2022-004 Material Weakness in Controls over Compliance: Activities Allowed or Unallowed We agree with the recommendations and have made improvements to our procedures. The schools were not prepared for the rapid expansion of the food program, not only at our two high schools, but our partner schoo...
2022-004 Material Weakness in Controls over Compliance: Activities Allowed or Unallowed We agree with the recommendations and have made improvements to our procedures. The schools were not prepared for the rapid expansion of the food program, not only at our two high schools, but our partner schools' which requested contracted breakfast/lunch food services for their students as well. This unprecedented growth coupled with supply chain issues from food wholesalers, and shortage of employees in the hiring pool, only exacerbated our issues. The audit sample showed a large error rate for one of the schools. We have gone through the entire year for the school(s) individual count sheets. In the event the Michigan Department of Education determines that the identified discrepancies warrant a repayment we have recorded an allowance in the financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2021. Staff were not properly trained in how to complete the count sheets; however, supervisors did not take the time once they saw there was a problem due to everyone trying to simply get the meals served to the children. In addition, there was a lack of oversight of the Food Service Manager by her direct supervisor. At the time of the 2021 audit, when the issue was brought to our attention, we developed new procedures. School staff performing counts have been trained in how to properly complete the count sheets. The Business Manager now reviews all count sheets and ties counts to the summary report used to submit claims prior to submittal for reimbursement. Given that training and implementation of procedures did not fully occur until January 2022, there are errors in counts prior to implementation of the procedures and repeat findings in fiscal year 2021-22. In addition, with the end of the pandemic, beginning with the 2022-23 school year, the schools were able to resume using electronic software to accurately capture the meal counts.