FINDING 2024-003
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States,
Special Education Preschool Grants, COVID-19 - Special Education Preschool Grants
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): H027A200084, H027A210084,
H027A220084, H027A230084,
H027X210084, H173A200104,
H173A210104, H173A220104,
H173A230104, H173X210104
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
Earmarking
A portion of the School Corporation's Special Education allocation was required to be set aside
for the mandatory Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) reservation as well as the
nonproportionate share reservation. The required amount to be set aside was indicated in the
Special Education grant application. The School Corporation is responsible for monitoring
each required set aside throughout the life of the grant to ensure the obligation is met.
The School Corporation did not separate the earmarking for the mandatory CEIS reservation
from the nonpublic proportionate share. The same expenditures in the amount of $2,647 were
earmarked in both earmarking categories.
In addition, the School Corporation did not have actual expenditure amounts to account for the
fiscal year 2021 preschool grant nonproportionate share amount. The expenditures used were
a percentage of total expenditures.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
20
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Level of Effort - Individual Transactions (Vendor)
The Form 9 (financial) data was submitted by the School Corporation to the Indiana Department
of Education (IDOE) semiannually. The data reported included the School Corporation's
expenditures recorded during that period. The IDOE calculated Maintenance of Effort based
on the expenditure information submitted on the Form 9 for that fiscal year. To verify amounts
used by the IDOE in their computation were derived from the ledger of the School Corporation,
costs were reviewed to ensure they were recorded properly as to account and object code and
reported correctly on the Form 9.
In fiscal year 2021, Form 9 testing, 5 out of 25 expenditure codes were not properly supported
by the School Corporation's records. In 2022, Form 9 testing, 6 out of 25 expenditures were
not properly supported by the School Corporation's records.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust
specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ."
511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states:
"The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic
schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total
subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities,
who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total
number of students with disabilities of the same age range."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
21
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Cause
The School Corporation did not have policies and procedures in place to properly maintain
documentation of expenses allocated to earmarking requirements and to verify that expenditures were
reported accurately on the Form 9.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the proper allocation of the earmarking requirement could not be determined,
and the reported Form 9 expenditures were not properly supported by financial records.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure Form 9 reporting is accurate and earmarking
requirements are met.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-003
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States,
Special Education Preschool Grants, COVID-19 - Special Education Preschool Grants
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): H027A200084, H027A210084,
H027A220084, H027A230084,
H027X210084, H173A200104,
H173A210104, H173A220104,
H173A230104, H173X210104
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
Earmarking
A portion of the School Corporation's Special Education allocation was required to be set aside
for the mandatory Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) reservation as well as the
nonproportionate share reservation. The required amount to be set aside was indicated in the
Special Education grant application. The School Corporation is responsible for monitoring
each required set aside throughout the life of the grant to ensure the obligation is met.
The School Corporation did not separate the earmarking for the mandatory CEIS reservation
from the nonpublic proportionate share. The same expenditures in the amount of $2,647 were
earmarked in both earmarking categories.
In addition, the School Corporation did not have actual expenditure amounts to account for the
fiscal year 2021 preschool grant nonproportionate share amount. The expenditures used were
a percentage of total expenditures.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
20
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Level of Effort - Individual Transactions (Vendor)
The Form 9 (financial) data was submitted by the School Corporation to the Indiana Department
of Education (IDOE) semiannually. The data reported included the School Corporation's
expenditures recorded during that period. The IDOE calculated Maintenance of Effort based
on the expenditure information submitted on the Form 9 for that fiscal year. To verify amounts
used by the IDOE in their computation were derived from the ledger of the School Corporation,
costs were reviewed to ensure they were recorded properly as to account and object code and
reported correctly on the Form 9.
In fiscal year 2021, Form 9 testing, 5 out of 25 expenditure codes were not properly supported
by the School Corporation's records. In 2022, Form 9 testing, 6 out of 25 expenditures were
not properly supported by the School Corporation's records.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust
specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ."
511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states:
"The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic
schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total
subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities,
who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total
number of students with disabilities of the same age range."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
21
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Cause
The School Corporation did not have policies and procedures in place to properly maintain
documentation of expenses allocated to earmarking requirements and to verify that expenditures were
reported accurately on the Form 9.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the proper allocation of the earmarking requirement could not be determined,
and the reported Form 9 expenditures were not properly supported by financial records.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure Form 9 reporting is accurate and earmarking
requirements are met.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-003
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States,
Special Education Preschool Grants, COVID-19 - Special Education Preschool Grants
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): H027A200084, H027A210084,
H027A220084, H027A230084,
H027X210084, H173A200104,
H173A210104, H173A220104,
H173A230104, H173X210104
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
Earmarking
A portion of the School Corporation's Special Education allocation was required to be set aside
for the mandatory Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) reservation as well as the
nonproportionate share reservation. The required amount to be set aside was indicated in the
Special Education grant application. The School Corporation is responsible for monitoring
each required set aside throughout the life of the grant to ensure the obligation is met.
The School Corporation did not separate the earmarking for the mandatory CEIS reservation
from the nonpublic proportionate share. The same expenditures in the amount of $2,647 were
earmarked in both earmarking categories.
In addition, the School Corporation did not have actual expenditure amounts to account for the
fiscal year 2021 preschool grant nonproportionate share amount. The expenditures used were
a percentage of total expenditures.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
20
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Level of Effort - Individual Transactions (Vendor)
The Form 9 (financial) data was submitted by the School Corporation to the Indiana Department
of Education (IDOE) semiannually. The data reported included the School Corporation's
expenditures recorded during that period. The IDOE calculated Maintenance of Effort based
on the expenditure information submitted on the Form 9 for that fiscal year. To verify amounts
used by the IDOE in their computation were derived from the ledger of the School Corporation,
costs were reviewed to ensure they were recorded properly as to account and object code and
reported correctly on the Form 9.
In fiscal year 2021, Form 9 testing, 5 out of 25 expenditure codes were not properly supported
by the School Corporation's records. In 2022, Form 9 testing, 6 out of 25 expenditures were
not properly supported by the School Corporation's records.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust
specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ."
511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states:
"The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic
schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total
subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities,
who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total
number of students with disabilities of the same age range."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
21
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Cause
The School Corporation did not have policies and procedures in place to properly maintain
documentation of expenses allocated to earmarking requirements and to verify that expenditures were
reported accurately on the Form 9.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the proper allocation of the earmarking requirement could not be determined,
and the reported Form 9 expenditures were not properly supported by financial records.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure Form 9 reporting is accurate and earmarking
requirements are met.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-003
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States,
Special Education Preschool Grants, COVID-19 - Special Education Preschool Grants
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): H027A200084, H027A210084,
H027A220084, H027A230084,
H027X210084, H173A200104,
H173A210104, H173A220104,
H173A230104, H173X210104
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
Earmarking
A portion of the School Corporation's Special Education allocation was required to be set aside
for the mandatory Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) reservation as well as the
nonproportionate share reservation. The required amount to be set aside was indicated in the
Special Education grant application. The School Corporation is responsible for monitoring
each required set aside throughout the life of the grant to ensure the obligation is met.
The School Corporation did not separate the earmarking for the mandatory CEIS reservation
from the nonpublic proportionate share. The same expenditures in the amount of $2,647 were
earmarked in both earmarking categories.
In addition, the School Corporation did not have actual expenditure amounts to account for the
fiscal year 2021 preschool grant nonproportionate share amount. The expenditures used were
a percentage of total expenditures.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
20
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Level of Effort - Individual Transactions (Vendor)
The Form 9 (financial) data was submitted by the School Corporation to the Indiana Department
of Education (IDOE) semiannually. The data reported included the School Corporation's
expenditures recorded during that period. The IDOE calculated Maintenance of Effort based
on the expenditure information submitted on the Form 9 for that fiscal year. To verify amounts
used by the IDOE in their computation were derived from the ledger of the School Corporation,
costs were reviewed to ensure they were recorded properly as to account and object code and
reported correctly on the Form 9.
In fiscal year 2021, Form 9 testing, 5 out of 25 expenditure codes were not properly supported
by the School Corporation's records. In 2022, Form 9 testing, 6 out of 25 expenditures were
not properly supported by the School Corporation's records.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust
specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ."
511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states:
"The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic
schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total
subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities,
who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total
number of students with disabilities of the same age range."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
21
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Cause
The School Corporation did not have policies and procedures in place to properly maintain
documentation of expenses allocated to earmarking requirements and to verify that expenditures were
reported accurately on the Form 9.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the proper allocation of the earmarking requirement could not be determined,
and the reported Form 9 expenditures were not properly supported by financial records.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure Form 9 reporting is accurate and earmarking
requirements are met.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-003
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States,
Special Education Preschool Grants, COVID-19 - Special Education Preschool Grants
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): H027A200084, H027A210084,
H027A220084, H027A230084,
H027X210084, H173A200104,
H173A210104, H173A220104,
H173A230104, H173X210104
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
Earmarking
A portion of the School Corporation's Special Education allocation was required to be set aside
for the mandatory Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) reservation as well as the
nonproportionate share reservation. The required amount to be set aside was indicated in the
Special Education grant application. The School Corporation is responsible for monitoring
each required set aside throughout the life of the grant to ensure the obligation is met.
