filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) within 30 days of the close of the grant (September 30, 2023), or as soon as funds are obligated, whichever comes first. CRITERIA: The Department of Education requires the completion of the Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliation by the 10th working day after each quarter, and submission of a ‘Final Expenditure Report’ (FER) within 30 days of expending all grant funding. In addition, Section 2 CFR 200.344 of the Uniform Guidance requires the submission of financial reports no later than 90 calendar days after the end date of the grant period for performance (or an earlier date as agreed-upon by the pass-through entity and subrecipient, which in this case is 30 days as required by PDE). EFFECT: The District is not in compliance with the financial reporting requirements for submission and/or timely submission of its Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliations for the 3rd fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2023, and the ‘final expenditure report’ (FER) for its ESSER II grant program in accordance with PDE policy and Section 2 CFR 200.344 of the Uniform Guidance. QUESTIONED COST: None CAUSE: The District had a changeover in the business office during the fiscal year and was without a business manager for a period of months, including the 3rd fiscal quarter of the District’s fiscal year which resulted in the oversight of not filing the required Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliations. In addition, the process of onboarding the District’s contracted third-party accountants and the necessary time needed to ensure the accuracy of the federal reporting of ESSER II funding, caused a delay in the submission of the Final Expenditure Report (FER). RECOMMENDATION: I recommend that the District develop fiscal procedures to ensure that ‘Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliations’ and ‘Final Expenditure Reports’ for future fiscal years are completed and filed in a timely manner based on supporting financial information obtained from the District’s business office, in order to 1) comply with PDE reporting requirements for the District’s applicable federal programs, and 2) to avoid any future sanctions such as suspension of grant payments by PDE as a result of not filing these reports in a timely manner. These procedures should include, at a minimum, cross-training of business office personnel with regard to the completion of these reports so that the absence of one individual would not result in these reports not being filed in a timely manner. VIEWS OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS: The School District concurs with the above noted finding and addresses this issue in the ‘Corrective Action Plan’ included within this report.
CONDITION: During my review of the District’s compliance with the requirements for noncompetitive procurement, I noted the District did not document its rationale for purchases made from ‘Western PA Psych Care’ totaling $26,667. CRITERIA: In accordance with Section 2 CFR 200.318(i) of the Uniform Guidance, the District must maintain records sufficient to detail the history of procurement. These records include but are not limited to the rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type, contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price. Furthermore, Section 2 CFR 200.320(c’) of the Uniform Guidance details five (5) circumstances in which noncompetitive procurement can be used. EFFECT: The District did not comply with Section 2 CFR 200.318(i) and Section 2CFR 200.320(c’) of the Uniform Guidance, and District Procurement Policy #626, regarding the proper documentation required for noncompetitive procurement. QUESTIONED COST: $26,667 CAUSE: The District has had a long-standing relationship with Western PA Psych Care and feels that this vendor best fits the needs of the District. However, the additional procedures addressed in its Procurement Policy for Federal Programs (#626) which addresses the issue of noncompetitive procurement as outlined in Section 2 CFR 200.320(c’), were inadvertently not performed. RECOMMENDATION: I recommend that for all future purchases involving noncompetitive procurement, that the District adhere to the requirements of 1) the District’s Procurement Policy for Federal Programs (#626), and 2) Section 2 CFR 200.320(c) of the Uniform Guidance. VIEWS OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS: The School District concurs with the above noted finding and addresses this issue in the ‘Corrective Action Plan’ included within this report.
