Program: AL 93.558 – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; AL 93.563 – Child Support Enforcement; AL 93.568 – Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP); AL 93.575 – Child Care and Development Block Grant; AL 93.658 – Foster Care Title IV-E; AL 93.778 – Medical Assistance Program; AL 10.561 – State Administrative Matching Grants for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Grant Number & Year: 2001NETANF, FFY 2020; 2301NECSES, FFY 2023; 2301NELIEA, FFY 2023; 2301NECCDD, FFY 2023; 2301NEFOST, FFY 2023; 2305NE5ADM, FFY 2023; 233NE406S2514, FFY 2023 Federal Grantor Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture Criteria: 45 CFR § 75.405(a) (October 1, 2022) and 2 CFR § 200.405 (January 1, 2023) state, in part, the following: A cost is allocable to a particular Federal award or other cost objective if the goods or services involved are chargeable or assignable to that Federal award or cost objective in accordance with relative benefits received. 45 CFR § 75.403 (October 1, 2022) and 2 CFR § 200.403 (January 1, 2023) provide the following, in relevant part: Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles. * * * * (g) Be adequately documented. See also §§ 75.300 through 75.309. Per 45 CFR § 75.303 (October 1, 2022) and 2 CFR § 200.303 (January 1, 2023), 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. Title 45 CFR § 75.302 (October 1, 2022) and 2 CFR § 200.302 (January 1, 2023) require financial management systems of the State sufficient to permit preparation of required reports and permit the tracing of funds to expenditures adequate to establish the use of these funds were in accordance with applicable regulations. EnterpriseOne is the official accounting system for the State of Nebraska, and all expenditures are generated from it. Good internal control requires procedures to ensure that amounts charged to Federal funds are proper. Condition: Procedures to ensure journal entries and adjustments to the Public Assistance Cost Allocation Plan (PACAP) were not adequate, resulting in multiple Federal programs being overcharged. Repeat Finding: No Questioned Costs: $581,496 known See Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs for chart/table. Statistical Sample: No Context: Each quarter, as the PACAP is prepared, the Agency makes multiple adjustments for costs that either were charged to Federal funds and should not have been, or costs that were not charged to Federal funds but are claimable to a Federal grant. We tested five adjustments between two quarters. One adjustment tested for the quarter ended December 31, 2022, was recorded to charge the Foster Care grant for allowable costs incurred by the Foster Care Review Office (FCRO), a separate agency. The amounts provided by FCRO erroneously included payroll charges from a previous quarter, inflating the amount charged. The FCRO later caught the mistake and adjusted the internal spreadsheet but did not alert the Agency to the error, so a correcting adjustment was never made to the PACAP. The amount charged was $353,984; however, the adjustment should have been $212,725, a difference of $141,259. Foster Care is matched at 50%, so the grant was overcharged $70,629, which are questioned costs. Due to this error, we reviewed a second Foster Care adjustment for the quarter ending March 31, 2023, and noted the Agency’s calculation included amounts for a State funded program that should have been removed, resulting in the grant being overcharged an additional $1,561. We also tested six journal entries that moved costs between cost centers to determine any impact on the PACAP and if those journal entries were appropriate. We noted three improper journal entries that the Agency had not corrected as of the end of the fiscal year: • A journal entry for $526,487 was performed in November 2022 to temporarily move postage costs of multiple programs from State funds to the Child Support Enforcement (CSE) grant until new coding could be created in the State’s accounting system to track expenses from one fiscal year to another. The intent was to reverse the entry as soon as the new coding was completed; however, the reversing entry was never performed. Since the Agency performs a quarterly adjustment for the CSE grant to charge indirect costs identified by the Agency’s PACAP to the grant, the CSE grant was overcharged a total of $263,628. No correcting entry had been made as of September 30, 2023. These are considered questioned costs. • A journal entry for $207,369 was performed in December 2022 to move expenses to allow payroll to post. The intent was to reverse the entry before the end of the fiscal year; however, that was not done. The expenses were moved from Medicaid administration and were charged to the Central Services and Supplies Cost Center, which is then allocated to numerous other Cost Centers that are further allocated or charged directly to Federal programs such as TANF and Child Care. Due to the intricacies of PACAP allocations, exact questioned costs are unknown. No correcting entry was made as of September 30, 2023. • A journal entry for $5,317,640 was done in February 2023 to move Premium Pay to the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CSLFRF) grant as additional pay for certain job roles allowed under that grant. However, the entry performed included some lines that were miscoded, most significantly a line for $764,187 that was supposed to move money within the same Cost Center (CC 25C21910 – Field Office Administration); however, it pulled costs out of Cost Center 25C21780 - Protection and Safety Policy Chief instead. Additionally, we confirmed with the Agency that the costs charged to CC 25C21910 under the CSLFRF grant were also allocated to other Federal programs through the PACAP, essentially charging Federal programs twice. Due to the intricacies of the PACAP allocations, total questioned costs are unknown; however, we were able to determine that this error caused Medicaid to be overcharged $149,478, LIHEAP to be overcharged $33,447, SNAP to be overcharged $44,984, Child Care to be overcharged $10,412, and TANF to be overcharged $7,357. Cause: Inadequate procedures to ensure that adjustments to the PACAP are proper and that journal entries are appropriate for each program. Effect: Unallowable expenditures were charged to Federal funds and there is an increased risk for errors, fraud, and non-compliance with Federal regulations. Recommendation: We recommend the Agency strengthen procedures to ensure adjusting entries are complete and accurate. We further recommend the Agency strengthen procedures to ensure compliance with Federal regulations. Management Response: The Agency agrees.
Program: AL 93.558 – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; AL 93.563 – Child Support Enforcement; AL 93.568 – Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP); AL 93.575 – Child Care and Development Block Grant; AL 93.658 – Foster Care Title IV-E; AL 93.778 – Medical Assistance Program; AL 10.561 – State Administrative Matching Grants for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Grant Number & Year: 2001NETANF, FFY 2020; 2301NECSES, FFY 2023; 2301NELIEA, FFY 2023; 2301NECCDD, FFY 2023; 2301NEFOST, FFY 2023; 2305NE5ADM, FFY 2023; 233NE406S2514, FFY 2023 Federal Grantor Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture Criteria: 45 CFR § 75.405(a) (October 1, 2022) and 2 CFR § 200.405 (January 1, 2023) state, in part, the following: A cost is allocable to a particular Federal award or other cost objective if the goods or services involved are chargeable or assignable to that Federal award or cost objective in accordance with relative benefits received. 45 CFR § 75.403 (October 1, 2022) and 2 CFR § 200.403 (January 1, 2023) provide the following, in relevant part: Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles. * * * * (g) Be adequately documented. See also §§ 75.300 through 75.309. Per 45 CFR § 75.303 (October 1, 2022) and 2 CFR § 200.303 (January 1, 2023), 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. Title 45 CFR § 75.302 (October 1, 2022) and 2 CFR § 200.302 (January 1, 2023) require financial management systems of the State sufficient to permit preparation of required reports and permit the tracing of funds to expenditures adequate to establish the use of these funds were in accordance with applicable regulations. EnterpriseOne is the official accounting system for the State of Nebraska, and all expenditures are generated from it. Good internal control requires procedures to ensure that amounts charged to Federal funds are proper. Condition: Procedures to ensure journal entries and adjustments to the Public Assistance Cost Allocation Plan (PACAP) were not adequate, resulting in multiple Federal programs being overcharged. Repeat Finding: No Questioned Costs: $581,496 known See Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs for chart/table. Statistical Sample: No Context: Each quarter, as the PACAP is prepared, the Agency makes multiple adjustments for costs that either were charged to Federal funds and should not have been, or costs that were not charged to Federal funds but are claimable to a Federal grant. We tested five adjustments between two quarters. One adjustment tested for the quarter ended December 31, 2022, was recorded to charge the Foster Care grant for allowable costs incurred by the Foster Care Review Office (FCRO), a separate agency. The amounts provided by FCRO erroneously included payroll charges from a previous quarter, inflating the amount charged. The FCRO later caught the mistake and adjusted the internal spreadsheet but did not alert the Agency to the error, so a correcting adjustment was never made to the PACAP. The amount charged was $353,984; however, the adjustment should have been $212,725, a difference of $141,259. Foster Care is matched at 50%, so the grant was overcharged $70,629, which are questioned costs. Due to this error, we reviewed a second Foster Care adjustment for the quarter ending March 31, 2023, and noted the Agency’s calculation included amounts for a State funded program that should have been removed, resulting in the grant being overcharged an additional $1,561. We also tested six journal entries that moved costs between cost centers to determine any impact on the PACAP and if those journal entries were appropriate. We noted three improper journal entries that the Agency had not corrected as of the end of the fiscal year: • A journal entry for $526,487 was performed in November 2022 to temporarily move postage costs of multiple programs from State funds to the Child Support Enforcement (CSE) grant until new coding could be created in the State’s accounting system to track expenses from one fiscal year to another. The intent was to reverse the entry as soon as the new coding was completed; however, the reversing entry was never performed. Since the Agency performs a quarterly adjustment for the CSE grant to charge indirect costs identified by the Agency’s PACAP to the grant, the CSE grant was overcharged a total of $263,628. No correcting entry had been made as of September 30, 2023. These are considered questioned costs. • A journal entry for $207,369 was performed in December 2022 to move expenses to allow payroll to post. The intent was to reverse the entry before the end of the fiscal year; however, that was not done. The expenses were moved from Medicaid administration and were charged to the Central Services and Supplies Cost Center, which is then allocated to numerous other Cost Centers that are further allocated or charged directly to Federal programs such as TANF and Child Care. Due to the intricacies of PACAP allocations, exact questioned costs are unknown. No correcting entry was made as of September 30, 2023. • A journal entry for $5,317,640 was done in February 2023 to move Premium Pay to the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CSLFRF) grant as additional pay for certain job roles allowed under that grant. However, the entry performed included some lines that were miscoded, most significantly a line for $764,187 that was supposed to move money within the same Cost Center (CC 25C21910 – Field Office Administration); however, it pulled costs out of Cost Center 25C21780 - Protection and Safety Policy Chief instead. Additionally, we confirmed with the Agency that the costs charged to CC 25C21910 under the CSLFRF grant were also allocated to other Federal programs through the PACAP, essentially charging Federal programs twice. Due to the intricacies of the PACAP allocations, total questioned costs are unknown; however, we were able to determine that this error caused Medicaid to be overcharged $149,478, LIHEAP to be overcharged $33,447, SNAP to be overcharged $44,984, Child Care to be overcharged $10,412, and TANF to be overcharged $7,357. Cause: Inadequate procedures to ensure that adjustments to the PACAP are proper and that journal entries are appropriate for each program. Effect: Unallowable expenditures were charged to Federal funds and there is an increased risk for errors, fraud, and non-compliance with Federal regulations. Recommendation: We recommend the Agency strengthen procedures to ensure adjusting entries are complete and accurate. We further recommend the Agency strengthen procedures to ensure compliance with Federal regulations. Management Response: The Agency agrees.