The School Corporation did not separate the earmarking for the mandatory CEIS reservation
from the nonpublic proportionate share. The same expenditures in the amount of $2,647 were
earmarked in both earmarking categories.
In addition, the School Corporation did not have actual expenditure amounts to account for the
fiscal year 2021 preschool grant nonproportionate share amount. The expenditures used were
a percentage of total expenditures.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
20
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Level of Effort - Individual Transactions (Vendor)
The Form 9 (financial) data was submitted by the School Corporation to the Indiana Department
of Education (IDOE) semiannually. The data reported included the School Corporation's
expenditures recorded during that period. The IDOE calculated Maintenance of Effort based
on the expenditure information submitted on the Form 9 for that fiscal year. To verify amounts
used by the IDOE in their computation were derived from the ledger of the School Corporation,
costs were reviewed to ensure they were recorded properly as to account and object code and
reported correctly on the Form 9.
In fiscal year 2021, Form 9 testing, 5 out of 25 expenditure codes were not properly supported
by the School Corporation's records. In 2022, Form 9 testing, 6 out of 25 expenditures were
not properly supported by the School Corporation's records.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust
specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ."
511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states:
"The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic
schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total
subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities,
who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total
number of students with disabilities of the same age range."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
21
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Cause
The School Corporation did not have policies and procedures in place to properly maintain
documentation of expenses allocated to earmarking requirements and to verify that expenditures were
reported accurately on the Form 9.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the proper allocation of the earmarking requirement could not be determined,
and the reported Form 9 expenditures were not properly supported by financial records.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure Form 9 reporting is accurate and earmarking
requirements are met.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-003
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States,
Special Education Preschool Grants, COVID-19 - Special Education Preschool Grants
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): H027A200084, H027A210084,
H027A220084, H027A230084,
H027X210084, H173A200104,
H173A210104, H173A220104,
H173A230104, H173X210104
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
Earmarking
A portion of the School Corporation's Special Education allocation was required to be set aside
for the mandatory Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) reservation as well as the
nonproportionate share reservation. The required amount to be set aside was indicated in the
Special Education grant application. The School Corporation is responsible for monitoring
each required set aside throughout the life of the grant to ensure the obligation is met.
The School Corporation did not separate the earmarking for the mandatory CEIS reservation
from the nonpublic proportionate share. The same expenditures in the amount of $2,647 were
earmarked in both earmarking categories.
In addition, the School Corporation did not have actual expenditure amounts to account for the
fiscal year 2021 preschool grant nonproportionate share amount. The expenditures used were
a percentage of total expenditures.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
20
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Level of Effort - Individual Transactions (Vendor)
The Form 9 (financial) data was submitted by the School Corporation to the Indiana Department
of Education (IDOE) semiannually. The data reported included the School Corporation's
expenditures recorded during that period. The IDOE calculated Maintenance of Effort based
on the expenditure information submitted on the Form 9 for that fiscal year. To verify amounts
used by the IDOE in their computation were derived from the ledger of the School Corporation,
costs were reviewed to ensure they were recorded properly as to account and object code and
reported correctly on the Form 9.
In fiscal year 2021, Form 9 testing, 5 out of 25 expenditure codes were not properly supported
by the School Corporation's records. In 2022, Form 9 testing, 6 out of 25 expenditures were
not properly supported by the School Corporation's records.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust
specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ."
511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states:
"The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic
schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total
subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities,
who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total
number of students with disabilities of the same age range."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
21
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Cause
The School Corporation did not have policies and procedures in place to properly maintain
documentation of expenses allocated to earmarking requirements and to verify that expenditures were
reported accurately on the Form 9.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the proper allocation of the earmarking requirement could not be determined,
and the reported Form 9 expenditures were not properly supported by financial records.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure Form 9 reporting is accurate and earmarking
requirements are met.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-003
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States,
Special Education Preschool Grants, COVID-19 - Special Education Preschool Grants
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): H027A200084, H027A210084,
H027A220084, H027A230084,
H027X210084, H173A200104,
H173A210104, H173A220104,
H173A230104, H173X210104
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
Earmarking
A portion of the School Corporation's Special Education allocation was required to be set aside
for the mandatory Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) reservation as well as the
nonproportionate share reservation. The required amount to be set aside was indicated in the
Special Education grant application. The School Corporation is responsible for monitoring
each required set aside throughout the life of the grant to ensure the obligation is met.
The School Corporation did not separate the earmarking for the mandatory CEIS reservation
from the nonpublic proportionate share. The same expenditures in the amount of $2,647 were
earmarked in both earmarking categories.
In addition, the School Corporation did not have actual expenditure amounts to account for the
fiscal year 2021 preschool grant nonproportionate share amount. The expenditures used were
a percentage of total expenditures.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
20
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Level of Effort - Individual Transactions (Vendor)
The Form 9 (financial) data was submitted by the School Corporation to the Indiana Department
of Education (IDOE) semiannually. The data reported included the School Corporation's
expenditures recorded during that period. The IDOE calculated Maintenance of Effort based
on the expenditure information submitted on the Form 9 for that fiscal year. To verify amounts
used by the IDOE in their computation were derived from the ledger of the School Corporation,
costs were reviewed to ensure they were recorded properly as to account and object code and
reported correctly on the Form 9.
In fiscal year 2021, Form 9 testing, 5 out of 25 expenditure codes were not properly supported
by the School Corporation's records. In 2022, Form 9 testing, 6 out of 25 expenditures were
not properly supported by the School Corporation's records.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust
specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ."
511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states:
"The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic
schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total
subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities,
who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total
number of students with disabilities of the same age range."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
21
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Cause
The School Corporation did not have policies and procedures in place to properly maintain
documentation of expenses allocated to earmarking requirements and to verify that expenditures were
reported accurately on the Form 9.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the proper allocation of the earmarking requirement could not be determined,
and the reported Form 9 expenditures were not properly supported by financial records.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure Form 9 reporting is accurate and earmarking
requirements are met.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-004
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Allowable Costs/Cost Principles
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the following compliance requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles.
Federal funds may only be used to pay staff for work that has occurred supporting the objective of
the federal program. As such, proper time and effort documentation is to be maintained by the School
Corporation. The purpose of time and effort recording is to provide documentation of the time spent working
on specific federal programs to ensure charges are accurate for each program.
Reimbursements were prepared by one employee and reviewed by another employee prior to
submission; however, this internal control was not effective in preventing noncompliance with allowable
costs/cost principles.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
22
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Out of 14 employees tested, 1 employee was paid 50 percent of their salary from the COVID-19 -
Education Stabilization Funds (ESF) grant and 50 percent of their salary from another funding source. The
School Corporation was not able to provide documentation that supported the hours paid from the ESF
grant.
The ineffective internal controls were systemic throughout the audit period. The noncompliance
was isolated to payrolls for September and October of 2022.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.430(i) states in part:
"Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses
(1) Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that
accurately reflect the work performed. These records must:
(i) Be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance
that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated;
(ii) Be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity;
(iii) Reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the
non-Federal entity, not exceeding 100% of compensated activities . . .
(iv) Encompass federally-assisted and all other activities compensated by the recipient
or subrecipient on an integrated basis but may include the use of subsidiary records
as defined in the recipient's or subrecipient's written policy; . . .
(vii) Support the distribution of the employee's salary or wages among specific
activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award; a
Federal award and non-Federal award; an indirect cost activity and a direct cost
activity; two or more indirect activities which are allocated using different allocation
bases; or an unallowable activity and a direct or indirect cost activity. . . ."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
23
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
While across the board stipends are not permitted, LEAs may pay staff for COVID-related work that
has been documented. Most, if not all, staff likely had extra responsibilities as well as time and effort to
respond to the pandemic. ESSER funds can be used to pay staff for that work and LEAs are responsible
for documenting that this work occurred. (Indiana Department of Education, ESSER III Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs) updated August 16, 2021)
Cause
A proper system of internal controls over the payroll disbursements for employees who worked with
both federal and nonfederal programs was not properly designed or implemented by management. The
School Corporation did not maintain a record of the actual time spent working on extra responsibilities for
COVID-related work to ensure allowability.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the proper allocation could not be determined for reimbursements for one
employee's payroll for September and October of 2022.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that the School Corporation's management design and implement a system of
internal controls to ensure that disbursement documentation will be obtained, retained, and made available
for audit and that the disbursements comply with the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance
requirement.
FINDING 2024-004
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Allowable Costs/Cost Principles
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the following compliance requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles.
