FINDING 2022-004 Subject: Special Education Cluster ? Equipment Management Audit Findings: Material Weakness Condition: An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the equipment r...
FINDING 2022-004 Subject: Special Education Cluster ? Equipment Management Audit Findings: Material Weakness Condition: An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the equipment requirements of the Equipment and Real Property Management compliance requirement. Context: The School Corporation is a member of a joint service cooperative (Cooperative). The Cooperative operated the special education programs on behalf of the School Corporation and managed the special education grant funds. Because the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education and the School Corporation, the School Corporation was ultimately responsible for compliance with the grant agreement and the Equipment and Real Property Management compliance requirement. During fiscal year 2021, the School Corporation paid membership fees to the Cooperative out of federal Special Education funds. These membership fees made up approximately 48% of the total federal expenditures reimbursed during fiscal year 2021. The Cooperative accounted for state, local, and federal funds in a single fund. The fund did not separately account for each of the funding sources. This made it indeterminable whether equipment purchases were made by the Cooperative with federal funds, or to identify equipment expenditures by federal program, award number, or years. Therefore, we could not test compliance for approximately 48% of the expenditures. The Cooperative did not have adequate procedures in place to ensure that equipment purchased with grant funds was properly recorded and maintained in the School Corporation's equipment records. The Cooperative also did not maintain records for the disposition of equipment purchased with federal grant funds. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues, which occurred specifically during fiscal year 2021. No reportable findings were noted for fiscal year 2022. Views of Responsible Official: We concur with the finding. Description of Corrective Action Plan: Members of the cooperative are no longer paying their cooperative member fees with federal funds. This was resolved effective 7/1/2021. Responsible Party and Timeline for Completion: Zach Dennis, CFO, 7/1/2021