Program: AL 93.558 – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; AL 93.563 – Child Support Enforcement; AL 93.568 – Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP); AL 93.575 – Child Care and Development Block Grant; AL 93.658 – Foster Care Title IV-E; AL 93.778 – Medical Assistance Program; AL 10.561 – State Administrative Matching Grants for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Grant Number & Year: 2001NETANF, FFY 2020; 2301NECSES, FFY 2023; 2301NELIEA, FFY 2023; 2301NECCDD, FFY 2023; 2301NEFOST, FFY 2023; 2305NE5ADM, FFY 2023; 233NE406S2514, FFY 2023 Federal Grantor Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture Criteria: 45 CFR § 75.405(a) (October 1, 2022) and 2 CFR § 200.405 (January 1, 2023) state, in part, the following: A cost is allocable to a particular Federal award or other cost objective if the goods or services involved are chargeable or assignable to that Federal award or cost objective in accordance with relative benefits received. 45 CFR § 75.403 (October 1, 2022) and 2 CFR § 200.403 (January 1, 2023) provide the following, in relevant part: Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles. * * * * (g) Be adequately documented. See also §§ 75.300 through 75.309. Per 45 CFR § 75.303 (October 1, 2022) and 2 CFR § 200.303 (January 1, 2023), 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. Title 45 CFR § 75.302 (October 1, 2022) and 2 CFR § 200.302 (January 1, 2023) require financial management systems of the State sufficient to permit preparation of required reports and permit the tracing of funds to expenditures adequate to establish the use of these funds were in accordance with applicable regulations. EnterpriseOne is the official accounting system for the State of Nebraska, and all expenditures are generated from it. Good internal control requires procedures to ensure that amounts charged to Federal funds are proper. Condition: Procedures to ensure journal entries and adjustments to the Public Assistance Cost Allocation Plan (PACAP) were not adequate, resulting in multiple Federal programs being overcharged. Repeat Finding: No Questioned Costs: $581,496 known See Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs for chart/table. Statistical Sample: No Context: Each quarter, as the PACAP is prepared, the Agency makes multiple adjustments for costs that either were charged to Federal funds and should not have been, or costs that were not charged to Federal funds but are claimable to a Federal grant. We tested five adjustments between two quarters. One adjustment tested for the quarter ended December 31, 2022, was recorded to charge the Foster Care grant for allowable costs incurred by the Foster Care Review Office (FCRO), a separate agency. The amounts provided by FCRO erroneously included payroll charges from a previous quarter, inflating the amount charged. The FCRO later caught the mistake and adjusted the internal spreadsheet but did not alert the Agency to the error, so a correcting adjustment was never made to the PACAP. The amount charged was $353,984; however, the adjustment should have been $212,725, a difference of $141,259. Foster Care is matched at 50%, so the grant was overcharged $70,629, which are questioned costs. Due to this error, we reviewed a second Foster Care adjustment for the quarter ending March 31, 2023, and noted the Agency’s calculation included amounts for a State funded program that should have been removed, resulting in the grant being overcharged an additional $1,561. We also tested six journal entries that moved costs between cost centers to determine any impact on the PACAP and if those journal entries were appropriate. We noted three improper journal entries that the Agency had not corrected as of the end of the fiscal year: • A journal entry for $526,487 was performed in November 2022 to temporarily move postage costs of multiple programs from State funds to the Child Support Enforcement (CSE) grant until new coding could be created in the State’s accounting system to track expenses from one fiscal year to another. The intent was to reverse the entry as soon as the new coding was completed; however, the reversing entry was never performed. Since the Agency performs a quarterly adjustment for the CSE grant to charge indirect costs identified by the Agency’s PACAP to the grant, the CSE grant was overcharged a total of $263,628. No correcting entry had been made as of September 30, 2023. These are considered questioned costs. • A journal entry for $207,369 was performed in December 2022 to move expenses to allow payroll to post. The intent was to reverse the entry before the end of the fiscal year; however, that was not done. The expenses were moved from Medicaid administration and were charged to the Central Services and Supplies Cost Center, which is then allocated to numerous other Cost Centers that are further allocated or charged directly to Federal programs such as TANF and Child Care. Due to the intricacies of PACAP allocations, exact questioned costs are unknown. No correcting entry was made as of September 30, 2023. • A journal entry for $5,317,640 was done in February 2023 to move Premium Pay to the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CSLFRF) grant as additional pay for certain job roles allowed under that grant. However, the entry performed included some lines that were miscoded, most significantly a line for $764,187 that was supposed to move money within the same Cost Center (CC 25C21910 – Field Office Administration); however, it pulled costs out of Cost Center 25C21780 - Protection and Safety Policy Chief instead. Additionally, we confirmed with the Agency that the costs charged to CC 25C21910 under the CSLFRF grant were also allocated to other Federal programs through the PACAP, essentially charging Federal programs twice. Due to the intricacies of the PACAP allocations, total questioned costs are unknown; however, we were able to determine that this error caused Medicaid to be overcharged $149,478, LIHEAP to be overcharged $33,447, SNAP to be overcharged $44,984, Child Care to be overcharged $10,412, and TANF to be overcharged $7,357. Cause: Inadequate procedures to ensure that adjustments to the PACAP are proper and that journal entries are appropriate for each program. Effect: Unallowable expenditures were charged to Federal funds and there is an increased risk for errors, fraud, and non-compliance with Federal regulations. Recommendation: We recommend the Agency strengthen procedures to ensure adjusting entries are complete and accurate. We further recommend the Agency strengthen procedures to ensure compliance with Federal regulations. Management Response: The Agency agrees.
Program: AL 93.558 – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; AL 93.563 – Child Support Enforcement; AL 93.568 – Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP); AL 93.575 – Child Care and Development Block Grant; AL 93.658 – Foster Care Title IV-E; AL 93.778 – Medical Assistance Program; AL 10.561 – State Administrative Matching Grants for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Grant Number & Year: 2001NETANF, FFY 2020; 2301NECSES, FFY 2023; 2301NELIEA, FFY 2023; 2301NECCDD, FFY 2023; 2301NEFOST, FFY 2023; 2305NE5ADM, FFY 2023; 233NE406S2514, FFY 2023 Federal Grantor Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture Criteria: 45 CFR § 75.405(a) (October 1, 2022) and 2 CFR § 200.405 (January 1, 2023) state, in part, the following: A cost is allocable to a particular Federal award or other cost objective if the goods or services involved are chargeable or assignable to that Federal award or cost objective in accordance with relative benefits received. 45 CFR § 75.403 (October 1, 2022) and 2 CFR § 200.403 (January 1, 2023) provide the following, in relevant part: Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles. * * * * (g) Be adequately documented. See also §§ 75.300 through 75.309. Per 45 CFR § 75.303 (October 1, 2022) and 2 CFR § 200.303 (January 1, 2023), 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. Title 45 CFR § 75.302 (October 1, 2022) and 2 CFR § 200.302 (January 1, 2023) require financial management systems of the State sufficient to permit preparation of required reports and permit the tracing of funds to expenditures adequate to establish the use of these funds were in accordance with applicable regulations. EnterpriseOne is the official accounting system for the State of Nebraska, and all expenditures are generated from it. Good internal control requires procedures to ensure that amounts charged to Federal funds are proper. Condition: Procedures to ensure journal entries and adjustments to the Public Assistance Cost Allocation Plan (PACAP) were not adequate, resulting in multiple Federal programs being overcharged. Repeat Finding: No Questioned Costs: $581,496 known See Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs for chart/table. Statistical Sample: No Context: Each quarter, as the PACAP is prepared, the Agency makes multiple adjustments for costs that either were charged to Federal funds and should not have been, or costs that were not charged to Federal funds but are claimable to a Federal grant. We tested five adjustments between two quarters. One adjustment tested for the quarter ended December 31, 2022, was recorded to charge the Foster Care grant for allowable costs incurred by the Foster Care Review Office (FCRO), a separate agency. The amounts provided by FCRO erroneously included payroll charges from a previous quarter, inflating the amount charged. The FCRO later caught the mistake and adjusted the internal spreadsheet but did not alert the Agency to the error, so a correcting adjustment was never made to the PACAP. The amount charged was $353,984; however, the adjustment should have been $212,725, a difference of $141,259. Foster Care is matched at 50%, so the grant was overcharged $70,629, which are questioned costs. Due to this error, we reviewed a second Foster Care adjustment for the quarter ending March 31, 2023, and noted the Agency’s calculation included amounts for a State funded program that should have been removed, resulting in the grant being overcharged an additional $1,561. We also tested six journal entries that moved costs between cost centers to determine any impact on the PACAP and if those journal entries were appropriate. We noted three improper journal entries that the Agency had not corrected as of the end of the fiscal year: • A journal entry for $526,487 was performed in November 2022 to temporarily move postage costs of multiple programs from State funds to the Child Support Enforcement (CSE) grant until new coding could be created in the State’s accounting system to track expenses from one fiscal year to another. The intent was to reverse the entry as soon as the new coding was completed; however, the reversing entry was never performed. Since the Agency performs a quarterly adjustment for the CSE grant to charge indirect costs identified by the Agency’s PACAP to the grant, the CSE grant was overcharged a total of $263,628. No correcting entry had been made as of September 30, 2023. These are considered questioned costs. • A journal entry for $207,369 was performed in December 2022 to move expenses to allow payroll to post. The intent was to reverse the entry before the end of the fiscal year; however, that was not done. The expenses were moved from Medicaid administration and were charged to the Central Services and Supplies Cost Center, which is then allocated to numerous other Cost Centers that are further allocated or charged directly to Federal programs such as TANF and Child Care. Due to the intricacies of PACAP allocations, exact questioned costs are unknown. No correcting entry was made as of September 30, 2023. • A journal entry for $5,317,640 was done in February 2023 to move Premium Pay to the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CSLFRF) grant as additional pay for certain job roles allowed under that grant. However, the entry performed included some lines that were miscoded, most significantly a line for $764,187 that was supposed to move money within the same Cost Center (CC 25C21910 – Field Office Administration); however, it pulled costs out of Cost Center 25C21780 - Protection and Safety Policy Chief instead. Additionally, we confirmed with the Agency that the costs charged to CC 25C21910 under the CSLFRF grant were also allocated to other Federal programs through the PACAP, essentially charging Federal programs twice. Due to the intricacies of the PACAP allocations, total questioned costs are unknown; however, we were able to determine that this error caused Medicaid to be overcharged $149,478, LIHEAP to be overcharged $33,447, SNAP to be overcharged $44,984, Child Care to be overcharged $10,412, and TANF to be overcharged $7,357. Cause: Inadequate procedures to ensure that adjustments to the PACAP are proper and that journal entries are appropriate for each program. Effect: Unallowable expenditures were charged to Federal funds and there is an increased risk for errors, fraud, and non-compliance with Federal regulations. Recommendation: We recommend the Agency strengthen procedures to ensure adjusting entries are complete and accurate. We further recommend the Agency strengthen procedures to ensure compliance with Federal regulations. Management Response: The Agency agrees.