Federal funds may only be used to pay staff for work that has occurred supporting the objective of
the federal program. As such, proper time and effort documentation is to be maintained by the School
Corporation. The purpose of time and effort recording is to provide documentation of the time spent working
on specific federal programs to ensure charges are accurate for each program.
Reimbursements were prepared by one employee and reviewed by another employee prior to
submission; however, this internal control was not effective in preventing noncompliance with allowable
costs/cost principles.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
22
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Out of 14 employees tested, 1 employee was paid 50 percent of their salary from the COVID-19 -
Education Stabilization Funds (ESF) grant and 50 percent of their salary from another funding source. The
School Corporation was not able to provide documentation that supported the hours paid from the ESF
grant.
The ineffective internal controls were systemic throughout the audit period. The noncompliance
was isolated to payrolls for September and October of 2022.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.430(i) states in part:
"Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses
(1) Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that
accurately reflect the work performed. These records must:
(i) Be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance
that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated;
(ii) Be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity;
(iii) Reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the
non-Federal entity, not exceeding 100% of compensated activities . . .
(iv) Encompass federally-assisted and all other activities compensated by the recipient
or subrecipient on an integrated basis but may include the use of subsidiary records
as defined in the recipient's or subrecipient's written policy; . . .
(vii) Support the distribution of the employee's salary or wages among specific
activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award; a
Federal award and non-Federal award; an indirect cost activity and a direct cost
activity; two or more indirect activities which are allocated using different allocation
bases; or an unallowable activity and a direct or indirect cost activity. . . ."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
23
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
While across the board stipends are not permitted, LEAs may pay staff for COVID-related work that
has been documented. Most, if not all, staff likely had extra responsibilities as well as time and effort to
respond to the pandemic. ESSER funds can be used to pay staff for that work and LEAs are responsible
for documenting that this work occurred. (Indiana Department of Education, ESSER III Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs) updated August 16, 2021)
Cause
A proper system of internal controls over the payroll disbursements for employees who worked with
both federal and nonfederal programs was not properly designed or implemented by management. The
School Corporation did not maintain a record of the actual time spent working on extra responsibilities for
COVID-related work to ensure allowability.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the proper allocation could not be determined for reimbursements for one
employee's payroll for September and October of 2022.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that the School Corporation's management design and implement a system of
internal controls to ensure that disbursement documentation will be obtained, retained, and made available
for audit and that the disbursements comply with the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance
requirement.
FINDING 2024-004
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Allowable Costs/Cost Principles
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the following compliance requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles.
Federal funds may only be used to pay staff for work that has occurred supporting the objective of
the federal program. As such, proper time and effort documentation is to be maintained by the School
Corporation. The purpose of time and effort recording is to provide documentation of the time spent working
on specific federal programs to ensure charges are accurate for each program.
Reimbursements were prepared by one employee and reviewed by another employee prior to
submission; however, this internal control was not effective in preventing noncompliance with allowable
costs/cost principles.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
22
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Out of 14 employees tested, 1 employee was paid 50 percent of their salary from the COVID-19 -
Education Stabilization Funds (ESF) grant and 50 percent of their salary from another funding source. The
School Corporation was not able to provide documentation that supported the hours paid from the ESF
grant.
The ineffective internal controls were systemic throughout the audit period. The noncompliance
was isolated to payrolls for September and October of 2022.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.430(i) states in part:
"Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses
(1) Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that
accurately reflect the work performed. These records must:
(i) Be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance
that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated;
(ii) Be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity;
(iii) Reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the
non-Federal entity, not exceeding 100% of compensated activities . . .
(iv) Encompass federally-assisted and all other activities compensated by the recipient
or subrecipient on an integrated basis but may include the use of subsidiary records
as defined in the recipient's or subrecipient's written policy; . . .
(vii) Support the distribution of the employee's salary or wages among specific
activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award; a
Federal award and non-Federal award; an indirect cost activity and a direct cost
activity; two or more indirect activities which are allocated using different allocation
bases; or an unallowable activity and a direct or indirect cost activity. . . ."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
23
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
While across the board stipends are not permitted, LEAs may pay staff for COVID-related work that
has been documented. Most, if not all, staff likely had extra responsibilities as well as time and effort to
respond to the pandemic. ESSER funds can be used to pay staff for that work and LEAs are responsible
for documenting that this work occurred. (Indiana Department of Education, ESSER III Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs) updated August 16, 2021)
Cause
A proper system of internal controls over the payroll disbursements for employees who worked with
both federal and nonfederal programs was not properly designed or implemented by management. The
School Corporation did not maintain a record of the actual time spent working on extra responsibilities for
COVID-related work to ensure allowability.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the proper allocation could not be determined for reimbursements for one
employee's payroll for September and October of 2022.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that the School Corporation's management design and implement a system of
internal controls to ensure that disbursement documentation will be obtained, retained, and made available
for audit and that the disbursements comply with the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance
requirement.
FINDING 2024-004
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Allowable Costs/Cost Principles
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the following compliance requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles.
Federal funds may only be used to pay staff for work that has occurred supporting the objective of
the federal program. As such, proper time and effort documentation is to be maintained by the School
Corporation. The purpose of time and effort recording is to provide documentation of the time spent working
on specific federal programs to ensure charges are accurate for each program.
Reimbursements were prepared by one employee and reviewed by another employee prior to
submission; however, this internal control was not effective in preventing noncompliance with allowable
costs/cost principles.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
22
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Out of 14 employees tested, 1 employee was paid 50 percent of their salary from the COVID-19 -
Education Stabilization Funds (ESF) grant and 50 percent of their salary from another funding source. The
School Corporation was not able to provide documentation that supported the hours paid from the ESF
grant.
The ineffective internal controls were systemic throughout the audit period. The noncompliance
was isolated to payrolls for September and October of 2022.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.430(i) states in part:
"Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses
(1) Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that
accurately reflect the work performed. These records must:
(i) Be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance
that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated;
(ii) Be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity;
(iii) Reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the
non-Federal entity, not exceeding 100% of compensated activities . . .
(iv) Encompass federally-assisted and all other activities compensated by the recipient
or subrecipient on an integrated basis but may include the use of subsidiary records
as defined in the recipient's or subrecipient's written policy; . . .
(vii) Support the distribution of the employee's salary or wages among specific
activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award; a
Federal award and non-Federal award; an indirect cost activity and a direct cost
activity; two or more indirect activities which are allocated using different allocation
bases; or an unallowable activity and a direct or indirect cost activity. . . ."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
23
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
While across the board stipends are not permitted, LEAs may pay staff for COVID-related work that
has been documented. Most, if not all, staff likely had extra responsibilities as well as time and effort to
respond to the pandemic. ESSER funds can be used to pay staff for that work and LEAs are responsible
for documenting that this work occurred. (Indiana Department of Education, ESSER III Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs) updated August 16, 2021)
Cause
A proper system of internal controls over the payroll disbursements for employees who worked with
both federal and nonfederal programs was not properly designed or implemented by management. The
School Corporation did not maintain a record of the actual time spent working on extra responsibilities for
COVID-related work to ensure allowability.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the proper allocation could not be determined for reimbursements for one
employee's payroll for September and October of 2022.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that the School Corporation's management design and implement a system of
internal controls to ensure that disbursement documentation will be obtained, retained, and made available
for audit and that the disbursements comply with the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance
requirement.
FINDING 2024-004
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Allowable Costs/Cost Principles
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the following compliance requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles.
Federal funds may only be used to pay staff for work that has occurred supporting the objective of
the federal program. As such, proper time and effort documentation is to be maintained by the School
Corporation. The purpose of time and effort recording is to provide documentation of the time spent working
on specific federal programs to ensure charges are accurate for each program.
Reimbursements were prepared by one employee and reviewed by another employee prior to
submission; however, this internal control was not effective in preventing noncompliance with allowable
costs/cost principles.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
22
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Out of 14 employees tested, 1 employee was paid 50 percent of their salary from the COVID-19 -
Education Stabilization Funds (ESF) grant and 50 percent of their salary from another funding source. The
School Corporation was not able to provide documentation that supported the hours paid from the ESF
grant.
The ineffective internal controls were systemic throughout the audit period. The noncompliance
was isolated to payrolls for September and October of 2022.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.430(i) states in part:
"Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses
(1) Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that
accurately reflect the work performed. These records must:
(i) Be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance
that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated;
(ii) Be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity;
(iii) Reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the
non-Federal entity, not exceeding 100% of compensated activities . . .
(iv) Encompass federally-assisted and all other activities compensated by the recipient
or subrecipient on an integrated basis but may include the use of subsidiary records
as defined in the recipient's or subrecipient's written policy; . . .