CONDITION: During my review of the District’s compliance with the laws and regulations related to filing its federal grant program ‘Quarterly Cash On Hand Reconciliations’, and ‘Final Expenditure Reports (FER)’, I noted that 1) the School District did not file the required Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliation for its ESSER and ARP ESSER funding for the 3rd fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2023, and 2) the School District did not file the required Final Expenditure Report (FER) for the ESSER II grant program until December 14, 2023. The report was required to be filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) within 30 days of the close of the grant (September 30, 2023), or as soon as funds are obligated, whichever comes first. CRITERIA: The Department of Education requires the completion of the Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliation by the 10th working day after each quarter, and submission of a ‘Final Expenditure Report’ (FER) within 30 days of expending all grant funding. In addition, Section 2 CFR 200.344 of the Uniform Guidance requires the submission of financial reports no later than 90 calendar days after the end date of the grant period for performance (or an earlier date as agreed-upon by the pass-through entity and subrecipient, which in this case is 30 days as required by PDE). EFFECT: The District is not in compliance with the financial reporting requirements for submission and/or timely submission of its Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliations for the 3rd fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2023, and the ‘final expenditure report’ (FER) for its ESSER II grant program in accordance with PDE policy and Section 2 CFR 200.344 of the Uniform Guidance. QUESTIONED COST: None CAUSE: The District had a changeover in the business office during the fiscal year and was without a business manager for a period of months, including the 3rd fiscal quarter of the District’s fiscal year which resulted in the oversight of not filing the required Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliations. In addition, the process of onboarding the District’s contracted third-party accountants and the necessary time needed to ensure the accuracy of the federal reporting of ESSER II funding, caused a delay in the submission of the Final Expenditure Report (FER). RECOMMENDATION: I recommend that the District develop fiscal procedures to ensure that ‘Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliations’ and ‘Final Expenditure Reports’ for future fiscal years are completed and filed in a timely manner based on supporting financial information obtained from the District’s business office, in order to 1) comply with PDE reporting requirements for the District’s applicable federal programs, and 2) to avoid any future sanctions such as suspension of grant payments by PDE as a result of not filing these reports in a timely manner. These procedures should include, at a minimum, cross-training of business office personnel with regard to the completion of these reports so that the absence of one individual would not result in these reports not being filed in a timely manner. VIEWS OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS: The School District concurs with the above noted finding and addresses this issue in the ‘Corrective Action Plan’ included within this report.
CONDITION: During my review of the District’s compliance with the laws and regulations related to filing its federal grant program ‘Quarterly Cash On Hand Reconciliations’, and ‘Final Expenditure Reports (FER)’, I noted that 1) the School District did not file the required Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliation for its ESSER and ARP ESSER funding for the 3rd fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2023, and 2) the School District did not file the required Final Expenditure Report (FER) for the ESSER II grant program until December 14, 2023. The report was required to be filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) within 30 days of the close of the grant (September 30, 2023), or as soon as funds are obligated, whichever comes first. CRITERIA: The Department of Education requires the completion of the Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliation by the 10th working day after each quarter, and submission of a ‘Final Expenditure Report’ (FER) within 30 days of expending all grant funding. In addition, Section 2 CFR 200.344 of the Uniform Guidance requires the submission of financial reports no later than 90 calendar days after the end date of the grant period for performance (or an earlier date as agreed-upon by the pass-through entity and subrecipient, which in this case is 30 days as required by PDE). EFFECT: The District is not in compliance with the financial reporting requirements for submission and/or timely submission of its Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliations for the 3rd fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2023, and the ‘final expenditure report’ (FER) for its ESSER II grant program in accordance with PDE policy and Section 2 CFR 200.344 of the Uniform Guidance. QUESTIONED COST: None CAUSE: The District had a changeover in the business office during the fiscal year and was without a business manager for a period of months, including the 3rd fiscal quarter of the District’s fiscal year which resulted in the oversight of not filing the required Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliations. In addition, the process of onboarding the District’s contracted third-party accountants and the necessary time needed to ensure the accuracy of the federal reporting of ESSER II funding, caused a delay in the submission of the Final Expenditure Report (FER). RECOMMENDATION: I recommend that the District develop fiscal procedures to ensure that ‘Quarterly Cash on Hand Reconciliations’ and ‘Final Expenditure Reports’ for future fiscal years are completed and filed in a timely manner based on supporting financial information obtained from the District’s business office, in order to 1) comply with PDE reporting requirements for the District’s applicable federal programs, and 2) to avoid any future sanctions such as suspension of grant payments by PDE as a result of not filing these reports in a timely manner. These procedures should include, at a minimum, cross-training of business office personnel with regard to the completion of these reports so that the absence of one individual would not result in these reports not being filed in a timely manner. VIEWS OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS: The School District concurs with the above noted finding and addresses this issue in the ‘Corrective Action Plan’ included within this report.