Program: AL 93.558 – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; AL 93.563 – Child Support Enforcement; AL 93.568 – Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP); AL 93.575 – Child Care and Development Block Grant; AL 93.658 – Foster Care Title IV-E; AL 93.778 – Medical Assistance Program; AL 10.561 – State Administrative Matching Grants for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Grant Number & Year: 2001NETANF, FFY 2020; 2301NECSES, FFY 2023; 2301NELIEA, FFY 2023; 2301NECCDD, FFY 2023; 2301NEFOST, FFY 2023; 2305NE5ADM, FFY 2023; 233NE406S2514, FFY 2023 Federal Grantor Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture Criteria: 45 CFR § 75.405(a) (October 1, 2022) and 2 CFR § 200.405 (January 1, 2023) state, in part, the following: A cost is allocable to a particular Federal award or other cost objective if the goods or services involved are chargeable or assignable to that Federal award or cost objective in accordance with relative benefits received. 45 CFR § 75.403 (October 1, 2022) and 2 CFR § 200.403 (January 1, 2023) provide the following, in relevant part: Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles. * * * * (g) Be adequately documented. See also §§ 75.300 through 75.309. Per 45 CFR § 75.303 (October 1, 2022) and 2 CFR § 200.303 (January 1, 2023), 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. Title 45 CFR § 75.302 (October 1, 2022) and 2 CFR § 200.302 (January 1, 2023) require financial management systems of the State sufficient to permit preparation of required reports and permit the tracing of funds to expenditures adequate to establish the use of these funds were in accordance with applicable regulations. EnterpriseOne is the official accounting system for the State of Nebraska, and all expenditures are generated from it. Good internal control requires procedures to ensure that amounts charged to Federal funds are proper. Condition: Procedures to ensure journal entries and adjustments to the Public Assistance Cost Allocation Plan (PACAP) were not adequate, resulting in multiple Federal programs being overcharged. Repeat Finding: No Questioned Costs: $581,496 known See Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs for chart/table. Statistical Sample: No Context: Each quarter, as the PACAP is prepared, the Agency makes multiple adjustments for costs that either were charged to Federal funds and should not have been, or costs that were not charged to Federal funds but are claimable to a Federal grant. We tested five adjustments between two quarters. One adjustment tested for the quarter ended December 31, 2022, was recorded to charge the Foster Care grant for allowable costs incurred by the Foster Care Review Office (FCRO), a separate agency. The amounts provided by FCRO erroneously included payroll charges from a previous quarter, inflating the amount charged. The FCRO later caught the mistake and adjusted the internal spreadsheet but did not alert the Agency to the error, so a correcting adjustment was never made to the PACAP. The amount charged was $353,984; however, the adjustment should have been $212,725, a difference of $141,259. Foster Care is matched at 50%, so the grant was overcharged $70,629, which are questioned costs. Due to this error, we reviewed a second Foster Care adjustment for the quarter ending March 31, 2023, and noted the Agency’s calculation included amounts for a State funded program that should have been removed, resulting in the grant being overcharged an additional $1,561. We also tested six journal entries that moved costs between cost centers to determine any impact on the PACAP and if those journal entries were appropriate. We noted three improper journal entries that the Agency had not corrected as of the end of the fiscal year: • A journal entry for $526,487 was performed in November 2022 to temporarily move postage costs of multiple programs from State funds to the Child Support Enforcement (CSE) grant until new coding could be created in the State’s accounting system to track expenses from one fiscal year to another. The intent was to reverse the entry as soon as the new coding was completed; however, the reversing entry was never performed. Since the Agency performs a quarterly adjustment for the CSE grant to charge indirect costs identified by the Agency’s PACAP to the grant, the CSE grant was overcharged a total of $263,628. No correcting entry had been made as of September 30, 2023. These are considered questioned costs. • A journal entry for $207,369 was performed in December 2022 to move expenses to allow payroll to post. The intent was to reverse the entry before the end of the fiscal year; however, that was not done. The expenses were moved from Medicaid administration and were charged to the Central Services and Supplies Cost Center, which is then allocated to numerous other Cost Centers that are further allocated or charged directly to Federal programs such as TANF and Child Care. Due to the intricacies of PACAP allocations, exact questioned costs are unknown. No correcting entry was made as of September 30, 2023. • A journal entry for $5,317,640 was done in February 2023 to move Premium Pay to the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CSLFRF) grant as additional pay for certain job roles allowed under that grant. However, the entry performed included some lines that were miscoded, most significantly a line for $764,187 that was supposed to move money within the same Cost Center (CC 25C21910 – Field Office Administration); however, it pulled costs out of Cost Center 25C21780 - Protection and Safety Policy Chief instead. Additionally, we confirmed with the Agency that the costs charged to CC 25C21910 under the CSLFRF grant were also allocated to other Federal programs through the PACAP, essentially charging Federal programs twice. Due to the intricacies of the PACAP allocations, total questioned costs are unknown; however, we were able to determine that this error caused Medicaid to be overcharged $149,478, LIHEAP to be overcharged $33,447, SNAP to be overcharged $44,984, Child Care to be overcharged $10,412, and TANF to be overcharged $7,357. Cause: Inadequate procedures to ensure that adjustments to the PACAP are proper and that journal entries are appropriate for each program. Effect: Unallowable expenditures were charged to Federal funds and there is an increased risk for errors, fraud, and non-compliance with Federal regulations. Recommendation: We recommend the Agency strengthen procedures to ensure adjusting entries are complete and accurate. We further recommend the Agency strengthen procedures to ensure compliance with Federal regulations. Management Response: The Agency agrees.
Program: AL 93.558 – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; AL 93.563 – Child Support Enforcement; AL 93.568 – Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP); AL 93.575 – Child Care and Development Block Grant; AL 93.658 – Foster Care Title IV-E; AL 93.778 – Medical Assistance Program; AL 10.561 – State Administrative Matching Grants for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Grant Number & Year: 2001NETANF, FFY 2020; 2301NECSES, FFY 2023; 2301NELIEA, FFY 2023; 2301NECCDD, FFY 2023; 2301NEFOST, FFY 2023; 2305NE5ADM, FFY 2023; 233NE406S2514, FFY 2023 Federal Grantor Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture Criteria: 45 CFR § 75.405(a) (October 1, 2022) and 2 CFR § 200.405 (January 1, 2023) state, in part, the following: A cost is allocable to a particular Federal award or other cost objective if the goods or services involved are chargeable or assignable to that Federal award or cost objective in accordance with relative benefits received. 45 CFR § 75.403 (October 1, 2022) and 2 CFR § 200.403 (January 1, 2023) provide the following, in relevant part: Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles. * * * * (g) Be adequately documented. See also §§ 75.300 through 75.309. Per 45 CFR § 75.303 (October 1, 2022) and 2 CFR § 200.303 (January 1, 2023), 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. Title 45 CFR § 75.302 (October 1, 2022) and 2 CFR § 200.302 (January 1, 2023) require financial management systems of the State sufficient to permit preparation of required reports and permit the tracing of funds to expenditures adequate to establish the use of these funds were in accordance with applicable regulations. EnterpriseOne is the official accounting system for the State of Nebraska, and all expenditures are generated from it. Good internal control requires procedures to ensure that amounts charged to Federal funds are proper. Condition: Procedures to ensure journal entries and adjustments to the Public Assistance Cost Allocation Plan (PACAP) were not adequate, resulting in multiple Federal programs being overcharged. Repeat Finding: No Questioned Costs: $581,496 known See Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs for chart/table. Statistical Sample: No Context: Each quarter, as the PACAP is prepared, the Agency makes multiple adjustments for costs that either were charged to Federal funds and should not have been, or costs that were not charged to Federal funds but are claimable to a Federal grant. We tested five adjustments between two quarters. One adjustment tested for the quarter ended December 31, 2022, was recorded to charge the Foster Care grant for allowable costs incurred by the Foster Care Review Office (FCRO), a separate agency. The amounts provided by FCRO erroneously included payroll charges from a previous quarter, inflating the amount charged. The FCRO later caught the mistake and adjusted the internal spreadsheet but did not alert the Agency to the error, so a correcting adjustment was never made to the PACAP. The amount charged was $353,984; however, the adjustment should have been $212,725, a difference of $141,259. Foster Care is matched at 50%, so the grant was overcharged $70,629, which are questioned costs. Due to this error, we reviewed a second Foster Care adjustment for the quarter ending March 31, 2023, and noted the Agency’s calculation included amounts for a State funded program that should have been removed, resulting in the grant being overcharged an additional $1,561. We also tested six journal entries that moved costs between cost centers to determine any impact on the PACAP and if those journal entries were appropriate. We noted three improper journal entries that the Agency had not corrected as of the end of the fiscal year: • A journal entry for $526,487 was performed in November 2022 to temporarily move postage costs of multiple programs from State funds to the Child Support Enforcement (CSE) grant until new coding could be created in the State’s accounting system to track expenses from one fiscal year to another. The intent was to reverse the entry as soon as the new coding was completed; however, the reversing entry was never performed. Since the Agency performs a quarterly adjustment for the CSE grant to charge indirect costs identified by the Agency’s PACAP to the grant, the CSE grant was overcharged a total of $263,628. No correcting entry had been made as of September 30, 2023. These are considered questioned costs. • A journal entry for $207,369 was performed in December 2022 to move expenses to allow payroll to post. The intent was to reverse the entry before the end of the fiscal year; however, that was not done. The expenses were moved from Medicaid administration and were charged to the Central Services and Supplies Cost Center, which is then allocated to numerous other Cost Centers that are further allocated or charged directly to Federal programs such as TANF and Child Care. Due to the intricacies of PACAP allocations, exact questioned costs are unknown. No correcting entry was made as of September 30, 2023. • A journal entry for $5,317,640 was done in February 2023 to move Premium Pay to the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CSLFRF) grant as additional pay for certain job roles allowed under that grant. However, the entry performed included some lines that were miscoded, most significantly a line for $764,187 that was supposed to move money within the same Cost Center (CC 25C21910 – Field Office Administration); however, it pulled costs out of Cost Center 25C21780 - Protection and Safety Policy Chief instead. Additionally, we confirmed with the Agency that the costs charged to CC 25C21910 under the CSLFRF grant were also allocated to other Federal programs through the PACAP, essentially charging Federal programs twice. Due to the intricacies of the PACAP allocations, total questioned costs are unknown; however, we were able to determine that this error caused Medicaid to be overcharged $149,478, LIHEAP to be overcharged $33,447, SNAP to be overcharged $44,984, Child Care to be overcharged $10,412, and TANF to be overcharged $7,357. Cause: Inadequate procedures to ensure that adjustments to the PACAP are proper and that journal entries are appropriate for each program. Effect: Unallowable expenditures were charged to Federal funds and there is an increased risk for errors, fraud, and non-compliance with Federal regulations. Recommendation: We recommend the Agency strengthen procedures to ensure adjusting entries are complete and accurate. We further recommend the Agency strengthen procedures to ensure compliance with Federal regulations. Management Response: The Agency agrees.