(vii) Support the distribution of the employee's salary or wages among specific
activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award; a
Federal award and non-Federal award; an indirect cost activity and a direct cost
activity; two or more indirect activities which are allocated using different allocation
bases; or an unallowable activity and a direct or indirect cost activity. . . ."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
23
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
While across the board stipends are not permitted, LEAs may pay staff for COVID-related work that
has been documented. Most, if not all, staff likely had extra responsibilities as well as time and effort to
respond to the pandemic. ESSER funds can be used to pay staff for that work and LEAs are responsible
for documenting that this work occurred. (Indiana Department of Education, ESSER III Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs) updated August 16, 2021)
Cause
A proper system of internal controls over the payroll disbursements for employees who worked with
both federal and nonfederal programs was not properly designed or implemented by management. The
School Corporation did not maintain a record of the actual time spent working on extra responsibilities for
COVID-related work to ensure allowability.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the proper allocation could not be determined for reimbursements for one
employee's payroll for September and October of 2022.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that the School Corporation's management design and implement a system of
internal controls to ensure that disbursement documentation will be obtained, retained, and made available
for audit and that the disbursements comply with the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance
requirement.
FINDING 2024-005
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Reporting
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was
2022-003.
Condition and Context
Internal controls were in place over reporting where two individuals were involved in submitting and
reviewing the reports prior to submission. However, the internal controls were not effective in order to
ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the following compliance requirement:
Reporting.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
24
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
The School Corporation was required to submit an annual data report to the Indiana Department
of Education. Data to be submitted includes, but is not limited to, current period expenditure, prior period
expenditure, and expenditures per activity.
During the audit period, the School Corporation submitted 2021-2022 expenditures for ESSER
II - Year 3 and ESSER III - Year 3 instead of reporting 2022-2023 expenditures for ESSER II - Year 3 and
ESSER III - Year 3.
The lack of effective internal controls was systemic throughout the audit period. The noncompliance
was isolated to the ESSER II - Year 3 and ESSER III - Year 3 reporting.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.334 states in part:
"Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity
records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date
of submission of the final expenditure report or, for the Federal awards that are renewed
quarterly or annual, from the date of submission of the quarterly or annual financial report,
respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of
a subrecipient. . . ."
2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part:
"The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following
. . .
(2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal
award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §§ 200.328
and 200.329. . . ."
34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format
that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other
responsibilities under the program."
Cause
The School Corporation had policies and procedures in place over proper reporting on its annual
data report; however, officials indicated their understanding of the guidance provided as to which year's
expenditures were to be reported was different than what was required.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
25
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. Expenditures reported on the annual data report for ESSER II and ESSER III year 3 were
not accurate.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure expenditures on the annual data reporting for
ESSER II and ESSER III are accurate.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-005
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Reporting
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was
2022-003.
Condition and Context
Internal controls were in place over reporting where two individuals were involved in submitting and
reviewing the reports prior to submission. However, the internal controls were not effective in order to
ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the following compliance requirement:
Reporting.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
24
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
The School Corporation was required to submit an annual data report to the Indiana Department
of Education. Data to be submitted includes, but is not limited to, current period expenditure, prior period
expenditure, and expenditures per activity.
During the audit period, the School Corporation submitted 2021-2022 expenditures for ESSER
II - Year 3 and ESSER III - Year 3 instead of reporting 2022-2023 expenditures for ESSER II - Year 3 and
ESSER III - Year 3.
The lack of effective internal controls was systemic throughout the audit period. The noncompliance
was isolated to the ESSER II - Year 3 and ESSER III - Year 3 reporting.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.334 states in part:
"Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity
records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date
of submission of the final expenditure report or, for the Federal awards that are renewed
quarterly or annual, from the date of submission of the quarterly or annual financial report,
respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of
a subrecipient. . . ."
2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part:
"The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following
. . .
(2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal
award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §§ 200.328
and 200.329. . . ."
34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format
that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other
responsibilities under the program."
Cause
The School Corporation had policies and procedures in place over proper reporting on its annual
data report; however, officials indicated their understanding of the guidance provided as to which year's
expenditures were to be reported was different than what was required.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
25
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. Expenditures reported on the annual data report for ESSER II and ESSER III year 3 were
not accurate.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure expenditures on the annual data reporting for
ESSER II and ESSER III are accurate.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-005
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Reporting
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was
2022-003.
Condition and Context
Internal controls were in place over reporting where two individuals were involved in submitting and
reviewing the reports prior to submission. However, the internal controls were not effective in order to
ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the following compliance requirement:
Reporting.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
24
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
The School Corporation was required to submit an annual data report to the Indiana Department
of Education. Data to be submitted includes, but is not limited to, current period expenditure, prior period
expenditure, and expenditures per activity.
During the audit period, the School Corporation submitted 2021-2022 expenditures for ESSER
II - Year 3 and ESSER III - Year 3 instead of reporting 2022-2023 expenditures for ESSER II - Year 3 and
ESSER III - Year 3.
The lack of effective internal controls was systemic throughout the audit period. The noncompliance
was isolated to the ESSER II - Year 3 and ESSER III - Year 3 reporting.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.334 states in part:
"Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity
records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date
of submission of the final expenditure report or, for the Federal awards that are renewed
quarterly or annual, from the date of submission of the quarterly or annual financial report,
respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of
a subrecipient. . . ."
2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part:
"The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following
. . .
(2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal
award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §§ 200.328
and 200.329. . . ."
34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format
that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other
responsibilities under the program."
Cause
The School Corporation had policies and procedures in place over proper reporting on its annual
data report; however, officials indicated their understanding of the guidance provided as to which year's
expenditures were to be reported was different than what was required.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
25
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. Expenditures reported on the annual data report for ESSER II and ESSER III year 3 were
not accurate.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure expenditures on the annual data reporting for
ESSER II and ESSER III are accurate.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-005
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Reporting
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was
2022-003.
Condition and Context
Internal controls were in place over reporting where two individuals were involved in submitting and
reviewing the reports prior to submission. However, the internal controls were not effective in order to
ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the following compliance requirement:
Reporting.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
24
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
The School Corporation was required to submit an annual data report to the Indiana Department
of Education. Data to be submitted includes, but is not limited to, current period expenditure, prior period
expenditure, and expenditures per activity.
During the audit period, the School Corporation submitted 2021-2022 expenditures for ESSER
II - Year 3 and ESSER III - Year 3 instead of reporting 2022-2023 expenditures for ESSER II - Year 3 and
ESSER III - Year 3.
The lack of effective internal controls was systemic throughout the audit period. The noncompliance
was isolated to the ESSER II - Year 3 and ESSER III - Year 3 reporting.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.334 states in part:
"Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity
records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date
of submission of the final expenditure report or, for the Federal awards that are renewed
quarterly or annual, from the date of submission of the quarterly or annual financial report,
respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of
a subrecipient. . . ."
2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part:
"The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following
. . .
(2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal
award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §§ 200.328
and 200.329. . . ."
34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format
that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other
responsibilities under the program."
Cause
The School Corporation had policies and procedures in place over proper reporting on its annual
data report; however, officials indicated their understanding of the guidance provided as to which year's
expenditures were to be reported was different than what was required.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
25
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. Expenditures reported on the annual data report for ESSER II and ESSER III year 3 were
not accurate.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure expenditures on the annual data reporting for
ESSER II and ESSER III are accurate.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-005
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Reporting
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was
2022-003.
Condition and Context
Internal controls were in place over reporting where two individuals were involved in submitting and
reviewing the reports prior to submission. However, the internal controls were not effective in order to
ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the following compliance requirement:
Reporting.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
24
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
The School Corporation was required to submit an annual data report to the Indiana Department
of Education. Data to be submitted includes, but is not limited to, current period expenditure, prior period
expenditure, and expenditures per activity.
During the audit period, the School Corporation submitted 2021-2022 expenditures for ESSER
II - Year 3 and ESSER III - Year 3 instead of reporting 2022-2023 expenditures for ESSER II - Year 3 and
ESSER III - Year 3.
The lack of effective internal controls was systemic throughout the audit period. The noncompliance
was isolated to the ESSER II - Year 3 and ESSER III - Year 3 reporting.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.334 states in part:
"Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity
records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date
of submission of the final expenditure report or, for the Federal awards that are renewed
quarterly or annual, from the date of submission of the quarterly or annual financial report,
respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of
a subrecipient. . . ."
2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part:
"The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following
. . .
(2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal
award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §§ 200.328
and 200.329. . . ."
34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format
that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other
responsibilities under the program."
Cause
The School Corporation had policies and procedures in place over proper reporting on its annual
data report; however, officials indicated their understanding of the guidance provided as to which year's
expenditures were to be reported was different than what was required.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
25
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. Expenditures reported on the annual data report for ESSER II and ESSER III year 3 were
not accurate.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure expenditures on the annual data reporting for
ESSER II and ESSER III are accurate.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-003
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States,
Special Education Preschool Grants, COVID-19 - Special Education Preschool Grants
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): H027A200084, H027A210084,
H027A220084, H027A230084,
H027X210084, H173A200104,
H173A210104, H173A220104,
H173A230104, H173X210104
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
Earmarking
A portion of the School Corporation's Special Education allocation was required to be set aside
for the mandatory Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) reservation as well as the
nonproportionate share reservation. The required amount to be set aside was indicated in the
Special Education grant application. The School Corporation is responsible for monitoring
each required set aside throughout the life of the grant to ensure the obligation is met.
