FINDING 2024-004
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Activities Allowed or Unallowed Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listing Number: 84.027
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other...
FINDING 2024-004
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Activities Allowed or Unallowed Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listing Number: 84.027
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): H027A220084, H027A230084 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Activities Allowed or Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Audit Finding: Material Weakness
Condition: An effective internal control system was not in place at the School District to ensure compliance with requirements related to the Special Education Cluster and Activities Allowed or Unallowed.
Context: During the testing of a sample of 40 payroll disbursements charged to the Special Education Cluster during the audit period, the following exceptions were noted:
• For eight transactions selected, management was unable to provide an approved contract to support the
selected employees' bi-weekly pay rate.
• For two transactions selected, management was unable to provide approved timecards for the selected hourly
employee and time period.
• For seven transactions selected, management was unable to provide time and effort logs to support the
allocation of one employee's salary between the federal grant and the Education fund.
The lack of controls was systematic throughout the audit period.
Views of Responsible Official: We concur with the finding.
Description of Corrective Action Plan: Management will ensure records of approved contracts and approved timecards are maintained for all employees. Management will ensure payroll charged to federal awards is reviewed each pay period for allowability. The HR Coordinator is currently storing each contract both hard copy in the employee file and digitally in our software. The Deputy Treasurer/Payroll Coordinator will review the distribution report prior to payroll submission. As time cards are being approved in our software system, a print out of the approvals will be maintained for each payroll. The Treasurer will review and sign off on the distribution and approval report for each payroll.
Responsible Party and Timeline for Completion: Kelli Kizzee - HR Coordinator, Jessica Elliot - Payroll Coordinator, Moriah Crane - Treasurer. The process is already except for the printed time card approval report which will be in place starting with the January 2025 payrolls.