The School Corporation did not separate the earmarking for the mandatory CEIS reservation
from the nonpublic proportionate share. The same expenditures in the amount of $2,647 were
earmarked in both earmarking categories.
In addition, the School Corporation did not have actual expenditure amounts to account for the
fiscal year 2021 preschool grant nonproportionate share amount. The expenditures used were
a percentage of total expenditures.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
20
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Level of Effort - Individual Transactions (Vendor)
The Form 9 (financial) data was submitted by the School Corporation to the Indiana Department
of Education (IDOE) semiannually. The data reported included the School Corporation's
expenditures recorded during that period. The IDOE calculated Maintenance of Effort based
on the expenditure information submitted on the Form 9 for that fiscal year. To verify amounts
used by the IDOE in their computation were derived from the ledger of the School Corporation,
costs were reviewed to ensure they were recorded properly as to account and object code and
reported correctly on the Form 9.
In fiscal year 2021, Form 9 testing, 5 out of 25 expenditure codes were not properly supported
by the School Corporation's records. In 2022, Form 9 testing, 6 out of 25 expenditures were
not properly supported by the School Corporation's records.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust
specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ."
511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states:
"The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic
schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total
subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities,
who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total
number of students with disabilities of the same age range."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
21
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Cause
The School Corporation did not have policies and procedures in place to properly maintain
documentation of expenses allocated to earmarking requirements and to verify that expenditures were
reported accurately on the Form 9.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the proper allocation of the earmarking requirement could not be determined,
and the reported Form 9 expenditures were not properly supported by financial records.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure Form 9 reporting is accurate and earmarking
requirements are met.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-003
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States,
Special Education Preschool Grants, COVID-19 - Special Education Preschool Grants
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): H027A200084, H027A210084,
H027A220084, H027A230084,
H027X210084, H173A200104,
H173A210104, H173A220104,
H173A230104, H173X210104
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
Earmarking
A portion of the School Corporation's Special Education allocation was required to be set aside
for the mandatory Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) reservation as well as the
nonproportionate share reservation. The required amount to be set aside was indicated in the
Special Education grant application. The School Corporation is responsible for monitoring
each required set aside throughout the life of the grant to ensure the obligation is met.
The School Corporation did not separate the earmarking for the mandatory CEIS reservation
from the nonpublic proportionate share. The same expenditures in the amount of $2,647 were
earmarked in both earmarking categories.
In addition, the School Corporation did not have actual expenditure amounts to account for the
fiscal year 2021 preschool grant nonproportionate share amount. The expenditures used were
a percentage of total expenditures.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
20
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Level of Effort - Individual Transactions (Vendor)
The Form 9 (financial) data was submitted by the School Corporation to the Indiana Department
of Education (IDOE) semiannually. The data reported included the School Corporation's
expenditures recorded during that period. The IDOE calculated Maintenance of Effort based
on the expenditure information submitted on the Form 9 for that fiscal year. To verify amounts
used by the IDOE in their computation were derived from the ledger of the School Corporation,
costs were reviewed to ensure they were recorded properly as to account and object code and
reported correctly on the Form 9.
In fiscal year 2021, Form 9 testing, 5 out of 25 expenditure codes were not properly supported
by the School Corporation's records. In 2022, Form 9 testing, 6 out of 25 expenditures were
not properly supported by the School Corporation's records.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust
specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ."
511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states:
"The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic
schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total
subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities,
who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total
number of students with disabilities of the same age range."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
21
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Cause
The School Corporation did not have policies and procedures in place to properly maintain
documentation of expenses allocated to earmarking requirements and to verify that expenditures were
reported accurately on the Form 9.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the proper allocation of the earmarking requirement could not be determined,
and the reported Form 9 expenditures were not properly supported by financial records.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure Form 9 reporting is accurate and earmarking
requirements are met.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-003
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States,
Special Education Preschool Grants, COVID-19 - Special Education Preschool Grants
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): H027A200084, H027A210084,
H027A220084, H027A230084,
H027X210084, H173A200104,
H173A210104, H173A220104,
H173A230104, H173X210104
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
Earmarking
A portion of the School Corporation's Special Education allocation was required to be set aside
for the mandatory Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) reservation as well as the
nonproportionate share reservation. The required amount to be set aside was indicated in the
Special Education grant application. The School Corporation is responsible for monitoring
each required set aside throughout the life of the grant to ensure the obligation is met.
The School Corporation did not separate the earmarking for the mandatory CEIS reservation
from the nonpublic proportionate share. The same expenditures in the amount of $2,647 were
earmarked in both earmarking categories.
In addition, the School Corporation did not have actual expenditure amounts to account for the
fiscal year 2021 preschool grant nonproportionate share amount. The expenditures used were
a percentage of total expenditures.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
20
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Level of Effort - Individual Transactions (Vendor)
The Form 9 (financial) data was submitted by the School Corporation to the Indiana Department
of Education (IDOE) semiannually. The data reported included the School Corporation's
expenditures recorded during that period. The IDOE calculated Maintenance of Effort based
on the expenditure information submitted on the Form 9 for that fiscal year. To verify amounts
used by the IDOE in their computation were derived from the ledger of the School Corporation,
costs were reviewed to ensure they were recorded properly as to account and object code and
reported correctly on the Form 9.
In fiscal year 2021, Form 9 testing, 5 out of 25 expenditure codes were not properly supported
by the School Corporation's records. In 2022, Form 9 testing, 6 out of 25 expenditures were
not properly supported by the School Corporation's records.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust
specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ."
511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states:
"The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic
schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total
subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities,
who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total
number of students with disabilities of the same age range."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
21
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Cause
The School Corporation did not have policies and procedures in place to properly maintain
documentation of expenses allocated to earmarking requirements and to verify that expenditures were
reported accurately on the Form 9.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the proper allocation of the earmarking requirement could not be determined,
and the reported Form 9 expenditures were not properly supported by financial records.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure Form 9 reporting is accurate and earmarking
requirements are met.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-003
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States,
Special Education Preschool Grants, COVID-19 - Special Education Preschool Grants
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): H027A200084, H027A210084,
H027A220084, H027A230084,
H027X210084, H173A200104,
H173A210104, H173A220104,
H173A230104, H173X210104
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
Earmarking
A portion of the School Corporation's Special Education allocation was required to be set aside
for the mandatory Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) reservation as well as the
nonproportionate share reservation. The required amount to be set aside was indicated in the
Special Education grant application. The School Corporation is responsible for monitoring
each required set aside throughout the life of the grant to ensure the obligation is met.
The School Corporation did not separate the earmarking for the mandatory CEIS reservation
from the nonpublic proportionate share. The same expenditures in the amount of $2,647 were
earmarked in both earmarking categories.
In addition, the School Corporation did not have actual expenditure amounts to account for the
fiscal year 2021 preschool grant nonproportionate share amount. The expenditures used were
a percentage of total expenditures.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
20
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Level of Effort - Individual Transactions (Vendor)
The Form 9 (financial) data was submitted by the School Corporation to the Indiana Department
of Education (IDOE) semiannually. The data reported included the School Corporation's
expenditures recorded during that period. The IDOE calculated Maintenance of Effort based
on the expenditure information submitted on the Form 9 for that fiscal year. To verify amounts
used by the IDOE in their computation were derived from the ledger of the School Corporation,
costs were reviewed to ensure they were recorded properly as to account and object code and
reported correctly on the Form 9.
In fiscal year 2021, Form 9 testing, 5 out of 25 expenditure codes were not properly supported
by the School Corporation's records. In 2022, Form 9 testing, 6 out of 25 expenditures were
not properly supported by the School Corporation's records.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust
specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ."
511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states:
"The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic
schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total
subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities,
who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total
number of students with disabilities of the same age range."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
21
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Cause
The School Corporation did not have policies and procedures in place to properly maintain
documentation of expenses allocated to earmarking requirements and to verify that expenditures were
reported accurately on the Form 9.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the proper allocation of the earmarking requirement could not be determined,
and the reported Form 9 expenditures were not properly supported by financial records.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure Form 9 reporting is accurate and earmarking
requirements are met.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-003
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States,
Special Education Preschool Grants, COVID-19 - Special Education Preschool Grants
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): H027A200084, H027A210084,
H027A220084, H027A230084,
H027X210084, H173A200104,
H173A210104, H173A220104,
H173A230104, H173X210104
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
Earmarking
A portion of the School Corporation's Special Education allocation was required to be set aside
for the mandatory Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) reservation as well as the
nonproportionate share reservation. The required amount to be set aside was indicated in the
Special Education grant application. The School Corporation is responsible for monitoring
each required set aside throughout the life of the grant to ensure the obligation is met.
The School Corporation did not separate the earmarking for the mandatory CEIS reservation
from the nonpublic proportionate share. The same expenditures in the amount of $2,647 were
earmarked in both earmarking categories.
In addition, the School Corporation did not have actual expenditure amounts to account for the
fiscal year 2021 preschool grant nonproportionate share amount. The expenditures used were
a percentage of total expenditures.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
20
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Level of Effort - Individual Transactions (Vendor)
The Form 9 (financial) data was submitted by the School Corporation to the Indiana Department
of Education (IDOE) semiannually. The data reported included the School Corporation's
expenditures recorded during that period. The IDOE calculated Maintenance of Effort based
on the expenditure information submitted on the Form 9 for that fiscal year. To verify amounts
used by the IDOE in their computation were derived from the ledger of the School Corporation,
costs were reviewed to ensure they were recorded properly as to account and object code and
reported correctly on the Form 9.
In fiscal year 2021, Form 9 testing, 5 out of 25 expenditure codes were not properly supported
by the School Corporation's records. In 2022, Form 9 testing, 6 out of 25 expenditures were
not properly supported by the School Corporation's records.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust
specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ."
511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states:
"The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic
schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total
subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities,
who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total
number of students with disabilities of the same age range."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
21
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Cause
The School Corporation did not have policies and procedures in place to properly maintain
documentation of expenses allocated to earmarking requirements and to verify that expenditures were
reported accurately on the Form 9.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the proper allocation of the earmarking requirement could not be determined,
and the reported Form 9 expenditures were not properly supported by financial records.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure Form 9 reporting is accurate and earmarking
requirements are met.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-003
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States,
Special Education Preschool Grants, COVID-19 - Special Education Preschool Grants
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): H027A200084, H027A210084,
H027A220084, H027A230084,
H027X210084, H173A200104,
H173A210104, H173A220104,
H173A230104, H173X210104
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
Earmarking
A portion of the School Corporation's Special Education allocation was required to be set aside
for the mandatory Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) reservation as well as the
nonproportionate share reservation. The required amount to be set aside was indicated in the
Special Education grant application. The School Corporation is responsible for monitoring
each required set aside throughout the life of the grant to ensure the obligation is met.
The School Corporation did not separate the earmarking for the mandatory CEIS reservation
from the nonpublic proportionate share. The same expenditures in the amount of $2,647 were
earmarked in both earmarking categories.
In addition, the School Corporation did not have actual expenditure amounts to account for the
fiscal year 2021 preschool grant nonproportionate share amount. The expenditures used were
a percentage of total expenditures.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
20
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Level of Effort - Individual Transactions (Vendor)
The Form 9 (financial) data was submitted by the School Corporation to the Indiana Department
of Education (IDOE) semiannually. The data reported included the School Corporation's
expenditures recorded during that period. The IDOE calculated Maintenance of Effort based
on the expenditure information submitted on the Form 9 for that fiscal year. To verify amounts
used by the IDOE in their computation were derived from the ledger of the School Corporation,
costs were reviewed to ensure they were recorded properly as to account and object code and
reported correctly on the Form 9.
In fiscal year 2021, Form 9 testing, 5 out of 25 expenditure codes were not properly supported
by the School Corporation's records. In 2022, Form 9 testing, 6 out of 25 expenditures were
not properly supported by the School Corporation's records.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust
specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ."
511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states:
"The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic
schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total
subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities,
who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total
number of students with disabilities of the same age range."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
21
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Cause
The School Corporation did not have policies and procedures in place to properly maintain
documentation of expenses allocated to earmarking requirements and to verify that expenditures were
reported accurately on the Form 9.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the proper allocation of the earmarking requirement could not be determined,
and the reported Form 9 expenditures were not properly supported by financial records.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure Form 9 reporting is accurate and earmarking
requirements are met.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-003
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States,
Special Education Preschool Grants, COVID-19 - Special Education Preschool Grants
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): H027A200084, H027A210084,
H027A220084, H027A230084,
H027X210084, H173A200104,
H173A210104, H173A220104,
H173A230104, H173X210104
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
Earmarking
A portion of the School Corporation's Special Education allocation was required to be set aside
for the mandatory Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) reservation as well as the
nonproportionate share reservation. The required amount to be set aside was indicated in the
Special Education grant application. The School Corporation is responsible for monitoring
each required set aside throughout the life of the grant to ensure the obligation is met.
The School Corporation did not separate the earmarking for the mandatory CEIS reservation
from the nonpublic proportionate share. The same expenditures in the amount of $2,647 were
earmarked in both earmarking categories.
In addition, the School Corporation did not have actual expenditure amounts to account for the
fiscal year 2021 preschool grant nonproportionate share amount. The expenditures used were
a percentage of total expenditures.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
20
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Level of Effort - Individual Transactions (Vendor)
The Form 9 (financial) data was submitted by the School Corporation to the Indiana Department
of Education (IDOE) semiannually. The data reported included the School Corporation's
expenditures recorded during that period. The IDOE calculated Maintenance of Effort based
on the expenditure information submitted on the Form 9 for that fiscal year. To verify amounts
used by the IDOE in their computation were derived from the ledger of the School Corporation,
costs were reviewed to ensure they were recorded properly as to account and object code and
reported correctly on the Form 9.
In fiscal year 2021, Form 9 testing, 5 out of 25 expenditure codes were not properly supported
by the School Corporation's records. In 2022, Form 9 testing, 6 out of 25 expenditures were
not properly supported by the School Corporation's records.
The School Corporation did have internal controls in place; however, they were not effective in
preventing these errors.
The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust
specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ."
511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states:
"The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic
schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total
subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities,
who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total
number of students with disabilities of the same age range."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
21
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Cause
The School Corporation did not have policies and procedures in place to properly maintain
documentation of expenses allocated to earmarking requirements and to verify that expenditures were
reported accurately on the Form 9.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the proper allocation of the earmarking requirement could not be determined,
and the reported Form 9 expenditures were not properly supported by financial records.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure Form 9 reporting is accurate and earmarking
requirements are met.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-004
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Allowable Costs/Cost Principles
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the following compliance requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles.
Federal funds may only be used to pay staff for work that has occurred supporting the objective of
the federal program. As such, proper time and effort documentation is to be maintained by the School
Corporation. The purpose of time and effort recording is to provide documentation of the time spent working
on specific federal programs to ensure charges are accurate for each program.
Reimbursements were prepared by one employee and reviewed by another employee prior to
submission; however, this internal control was not effective in preventing noncompliance with allowable
costs/cost principles.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
22
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Out of 14 employees tested, 1 employee was paid 50 percent of their salary from the COVID-19 -
Education Stabilization Funds (ESF) grant and 50 percent of their salary from another funding source. The
School Corporation was not able to provide documentation that supported the hours paid from the ESF
grant.
The ineffective internal controls were systemic throughout the audit period. The noncompliance
was isolated to payrolls for September and October of 2022.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.430(i) states in part:
"Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses
(1) Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that
accurately reflect the work performed. These records must:
(i) Be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance
that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated;
(ii) Be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity;
(iii) Reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the
non-Federal entity, not exceeding 100% of compensated activities . . .
(iv) Encompass federally-assisted and all other activities compensated by the recipient
or subrecipient on an integrated basis but may include the use of subsidiary records
as defined in the recipient's or subrecipient's written policy; . . .
(vii) Support the distribution of the employee's salary or wages among specific
activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award; a
Federal award and non-Federal award; an indirect cost activity and a direct cost
activity; two or more indirect activities which are allocated using different allocation
bases; or an unallowable activity and a direct or indirect cost activity. . . ."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
23
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
While across the board stipends are not permitted, LEAs may pay staff for COVID-related work that
has been documented. Most, if not all, staff likely had extra responsibilities as well as time and effort to
respond to the pandemic. ESSER funds can be used to pay staff for that work and LEAs are responsible
for documenting that this work occurred. (Indiana Department of Education, ESSER III Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs) updated August 16, 2021)
Cause
A proper system of internal controls over the payroll disbursements for employees who worked with
both federal and nonfederal programs was not properly designed or implemented by management. The
School Corporation did not maintain a record of the actual time spent working on extra responsibilities for
COVID-related work to ensure allowability.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the proper allocation could not be determined for reimbursements for one
employee's payroll for September and October of 2022.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that the School Corporation's management design and implement a system of
internal controls to ensure that disbursement documentation will be obtained, retained, and made available
for audit and that the disbursements comply with the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance
requirement.
FINDING 2024-004
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Allowable Costs/Cost Principles
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the following compliance requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles.
Federal funds may only be used to pay staff for work that has occurred supporting the objective of
the federal program. As such, proper time and effort documentation is to be maintained by the School
Corporation. The purpose of time and effort recording is to provide documentation of the time spent working
on specific federal programs to ensure charges are accurate for each program.
Reimbursements were prepared by one employee and reviewed by another employee prior to
submission; however, this internal control was not effective in preventing noncompliance with allowable
costs/cost principles.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
22
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Out of 14 employees tested, 1 employee was paid 50 percent of their salary from the COVID-19 -
Education Stabilization Funds (ESF) grant and 50 percent of their salary from another funding source. The
School Corporation was not able to provide documentation that supported the hours paid from the ESF
grant.
The ineffective internal controls were systemic throughout the audit period. The noncompliance
was isolated to payrolls for September and October of 2022.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.430(i) states in part:
"Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses
(1) Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that
accurately reflect the work performed. These records must:
(i) Be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance
that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated;
(ii) Be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity;
(iii) Reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the
non-Federal entity, not exceeding 100% of compensated activities . . .
(iv) Encompass federally-assisted and all other activities compensated by the recipient
or subrecipient on an integrated basis but may include the use of subsidiary records
as defined in the recipient's or subrecipient's written policy; . . .
(vii) Support the distribution of the employee's salary or wages among specific
activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award; a
Federal award and non-Federal award; an indirect cost activity and a direct cost
activity; two or more indirect activities which are allocated using different allocation
bases; or an unallowable activity and a direct or indirect cost activity. . . ."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
23
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
While across the board stipends are not permitted, LEAs may pay staff for COVID-related work that
has been documented. Most, if not all, staff likely had extra responsibilities as well as time and effort to
respond to the pandemic. ESSER funds can be used to pay staff for that work and LEAs are responsible
for documenting that this work occurred. (Indiana Department of Education, ESSER III Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs) updated August 16, 2021)
Cause
A proper system of internal controls over the payroll disbursements for employees who worked with
both federal and nonfederal programs was not properly designed or implemented by management. The
School Corporation did not maintain a record of the actual time spent working on extra responsibilities for
COVID-related work to ensure allowability.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the proper allocation could not be determined for reimbursements for one
employee's payroll for September and October of 2022.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that the School Corporation's management design and implement a system of
internal controls to ensure that disbursement documentation will be obtained, retained, and made available
for audit and that the disbursements comply with the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance
requirement.
FINDING 2024-004
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Allowable Costs/Cost Principles
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the following compliance requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles.
Federal funds may only be used to pay staff for work that has occurred supporting the objective of
the federal program. As such, proper time and effort documentation is to be maintained by the School
Corporation. The purpose of time and effort recording is to provide documentation of the time spent working
on specific federal programs to ensure charges are accurate for each program.
Reimbursements were prepared by one employee and reviewed by another employee prior to
submission; however, this internal control was not effective in preventing noncompliance with allowable
costs/cost principles.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
22
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Out of 14 employees tested, 1 employee was paid 50 percent of their salary from the COVID-19 -
Education Stabilization Funds (ESF) grant and 50 percent of their salary from another funding source. The
School Corporation was not able to provide documentation that supported the hours paid from the ESF
grant.
The ineffective internal controls were systemic throughout the audit period. The noncompliance
was isolated to payrolls for September and October of 2022.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.430(i) states in part:
"Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses
(1) Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that
accurately reflect the work performed. These records must:
(i) Be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance
that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated;
(ii) Be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity;
(iii) Reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the
non-Federal entity, not exceeding 100% of compensated activities . . .
(iv) Encompass federally-assisted and all other activities compensated by the recipient
or subrecipient on an integrated basis but may include the use of subsidiary records
as defined in the recipient's or subrecipient's written policy; . . .
(vii) Support the distribution of the employee's salary or wages among specific
activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award; a
Federal award and non-Federal award; an indirect cost activity and a direct cost
activity; two or more indirect activities which are allocated using different allocation
bases; or an unallowable activity and a direct or indirect cost activity. . . ."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
23
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
While across the board stipends are not permitted, LEAs may pay staff for COVID-related work that
has been documented. Most, if not all, staff likely had extra responsibilities as well as time and effort to
respond to the pandemic. ESSER funds can be used to pay staff for that work and LEAs are responsible
for documenting that this work occurred. (Indiana Department of Education, ESSER III Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs) updated August 16, 2021)
Cause
A proper system of internal controls over the payroll disbursements for employees who worked with
both federal and nonfederal programs was not properly designed or implemented by management. The
School Corporation did not maintain a record of the actual time spent working on extra responsibilities for
COVID-related work to ensure allowability.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the proper allocation could not be determined for reimbursements for one
employee's payroll for September and October of 2022.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that the School Corporation's management design and implement a system of
internal controls to ensure that disbursement documentation will be obtained, retained, and made available
for audit and that the disbursements comply with the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance
requirement.
FINDING 2024-004
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Allowable Costs/Cost Principles
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the following compliance requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles.
Federal funds may only be used to pay staff for work that has occurred supporting the objective of
the federal program. As such, proper time and effort documentation is to be maintained by the School
Corporation. The purpose of time and effort recording is to provide documentation of the time spent working
on specific federal programs to ensure charges are accurate for each program.
Reimbursements were prepared by one employee and reviewed by another employee prior to
submission; however, this internal control was not effective in preventing noncompliance with allowable
costs/cost principles.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
22
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Out of 14 employees tested, 1 employee was paid 50 percent of their salary from the COVID-19 -
Education Stabilization Funds (ESF) grant and 50 percent of their salary from another funding source. The
School Corporation was not able to provide documentation that supported the hours paid from the ESF
grant.
The ineffective internal controls were systemic throughout the audit period. The noncompliance
was isolated to payrolls for September and October of 2022.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.430(i) states in part:
"Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses
(1) Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that
accurately reflect the work performed. These records must:
(i) Be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance
that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated;
(ii) Be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity;
(iii) Reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the
non-Federal entity, not exceeding 100% of compensated activities . . .
(iv) Encompass federally-assisted and all other activities compensated by the recipient
or subrecipient on an integrated basis but may include the use of subsidiary records
as defined in the recipient's or subrecipient's written policy; . . .
(vii) Support the distribution of the employee's salary or wages among specific
activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award; a
Federal award and non-Federal award; an indirect cost activity and a direct cost
activity; two or more indirect activities which are allocated using different allocation
bases; or an unallowable activity and a direct or indirect cost activity. . . ."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
23
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
While across the board stipends are not permitted, LEAs may pay staff for COVID-related work that
has been documented. Most, if not all, staff likely had extra responsibilities as well as time and effort to
respond to the pandemic. ESSER funds can be used to pay staff for that work and LEAs are responsible
for documenting that this work occurred. (Indiana Department of Education, ESSER III Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs) updated August 16, 2021)
Cause
A proper system of internal controls over the payroll disbursements for employees who worked with
both federal and nonfederal programs was not properly designed or implemented by management. The
School Corporation did not maintain a record of the actual time spent working on extra responsibilities for
COVID-related work to ensure allowability.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the proper allocation could not be determined for reimbursements for one
employee's payroll for September and October of 2022.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that the School Corporation's management design and implement a system of
internal controls to ensure that disbursement documentation will be obtained, retained, and made available
for audit and that the disbursements comply with the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance
requirement.
FINDING 2024-004
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Allowable Costs/Cost Principles
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system, which would include segregation of duties, was not in place at
the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement
and the following compliance requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles.
Federal funds may only be used to pay staff for work that has occurred supporting the objective of
the federal program. As such, proper time and effort documentation is to be maintained by the School
Corporation. The purpose of time and effort recording is to provide documentation of the time spent working
on specific federal programs to ensure charges are accurate for each program.
Reimbursements were prepared by one employee and reviewed by another employee prior to
submission; however, this internal control was not effective in preventing noncompliance with allowable
costs/cost principles.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
22
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Out of 14 employees tested, 1 employee was paid 50 percent of their salary from the COVID-19 -
Education Stabilization Funds (ESF) grant and 50 percent of their salary from another funding source. The
School Corporation was not able to provide documentation that supported the hours paid from the ESF
grant.
The ineffective internal controls were systemic throughout the audit period. The noncompliance
was isolated to payrolls for September and October of 2022.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.403 states in part:
"Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria
in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
(g) Be adequately documented. . . ."
2 CFR 200.430(i) states in part:
"Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses
(1) Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that
accurately reflect the work performed. These records must:
(i) Be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance
that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated;
(ii) Be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity;
(iii) Reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the
non-Federal entity, not exceeding 100% of compensated activities . . .
(iv) Encompass federally-assisted and all other activities compensated by the recipient
or subrecipient on an integrated basis but may include the use of subsidiary records
as defined in the recipient's or subrecipient's written policy; . . .
(vii) Support the distribution of the employee's salary or wages among specific
activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award; a
Federal award and non-Federal award; an indirect cost activity and a direct cost
activity; two or more indirect activities which are allocated using different allocation
bases; or an unallowable activity and a direct or indirect cost activity. . . ."
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
23
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
While across the board stipends are not permitted, LEAs may pay staff for COVID-related work that
has been documented. Most, if not all, staff likely had extra responsibilities as well as time and effort to
respond to the pandemic. ESSER funds can be used to pay staff for that work and LEAs are responsible
for documenting that this work occurred. (Indiana Department of Education, ESSER III Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs) updated August 16, 2021)
Cause
A proper system of internal controls over the payroll disbursements for employees who worked with
both federal and nonfederal programs was not properly designed or implemented by management. The
School Corporation did not maintain a record of the actual time spent working on extra responsibilities for
COVID-related work to ensure allowability.
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. As a result, the proper allocation could not be determined for reimbursements for one
employee's payroll for September and October of 2022.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that the School Corporation's management design and implement a system of
internal controls to ensure that disbursement documentation will be obtained, retained, and made available
for audit and that the disbursements comply with the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance
requirement.
FINDING 2024-005
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Reporting
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was
2022-003.
Condition and Context
Internal controls were in place over reporting where two individuals were involved in submitting and
reviewing the reports prior to submission. However, the internal controls were not effective in order to
ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the following compliance requirement:
Reporting.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
24
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
The School Corporation was required to submit an annual data report to the Indiana Department
of Education. Data to be submitted includes, but is not limited to, current period expenditure, prior period
expenditure, and expenditures per activity.
During the audit period, the School Corporation submitted 2021-2022 expenditures for ESSER
II - Year 3 and ESSER III - Year 3 instead of reporting 2022-2023 expenditures for ESSER II - Year 3 and
ESSER III - Year 3.
The lack of effective internal controls was systemic throughout the audit period. The noncompliance
was isolated to the ESSER II - Year 3 and ESSER III - Year 3 reporting.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.334 states in part:
"Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity
records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date
of submission of the final expenditure report or, for the Federal awards that are renewed
quarterly or annual, from the date of submission of the quarterly or annual financial report,
respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of
a subrecipient. . . ."
2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part:
"The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following
. . .
(2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal
award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §§ 200.328
and 200.329. . . ."
34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format
that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other
responsibilities under the program."
Cause
The School Corporation had policies and procedures in place over proper reporting on its annual
data report; however, officials indicated their understanding of the guidance provided as to which year's
expenditures were to be reported was different than what was required.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
25
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. Expenditures reported on the annual data report for ESSER II and ESSER III year 3 were
not accurate.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure expenditures on the annual data reporting for
ESSER II and ESSER III are accurate.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-005
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Reporting
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was
2022-003.
Condition and Context
Internal controls were in place over reporting where two individuals were involved in submitting and
reviewing the reports prior to submission. However, the internal controls were not effective in order to
ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the following compliance requirement:
Reporting.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
24
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
The School Corporation was required to submit an annual data report to the Indiana Department
of Education. Data to be submitted includes, but is not limited to, current period expenditure, prior period
expenditure, and expenditures per activity.
During the audit period, the School Corporation submitted 2021-2022 expenditures for ESSER
II - Year 3 and ESSER III - Year 3 instead of reporting 2022-2023 expenditures for ESSER II - Year 3 and
ESSER III - Year 3.
The lack of effective internal controls was systemic throughout the audit period. The noncompliance
was isolated to the ESSER II - Year 3 and ESSER III - Year 3 reporting.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.334 states in part:
"Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity
records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date
of submission of the final expenditure report or, for the Federal awards that are renewed
quarterly or annual, from the date of submission of the quarterly or annual financial report,
respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of
a subrecipient. . . ."
2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part:
"The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following
. . .
(2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal
award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §§ 200.328
and 200.329. . . ."
34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format
that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other
responsibilities under the program."
Cause
The School Corporation had policies and procedures in place over proper reporting on its annual
data report; however, officials indicated their understanding of the guidance provided as to which year's
expenditures were to be reported was different than what was required.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
25
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. Expenditures reported on the annual data report for ESSER II and ESSER III year 3 were
not accurate.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure expenditures on the annual data reporting for
ESSER II and ESSER III are accurate.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-005
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Reporting
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was
2022-003.
Condition and Context
Internal controls were in place over reporting where two individuals were involved in submitting and
reviewing the reports prior to submission. However, the internal controls were not effective in order to
ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the following compliance requirement:
Reporting.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
24
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
The School Corporation was required to submit an annual data report to the Indiana Department
of Education. Data to be submitted includes, but is not limited to, current period expenditure, prior period
expenditure, and expenditures per activity.
During the audit period, the School Corporation submitted 2021-2022 expenditures for ESSER
II - Year 3 and ESSER III - Year 3 instead of reporting 2022-2023 expenditures for ESSER II - Year 3 and
ESSER III - Year 3.
The lack of effective internal controls was systemic throughout the audit period. The noncompliance
was isolated to the ESSER II - Year 3 and ESSER III - Year 3 reporting.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.334 states in part:
"Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity
records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date
of submission of the final expenditure report or, for the Federal awards that are renewed
quarterly or annual, from the date of submission of the quarterly or annual financial report,
respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of
a subrecipient. . . ."
2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part:
"The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following
. . .
(2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal
award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §§ 200.328
and 200.329. . . ."
34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format
that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other
responsibilities under the program."
Cause
The School Corporation had policies and procedures in place over proper reporting on its annual
data report; however, officials indicated their understanding of the guidance provided as to which year's
expenditures were to be reported was different than what was required.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
25
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. Expenditures reported on the annual data report for ESSER II and ESSER III year 3 were
not accurate.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure expenditures on the annual data reporting for
ESSER II and ESSER III are accurate.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-005
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Reporting
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was
2022-003.
Condition and Context
Internal controls were in place over reporting where two individuals were involved in submitting and
reviewing the reports prior to submission. However, the internal controls were not effective in order to
ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the following compliance requirement:
Reporting.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
24
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
The School Corporation was required to submit an annual data report to the Indiana Department
of Education. Data to be submitted includes, but is not limited to, current period expenditure, prior period
expenditure, and expenditures per activity.
During the audit period, the School Corporation submitted 2021-2022 expenditures for ESSER
II - Year 3 and ESSER III - Year 3 instead of reporting 2022-2023 expenditures for ESSER II - Year 3 and
ESSER III - Year 3.
The lack of effective internal controls was systemic throughout the audit period. The noncompliance
was isolated to the ESSER II - Year 3 and ESSER III - Year 3 reporting.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.334 states in part:
"Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity
records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date
of submission of the final expenditure report or, for the Federal awards that are renewed
quarterly or annual, from the date of submission of the quarterly or annual financial report,
respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of
a subrecipient. . . ."
2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part:
"The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following
. . .
(2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal
award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §§ 200.328
and 200.329. . . ."
34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format
that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other
responsibilities under the program."
Cause
The School Corporation had policies and procedures in place over proper reporting on its annual
data report; however, officials indicated their understanding of the guidance provided as to which year's
expenditures were to be reported was different than what was required.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
25
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. Expenditures reported on the annual data report for ESSER II and ESSER III year 3 were
not accurate.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure expenditures on the annual data reporting for
ESSER II and ESSER III are accurate.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-005
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Reporting
Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was
2022-003.
Condition and Context
Internal controls were in place over reporting where two individuals were involved in submitting and
reviewing the reports prior to submission. However, the internal controls were not effective in order to
ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the following compliance requirement:
Reporting.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
24
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
The School Corporation was required to submit an annual data report to the Indiana Department
of Education. Data to be submitted includes, but is not limited to, current period expenditure, prior period
expenditure, and expenditures per activity.
During the audit period, the School Corporation submitted 2021-2022 expenditures for ESSER
II - Year 3 and ESSER III - Year 3 instead of reporting 2022-2023 expenditures for ESSER II - Year 3 and
ESSER III - Year 3.
The lack of effective internal controls was systemic throughout the audit period. The noncompliance
was isolated to the ESSER II - Year 3 and ESSER III - Year 3 reporting.
Criteria
2 CFR 200.303 states in part:
"The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides
reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in
compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for
Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the
United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ."
2 CFR 200.334 states in part:
"Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity
records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date
of submission of the final expenditure report or, for the Federal awards that are renewed
quarterly or annual, from the date of submission of the quarterly or annual financial report,
respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of
a subrecipient. . . ."
2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part:
"The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following
. . .
(2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal
award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §§ 200.328
and 200.329. . . ."
34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format
that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other
responsibilities under the program."
Cause
The School Corporation had policies and procedures in place over proper reporting on its annual
data report; however, officials indicated their understanding of the guidance provided as to which year's
expenditures were to be reported was different than what was required.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
25
MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the
internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material
noncompliance. Expenditures reported on the annual data report for ESSER II and ESSER III year 3 were
not accurate.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal
controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure expenditures on the annual data reporting for
ESSER II and ESSER III are accurate.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.