Finding 2023-005 Information on the federal program: Subject: Education Stabilization Fund (ESSER) – Internal Controls Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listing Number: 84.425D, 84.425U Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425D210013, S425U200013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Finding: Material Weakness Criteria: 2 CFR section 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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 Financial reporting . . . ." 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." 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 reporting compliance requirements. Cause: The School Corporation's management had not developed a system of internal controls to ensure compliance with the compliance requirements listed above. The second person reviewing the information and inputting the information to IDOE incorrectly inputted the information as $0 for each grant. Finding 2023-005 Effect: The failure to establish an effective internal control system placed the School Corporation at risk of noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirements. A lack of segregation of duties within an internal control system could have also allowed noncompliance with the compliance requirements and allowed the misuse and mismanagement of federal funds and assets by not having proper oversight, reviews, and approvals over the activities of the programs. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation was required to submit one Annual Data Report per ESSER grant for each year in the audit period to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) to meet federal reporting requirements for the ESSER grant awards. There was no documented review by someone other than the preparer of the Annual Data Report to ensure the information submitted was complete and accurate for the reports submitted in the first year under audit. Additionally, the amounts reported on each ESSER report for the second year under audit did not agree to the underlying disbursement detail. We noted the amounts reported as expended ($0) on the report did not agree to the amounts expended per the underlying expenditure records, $7,151,043 for the report time period. The errors were due to the School Corporation not inputting the information correctly from the system reports that were reviewed. Identification as a repeat finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend someone other than the preparer of the report perform a documented review prior to submission to validate the accuracy and completeness of the data submitted. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-005 Information on the federal program: Subject: Education Stabilization Fund (ESSER) – Internal Controls Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listing Number: 84.425D, 84.425U Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425D210013, S425U200013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Finding: Material Weakness Criteria: 2 CFR section 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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 Financial reporting . . . ." 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." 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 reporting compliance requirements. Cause: The School Corporation's management had not developed a system of internal controls to ensure compliance with the compliance requirements listed above. The second person reviewing the information and inputting the information to IDOE incorrectly inputted the information as $0 for each grant. Finding 2023-005 Effect: The failure to establish an effective internal control system placed the School Corporation at risk of noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirements. A lack of segregation of duties within an internal control system could have also allowed noncompliance with the compliance requirements and allowed the misuse and mismanagement of federal funds and assets by not having proper oversight, reviews, and approvals over the activities of the programs. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation was required to submit one Annual Data Report per ESSER grant for each year in the audit period to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) to meet federal reporting requirements for the ESSER grant awards. There was no documented review by someone other than the preparer of the Annual Data Report to ensure the information submitted was complete and accurate for the reports submitted in the first year under audit. Additionally, the amounts reported on each ESSER report for the second year under audit did not agree to the underlying disbursement detail. We noted the amounts reported as expended ($0) on the report did not agree to the amounts expended per the underlying expenditure records, $7,151,043 for the report time period. The errors were due to the School Corporation not inputting the information correctly from the system reports that were reviewed. Identification as a repeat finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend someone other than the preparer of the report perform a documented review prior to submission to validate the accuracy and completeness of the data submitted. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-005 Information on the federal program: Subject: Education Stabilization Fund (ESSER) – Internal Controls Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listing Number: 84.425D, 84.425U Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425D210013, S425U200013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Finding: Material Weakness Criteria: 2 CFR section 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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 Financial reporting . . . ." 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." 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 reporting compliance requirements. Cause: The School Corporation's management had not developed a system of internal controls to ensure compliance with the compliance requirements listed above. The second person reviewing the information and inputting the information to IDOE incorrectly inputted the information as $0 for each grant. Finding 2023-005 Effect: The failure to establish an effective internal control system placed the School Corporation at risk of noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirements. A lack of segregation of duties within an internal control system could have also allowed noncompliance with the compliance requirements and allowed the misuse and mismanagement of federal funds and assets by not having proper oversight, reviews, and approvals over the activities of the programs. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation was required to submit one Annual Data Report per ESSER grant for each year in the audit period to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) to meet federal reporting requirements for the ESSER grant awards. There was no documented review by someone other than the preparer of the Annual Data Report to ensure the information submitted was complete and accurate for the reports submitted in the first year under audit. Additionally, the amounts reported on each ESSER report for the second year under audit did not agree to the underlying disbursement detail. We noted the amounts reported as expended ($0) on the report did not agree to the amounts expended per the underlying expenditure records, $7,151,043 for the report time period. The errors were due to the School Corporation not inputting the information correctly from the system reports that were reviewed. Identification as a repeat finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend someone other than the preparer of the report perform a documented review prior to submission to validate the accuracy and completeness of the data submitted. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-006 Information on the federal program: Subject: Education Stabilization Fund (ESSER) – Internal Controls Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listing Number: 84.425C, 84.425D, 84.425U Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Finding: Material Weakness Criteria: 2 CFR section 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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 Financial reporting . . . ." 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." 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 reporting compliance requirements. Cause: The School Corporation's management had not developed a system of internal controls to ensure compliance with the compliance requirements listed above. Management misinterpreted the instructions for the reporting requirements and believed that they did not need to fill in the expense information as an LEA. Effect: The failure to establish an effective internal control system placed the School Corporation at risk of noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirements. A lack of segregation of duties within an internal control system could have also allowed noncompliance with the compliance requirements and allowed the misuse and mismanagement of federal funds and assets by not having proper oversight, reviews, and approvals over the activities of the programs. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation was required to submit one Annual Data Report to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) to meet federal reporting requirements for ESSER grant awards. The report was for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 and was due by April 7, 2023. We noted the amounts reported as expended ($0) on the report did not agree to the amounts expended per the underlying expenditure records, $8,175,199 for the report time period. Identification as a repeat finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend someone other than the preparer of the report perform a documented review prior to submission to validate the accuracy and completeness of the data submitted. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-006 Information on the federal program: Subject: Education Stabilization Fund (ESSER) – Internal Controls Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listing Number: 84.425C, 84.425D, 84.425U Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Finding: Material Weakness Criteria: 2 CFR section 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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 Financial reporting . . . ." 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." 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 reporting compliance requirements. Cause: The School Corporation's management had not developed a system of internal controls to ensure compliance with the compliance requirements listed above. Management misinterpreted the instructions for the reporting requirements and believed that they did not need to fill in the expense information as an LEA. Effect: The failure to establish an effective internal control system placed the School Corporation at risk of noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirements. A lack of segregation of duties within an internal control system could have also allowed noncompliance with the compliance requirements and allowed the misuse and mismanagement of federal funds and assets by not having proper oversight, reviews, and approvals over the activities of the programs. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation was required to submit one Annual Data Report to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) to meet federal reporting requirements for ESSER grant awards. The report was for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 and was due by April 7, 2023. We noted the amounts reported as expended ($0) on the report did not agree to the amounts expended per the underlying expenditure records, $8,175,199 for the report time period. Identification as a repeat finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend someone other than the preparer of the report perform a documented review prior to submission to validate the accuracy and completeness of the data submitted. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-006 Information on the federal program: Subject: Education Stabilization Fund (ESSER) – Internal Controls Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listing Number: 84.425C, 84.425D, 84.425U Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Finding: Material Weakness Criteria: 2 CFR section 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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 Financial reporting . . . ." 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." 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 reporting compliance requirements. Cause: The School Corporation's management had not developed a system of internal controls to ensure compliance with the compliance requirements listed above. Management misinterpreted the instructions for the reporting requirements and believed that they did not need to fill in the expense information as an LEA. Effect: The failure to establish an effective internal control system placed the School Corporation at risk of noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirements. A lack of segregation of duties within an internal control system could have also allowed noncompliance with the compliance requirements and allowed the misuse and mismanagement of federal funds and assets by not having proper oversight, reviews, and approvals over the activities of the programs. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation was required to submit one Annual Data Report to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) to meet federal reporting requirements for ESSER grant awards. The report was for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 and was due by April 7, 2023. We noted the amounts reported as expended ($0) on the report did not agree to the amounts expended per the underlying expenditure records, $8,175,199 for the report time period. Identification as a repeat finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend someone other than the preparer of the report perform a documented review prior to submission to validate the accuracy and completeness of the data submitted. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-006 Information on the federal program: Subject: Education Stabilization Fund (ESSER) – Internal Controls Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listing Number: 84.425C, 84.425D, 84.425U Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Finding: Material Weakness Criteria: 2 CFR section 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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 Financial reporting . . . ." 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." 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 reporting compliance requirements. Cause: The School Corporation's management had not developed a system of internal controls to ensure compliance with the compliance requirements listed above. Management misinterpreted the instructions for the reporting requirements and believed that they did not need to fill in the expense information as an LEA. Effect: The failure to establish an effective internal control system placed the School Corporation at risk of noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirements. A lack of segregation of duties within an internal control system could have also allowed noncompliance with the compliance requirements and allowed the misuse and mismanagement of federal funds and assets by not having proper oversight, reviews, and approvals over the activities of the programs. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation was required to submit one Annual Data Report to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) to meet federal reporting requirements for ESSER grant awards. The report was for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 and was due by April 7, 2023. We noted the amounts reported as expended ($0) on the report did not agree to the amounts expended per the underlying expenditure records, $8,175,199 for the report time period. Identification as a repeat finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend someone other than the preparer of the report perform a documented review prior to submission to validate the accuracy and completeness of the data submitted. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-006 Information on the federal program: Subject: Education Stabilization Fund (ESSER) – Internal Controls Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listing Number: 84.425C, 84.425D, 84.425U Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Finding: Material Weakness Criteria: 2 CFR section 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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 Financial reporting . . . ." 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." 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 reporting compliance requirements. Cause: The School Corporation's management had not developed a system of internal controls to ensure compliance with the compliance requirements listed above. Management misinterpreted the instructions for the reporting requirements and believed that they did not need to fill in the expense information as an LEA. Effect: The failure to establish an effective internal control system placed the School Corporation at risk of noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirements. A lack of segregation of duties within an internal control system could have also allowed noncompliance with the compliance requirements and allowed the misuse and mismanagement of federal funds and assets by not having proper oversight, reviews, and approvals over the activities of the programs. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation was required to submit one Annual Data Report to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) to meet federal reporting requirements for ESSER grant awards. The report was for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 and was due by April 7, 2023. We noted the amounts reported as expended ($0) on the report did not agree to the amounts expended per the underlying expenditure records, $8,175,199 for the report time period. Identification as a repeat finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend someone other than the preparer of the report perform a documented review prior to submission to validate the accuracy and completeness of the data submitted. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2023-003 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, S425D210013, S425U210013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context The School Corporation had not properly designed or implemented a system of internal controls, which would include appropriate segregation of duties, that would likely be effective in preventing, or detecting and correcting, noncompliance. The School Corporation was required to submit annual data reports to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) via JotForm, a form/report builder. Data to be submitted included, but was not limited to, current period expenditures, prior period expenditures, and expenditures per activity. During the audit period the School Corporation submitted two ESSER I reports, two ESSER II reports, and two ESSER III reports, for a total of six reports. The annual data reports were complied, prepared, and submitted by the Business Manager without an oversight or review process in place to prevent, or detect and correct, errors. In addition, the ESSER II, Year 1 report was not properly supported by the School Corporation's records. The School Corporation had expenditures of $352,726; however, the amount reported to the IDOE was zero. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 18 NETTLE CREEK SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. The noncompliance was isolated to the ESSER II, Year 1 report. 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 200.302(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." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Cause A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. 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, an ESSER report was not accurate and complete. Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 19 NETTLE CREEK SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Recommendation We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure all reports submitted on behalf of the Education Stabilization Fund program funds are accurate and complete. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-003 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, S425D210013, S425U210013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context The School Corporation had not properly designed or implemented a system of internal controls, which would include appropriate segregation of duties, that would likely be effective in preventing, or detecting and correcting, noncompliance. The School Corporation was required to submit annual data reports to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) via JotForm, a form/report builder. Data to be submitted included, but was not limited to, current period expenditures, prior period expenditures, and expenditures per activity. During the audit period the School Corporation submitted two ESSER I reports, two ESSER II reports, and two ESSER III reports, for a total of six reports. The annual data reports were complied, prepared, and submitted by the Business Manager without an oversight or review process in place to prevent, or detect and correct, errors. In addition, the ESSER II, Year 1 report was not properly supported by the School Corporation's records. The School Corporation had expenditures of $352,726; however, the amount reported to the IDOE was zero. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 18 NETTLE CREEK SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. The noncompliance was isolated to the ESSER II, Year 1 report. 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 200.302(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." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Cause A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. 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, an ESSER report was not accurate and complete. Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 19 NETTLE CREEK SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Recommendation We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure all reports submitted on behalf of the Education Stabilization Fund program funds are accurate and complete. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-003 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, S425D210013, S425U210013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context The School Corporation had not properly designed or implemented a system of internal controls, which would include appropriate segregation of duties, that would likely be effective in preventing, or detecting and correcting, noncompliance. The School Corporation was required to submit annual data reports to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) via JotForm, a form/report builder. Data to be submitted included, but was not limited to, current period expenditures, prior period expenditures, and expenditures per activity. During the audit period the School Corporation submitted two ESSER I reports, two ESSER II reports, and two ESSER III reports, for a total of six reports. The annual data reports were complied, prepared, and submitted by the Business Manager without an oversight or review process in place to prevent, or detect and correct, errors. In addition, the ESSER II, Year 1 report was not properly supported by the School Corporation's records. The School Corporation had expenditures of $352,726; however, the amount reported to the IDOE was zero. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 18 NETTLE CREEK SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. The noncompliance was isolated to the ESSER II, Year 1 report. 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 200.302(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." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Cause A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. 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, an ESSER report was not accurate and complete. Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 19 NETTLE CREEK SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Recommendation We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure all reports submitted on behalf of the Education Stabilization Fund program funds are accurate and complete. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-003 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, S425D210013, S425U210013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context The School Corporation had not properly designed or implemented a system of internal controls, which would include appropriate segregation of duties, that would likely be effective in preventing, or detecting and correcting, noncompliance. The School Corporation was required to submit annual data reports to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) via JotForm, a form/report builder. Data to be submitted included, but was not limited to, current period expenditures, prior period expenditures, and expenditures per activity. During the audit period the School Corporation submitted two ESSER I reports, two ESSER II reports, and two ESSER III reports, for a total of six reports. The annual data reports were complied, prepared, and submitted by the Business Manager without an oversight or review process in place to prevent, or detect and correct, errors. In addition, the ESSER II, Year 1 report was not properly supported by the School Corporation's records. The School Corporation had expenditures of $352,726; however, the amount reported to the IDOE was zero. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 18 NETTLE CREEK SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. The noncompliance was isolated to the ESSER II, Year 1 report. 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 200.302(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." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Cause A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. 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, an ESSER report was not accurate and complete. Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 19 NETTLE CREEK SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Recommendation We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure all reports submitted on behalf of the Education Stabilization Fund program funds are accurate and complete. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-003 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, S425D210013, S425U210013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context The School Corporation had not properly designed or implemented a system of internal controls, which would include appropriate segregation of duties, that would likely be effective in preventing, or detecting and correcting, noncompliance. The School Corporation was required to submit annual data reports to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) via JotForm, a form/report builder. Data to be submitted included, but was not limited to, current period expenditures, prior period expenditures, and expenditures per activity. During the audit period the School Corporation submitted two ESSER I reports, two ESSER II reports, and two ESSER III reports, for a total of six reports. The annual data reports were complied, prepared, and submitted by the Business Manager without an oversight or review process in place to prevent, or detect and correct, errors. In addition, the ESSER II, Year 1 report was not properly supported by the School Corporation's records. The School Corporation had expenditures of $352,726; however, the amount reported to the IDOE was zero. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 18 NETTLE CREEK SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. The noncompliance was isolated to the ESSER II, Year 1 report. 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 200.302(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." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Cause A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. 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, an ESSER report was not accurate and complete. Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 19 NETTLE CREEK SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Recommendation We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure all reports submitted on behalf of the Education Stabilization Fund program funds are accurate and complete. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-003 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, S425D210013, S425U210013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context The School Corporation had not properly designed or implemented a system of internal controls, which would include appropriate segregation of duties, that would likely be effective in preventing, or detecting and correcting, noncompliance. The School Corporation was required to submit annual data reports to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) via JotForm, a form/report builder. Data to be submitted included, but was not limited to, current period expenditures, prior period expenditures, and expenditures per activity. During the audit period the School Corporation submitted two ESSER I reports, two ESSER II reports, and two ESSER III reports, for a total of six reports. The annual data reports were complied, prepared, and submitted by the Business Manager without an oversight or review process in place to prevent, or detect and correct, errors. In addition, the ESSER II, Year 1 report was not properly supported by the School Corporation's records. The School Corporation had expenditures of $352,726; however, the amount reported to the IDOE was zero. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 18 NETTLE CREEK SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. The noncompliance was isolated to the ESSER II, Year 1 report. 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 200.302(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." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Cause A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. 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, an ESSER report was not accurate and complete. Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 19 NETTLE CREEK SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Recommendation We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure all reports submitted on behalf of the Education Stabilization Fund program funds are accurate and complete. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-007 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers: 19611-022-PN01, 20611-022-PN01, 21611-022-PN01, 22611-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01, 20619-022-PN01, 21619-022-PN01, 22619-022-PN01, 22619-022- ARP, 23619-022-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Qualified Opinion Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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." 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 Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the 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. . . ." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Condition: The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. Cause: A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. 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, amounts requested for reimbursement could not be traced to the Cooperative’s ledgers for expenditures. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Greene-Sullivan Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. For fiscal year 2022, 51 Reimbursement Reports were tested. 14 Reimbursement Reports could not be traced to unit ledgers for expenditures, and 21 Reports did not have appropriate supporting documentation. For fiscal year 2023, 23 Reimbursement Reports were tested. Three Reimbursements Report did not agree to supporting documentation, and key line items could not be verified. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Identification as a repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure supporting documentation is used and retained for all reimbursement requests submitted. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2023-007 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers: 19611-022-PN01, 20611-022-PN01, 21611-022-PN01, 22611-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01, 20619-022-PN01, 21619-022-PN01, 22619-022-PN01, 22619-022- ARP, 23619-022-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Qualified Opinion Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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." 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 Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the 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. . . ." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Condition: The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. Cause: A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. 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, amounts requested for reimbursement could not be traced to the Cooperative’s ledgers for expenditures. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Greene-Sullivan Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. For fiscal year 2022, 51 Reimbursement Reports were tested. 14 Reimbursement Reports could not be traced to unit ledgers for expenditures, and 21 Reports did not have appropriate supporting documentation. For fiscal year 2023, 23 Reimbursement Reports were tested. Three Reimbursements Report did not agree to supporting documentation, and key line items could not be verified. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Identification as a repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure supporting documentation is used and retained for all reimbursement requests submitted. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2023-007 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers: 19611-022-PN01, 20611-022-PN01, 21611-022-PN01, 22611-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01, 20619-022-PN01, 21619-022-PN01, 22619-022-PN01, 22619-022- ARP, 23619-022-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Qualified Opinion Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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." 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 Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the 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. . . ." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Condition: The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. Cause: A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. 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, amounts requested for reimbursement could not be traced to the Cooperative’s ledgers for expenditures. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Greene-Sullivan Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. For fiscal year 2022, 51 Reimbursement Reports were tested. 14 Reimbursement Reports could not be traced to unit ledgers for expenditures, and 21 Reports did not have appropriate supporting documentation. For fiscal year 2023, 23 Reimbursement Reports were tested. Three Reimbursements Report did not agree to supporting documentation, and key line items could not be verified. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Identification as a repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure supporting documentation is used and retained for all reimbursement requests submitted. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2023-007 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers: 19611-022-PN01, 20611-022-PN01, 21611-022-PN01, 22611-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01, 20619-022-PN01, 21619-022-PN01, 22619-022-PN01, 22619-022- ARP, 23619-022-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Qualified Opinion Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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." 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 Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the 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. . . ." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Condition: The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. Cause: A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. 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, amounts requested for reimbursement could not be traced to the Cooperative’s ledgers for expenditures. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Greene-Sullivan Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. For fiscal year 2022, 51 Reimbursement Reports were tested. 14 Reimbursement Reports could not be traced to unit ledgers for expenditures, and 21 Reports did not have appropriate supporting documentation. For fiscal year 2023, 23 Reimbursement Reports were tested. Three Reimbursements Report did not agree to supporting documentation, and key line items could not be verified. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Identification as a repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure supporting documentation is used and retained for all reimbursement requests submitted. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2023-007 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers: 19611-022-PN01, 20611-022-PN01, 21611-022-PN01, 22611-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01, 20619-022-PN01, 21619-022-PN01, 22619-022-PN01, 22619-022- ARP, 23619-022-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Qualified Opinion Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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." 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 Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the 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. . . ." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Condition: The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. Cause: A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. 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, amounts requested for reimbursement could not be traced to the Cooperative’s ledgers for expenditures. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Greene-Sullivan Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. For fiscal year 2022, 51 Reimbursement Reports were tested. 14 Reimbursement Reports could not be traced to unit ledgers for expenditures, and 21 Reports did not have appropriate supporting documentation. For fiscal year 2023, 23 Reimbursement Reports were tested. Three Reimbursements Report did not agree to supporting documentation, and key line items could not be verified. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Identification as a repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure supporting documentation is used and retained for all reimbursement requests submitted. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2023-007 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers: 19611-022-PN01, 20611-022-PN01, 21611-022-PN01, 22611-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01, 20619-022-PN01, 21619-022-PN01, 22619-022-PN01, 22619-022- ARP, 23619-022-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Qualified Opinion Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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." 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 Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the 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. . . ." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Condition: The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. Cause: A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. 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, amounts requested for reimbursement could not be traced to the Cooperative’s ledgers for expenditures. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Greene-Sullivan Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. For fiscal year 2022, 51 Reimbursement Reports were tested. 14 Reimbursement Reports could not be traced to unit ledgers for expenditures, and 21 Reports did not have appropriate supporting documentation. For fiscal year 2023, 23 Reimbursement Reports were tested. Three Reimbursements Report did not agree to supporting documentation, and key line items could not be verified. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Identification as a repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure supporting documentation is used and retained for all reimbursement requests submitted. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2023-007 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers: 19611-022-PN01, 20611-022-PN01, 21611-022-PN01, 22611-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01, 20619-022-PN01, 21619-022-PN01, 22619-022-PN01, 22619-022- ARP, 23619-022-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Qualified Opinion Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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." 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 Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the 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. . . ." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Condition: The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. Cause: A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. 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, amounts requested for reimbursement could not be traced to the Cooperative’s ledgers for expenditures. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Greene-Sullivan Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. For fiscal year 2022, 51 Reimbursement Reports were tested. 14 Reimbursement Reports could not be traced to unit ledgers for expenditures, and 21 Reports did not have appropriate supporting documentation. For fiscal year 2023, 23 Reimbursement Reports were tested. Three Reimbursements Report did not agree to supporting documentation, and key line items could not be verified. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Identification as a repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure supporting documentation is used and retained for all reimbursement requests submitted. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2023-007 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers: 19611-022-PN01, 20611-022-PN01, 21611-022-PN01, 22611-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01, 20619-022-PN01, 21619-022-PN01, 22619-022-PN01, 22619-022- ARP, 23619-022-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Qualified Opinion Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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." 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 Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the 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. . . ." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Condition: The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. Cause: A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. 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, amounts requested for reimbursement could not be traced to the Cooperative’s ledgers for expenditures. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Greene-Sullivan Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. For fiscal year 2022, 51 Reimbursement Reports were tested. 14 Reimbursement Reports could not be traced to unit ledgers for expenditures, and 21 Reports did not have appropriate supporting documentation. For fiscal year 2023, 23 Reimbursement Reports were tested. Three Reimbursements Report did not agree to supporting documentation, and key line items could not be verified. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Identification as a repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure supporting documentation is used and retained for all reimbursement requests submitted. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2023-007 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers: 19611-022-PN01, 20611-022-PN01, 21611-022-PN01, 22611-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01, 20619-022-PN01, 21619-022-PN01, 22619-022-PN01, 22619-022- ARP, 23619-022-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Qualified Opinion Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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." 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 Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the 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. . . ." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Condition: The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. Cause: A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. 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, amounts requested for reimbursement could not be traced to the Cooperative’s ledgers for expenditures. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Greene-Sullivan Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. For fiscal year 2022, 51 Reimbursement Reports were tested. 14 Reimbursement Reports could not be traced to unit ledgers for expenditures, and 21 Reports did not have appropriate supporting documentation. For fiscal year 2023, 23 Reimbursement Reports were tested. Three Reimbursements Report did not agree to supporting documentation, and key line items could not be verified. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Identification as a repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure supporting documentation is used and retained for all reimbursement requests submitted. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2023-007 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers: 19611-022-PN01, 20611-022-PN01, 21611-022-PN01, 22611-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01, 20619-022-PN01, 21619-022-PN01, 22619-022-PN01, 22619-022- ARP, 23619-022-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Qualified Opinion Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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." 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 Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the 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. . . ." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Condition: The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. Cause: A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. 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, amounts requested for reimbursement could not be traced to the Cooperative’s ledgers for expenditures. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Greene-Sullivan Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. For fiscal year 2022, 51 Reimbursement Reports were tested. 14 Reimbursement Reports could not be traced to unit ledgers for expenditures, and 21 Reports did not have appropriate supporting documentation. For fiscal year 2023, 23 Reimbursement Reports were tested. Three Reimbursements Report did not agree to supporting documentation, and key line items could not be verified. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Identification as a repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure supporting documentation is used and retained for all reimbursement requests submitted. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2023-007 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers: 19611-022-PN01, 20611-022-PN01, 21611-022-PN01, 22611-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01, 20619-022-PN01, 21619-022-PN01, 22619-022-PN01, 22619-022- ARP, 23619-022-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Qualified Opinion Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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." 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 Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the 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. . . ." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Condition: The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. Cause: A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. 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, amounts requested for reimbursement could not be traced to the Cooperative’s ledgers for expenditures. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Greene-Sullivan Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. For fiscal year 2022, 51 Reimbursement Reports were tested. 14 Reimbursement Reports could not be traced to unit ledgers for expenditures, and 21 Reports did not have appropriate supporting documentation. For fiscal year 2023, 23 Reimbursement Reports were tested. Three Reimbursements Report did not agree to supporting documentation, and key line items could not be verified. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Identification as a repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure supporting documentation is used and retained for all reimbursement requests submitted. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2023-004 Information on the federal program: Subject: COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund - Internal Controls Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund, Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II), and Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) Fund Assistance Listing Number: 84.425D, 84.425U Federal Award Number: S425D200013, S425D210013, S425U210013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Finding: Material Weakness, Qualified Opinion Criteria: 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 Financial reporting . . . ." 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." Condition: The School Corporation did not have a review control in place to ensure the annual data report was reviewed by someone other than the preparer and that the report was submitted timely. Cause: There were not sufficient internal controls in place to ensure the Annual Data Report was submitted by the Indiana Department of Education’s deadline. Effect: The Annual Data Report required to be submitted during fiscal year 2021 was not submitted. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The Annual Data Report for the period of July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022 was due to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) by April 7, 2023. The School Corporation did not submit the report. Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable: No. Recommendation: We recommend management review internal controls around the preparation, review, and submission of the Annual Data Reports to verify reports are submitted timely. We recommend someone other than the preparer of the report perform a documented review prior to submission to validate the accuracy and completeness of the data submitted. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2023-004 Information on the federal program: Subject: COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund - Internal Controls Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund, Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II), and Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) Fund Assistance Listing Number: 84.425D, 84.425U Federal Award Number: S425D200013, S425D210013, S425U210013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Finding: Material Weakness, Qualified Opinion Criteria: 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 Financial reporting . . . ." 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." Condition: The School Corporation did not have a review control in place to ensure the annual data report was reviewed by someone other than the preparer and that the report was submitted timely. Cause: There were not sufficient internal controls in place to ensure the Annual Data Report was submitted by the Indiana Department of Education’s deadline. Effect: The Annual Data Report required to be submitted during fiscal year 2021 was not submitted. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The Annual Data Report for the period of July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022 was due to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) by April 7, 2023. The School Corporation did not submit the report. Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable: No. Recommendation: We recommend management review internal controls around the preparation, review, and submission of the Annual Data Reports to verify reports are submitted timely. We recommend someone other than the preparer of the report perform a documented review prior to submission to validate the accuracy and completeness of the data submitted. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2023-004 Information on the federal program: Subject: COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund - Internal Controls Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund, Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II), and Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) Fund Assistance Listing Number: 84.425D, 84.425U Federal Award Number: S425D200013, S425D210013, S425U210013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Finding: Material Weakness, Qualified Opinion Criteria: 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 Financial reporting . . . ." 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." Condition: The School Corporation did not have a review control in place to ensure the annual data report was reviewed by someone other than the preparer and that the report was submitted timely. Cause: There were not sufficient internal controls in place to ensure the Annual Data Report was submitted by the Indiana Department of Education’s deadline. Effect: The Annual Data Report required to be submitted during fiscal year 2021 was not submitted. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The Annual Data Report for the period of July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022 was due to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) by April 7, 2023. The School Corporation did not submit the report. Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable: No. Recommendation: We recommend management review internal controls around the preparation, review, and submission of the Annual Data Reports to verify reports are submitted timely. We recommend someone other than the preparer of the report perform a documented review prior to submission to validate the accuracy and completeness of the data submitted. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2023-005 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 19611-022-PN01, 20611-022-PN01, 21611-022-PN01, 22611-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01, 20619-022-PN01, 21619-022- PN01, 22619-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Qualified Opinion FINDING 2023-005 (Continued) Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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." 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 Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the 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. . . ." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Condition: The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. Cause: A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. FINDING 2023-005 (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. As a result, amounts requested for reimbursement could not be traced to the Cooperative’s ledgers for expenditures. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Greene-Sullivan Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. For fiscal year 2022, 51 Reimbursement Reports were tested. 14 Reimbursement Reports could not be traced to unit ledgers for expenditures, and 21 Reports did not have appropriate supporting documentation. For fiscal year 2023, 23 Reimbursement Reports were tested. Three Reimbursements Report did not agree to supporting documentation, and key line items could not be verified. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Identification as a repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure supporting documentation is used and retained for all reimbursement requests submitted. fficials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2023-005 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 19611-022-PN01, 20611-022-PN01, 21611-022-PN01, 22611-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01, 20619-022-PN01, 21619-022- PN01, 22619-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Qualified Opinion FINDING 2023-005 (Continued) Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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." 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 Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the 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. . . ." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Condition: The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. Cause: A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. FINDING 2023-005 (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. As a result, amounts requested for reimbursement could not be traced to the Cooperative’s ledgers for expenditures. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Greene-Sullivan Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. For fiscal year 2022, 51 Reimbursement Reports were tested. 14 Reimbursement Reports could not be traced to unit ledgers for expenditures, and 21 Reports did not have appropriate supporting documentation. For fiscal year 2023, 23 Reimbursement Reports were tested. Three Reimbursements Report did not agree to supporting documentation, and key line items could not be verified. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Identification as a repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure supporting documentation is used and retained for all reimbursement requests submitted. fficials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2023-005 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 19611-022-PN01, 20611-022-PN01, 21611-022-PN01, 22611-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01, 20619-022-PN01, 21619-022- PN01, 22619-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Qualified Opinion FINDING 2023-005 (Continued) Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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." 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 Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the 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. . . ." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Condition: The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. Cause: A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. FINDING 2023-005 (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. As a result, amounts requested for reimbursement could not be traced to the Cooperative’s ledgers for expenditures. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Greene-Sullivan Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. For fiscal year 2022, 51 Reimbursement Reports were tested. 14 Reimbursement Reports could not be traced to unit ledgers for expenditures, and 21 Reports did not have appropriate supporting documentation. For fiscal year 2023, 23 Reimbursement Reports were tested. Three Reimbursements Report did not agree to supporting documentation, and key line items could not be verified. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Identification as a repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure supporting documentation is used and retained for all reimbursement requests submitted. fficials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2023-005 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 19611-022-PN01, 20611-022-PN01, 21611-022-PN01, 22611-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01, 20619-022-PN01, 21619-022- PN01, 22619-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Qualified Opinion FINDING 2023-005 (Continued) Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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." 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 Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the 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. . . ." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Condition: The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. Cause: A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. FINDING 2023-005 (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. As a result, amounts requested for reimbursement could not be traced to the Cooperative’s ledgers for expenditures. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Greene-Sullivan Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. For fiscal year 2022, 51 Reimbursement Reports were tested. 14 Reimbursement Reports could not be traced to unit ledgers for expenditures, and 21 Reports did not have appropriate supporting documentation. For fiscal year 2023, 23 Reimbursement Reports were tested. Three Reimbursements Report did not agree to supporting documentation, and key line items could not be verified. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Identification as a repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure supporting documentation is used and retained for all reimbursement requests submitted. fficials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2023-005 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 19611-022-PN01, 20611-022-PN01, 21611-022-PN01, 22611-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01, 20619-022-PN01, 21619-022- PN01, 22619-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Qualified Opinion FINDING 2023-005 (Continued) Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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." 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 Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the 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. . . ." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Condition: The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. Cause: A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. FINDING 2023-005 (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. As a result, amounts requested for reimbursement could not be traced to the Cooperative’s ledgers for expenditures. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Greene-Sullivan Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. For fiscal year 2022, 51 Reimbursement Reports were tested. 14 Reimbursement Reports could not be traced to unit ledgers for expenditures, and 21 Reports did not have appropriate supporting documentation. For fiscal year 2023, 23 Reimbursement Reports were tested. Three Reimbursements Report did not agree to supporting documentation, and key line items could not be verified. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Identification as a repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure supporting documentation is used and retained for all reimbursement requests submitted. fficials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2023-005 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 19611-022-PN01, 20611-022-PN01, 21611-022-PN01, 22611-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01, 20619-022-PN01, 21619-022- PN01, 22619-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Qualified Opinion FINDING 2023-005 (Continued) Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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." 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 Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the 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. . . ." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Condition: The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. Cause: A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. FINDING 2023-005 (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. As a result, amounts requested for reimbursement could not be traced to the Cooperative’s ledgers for expenditures. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Greene-Sullivan Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. For fiscal year 2022, 51 Reimbursement Reports were tested. 14 Reimbursement Reports could not be traced to unit ledgers for expenditures, and 21 Reports did not have appropriate supporting documentation. For fiscal year 2023, 23 Reimbursement Reports were tested. Three Reimbursements Report did not agree to supporting documentation, and key line items could not be verified. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Identification as a repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure supporting documentation is used and retained for all reimbursement requests submitted. fficials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2023-005 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 19611-022-PN01, 20611-022-PN01, 21611-022-PN01, 22611-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01, 20619-022-PN01, 21619-022- PN01, 22619-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Qualified Opinion FINDING 2023-005 (Continued) Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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." 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 Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the 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. . . ." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Condition: The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. Cause: A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. FINDING 2023-005 (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. As a result, amounts requested for reimbursement could not be traced to the Cooperative’s ledgers for expenditures. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Greene-Sullivan Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. For fiscal year 2022, 51 Reimbursement Reports were tested. 14 Reimbursement Reports could not be traced to unit ledgers for expenditures, and 21 Reports did not have appropriate supporting documentation. For fiscal year 2023, 23 Reimbursement Reports were tested. Three Reimbursements Report did not agree to supporting documentation, and key line items could not be verified. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Identification as a repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure supporting documentation is used and retained for all reimbursement requests submitted. fficials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2023-005 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 19611-022-PN01, 20611-022-PN01, 21611-022-PN01, 22611-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01, 20619-022-PN01, 21619-022- PN01, 22619-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Qualified Opinion FINDING 2023-005 (Continued) Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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." 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 Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the 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. . . ." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Condition: The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. Cause: A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. FINDING 2023-005 (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. As a result, amounts requested for reimbursement could not be traced to the Cooperative’s ledgers for expenditures. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Greene-Sullivan Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. For fiscal year 2022, 51 Reimbursement Reports were tested. 14 Reimbursement Reports could not be traced to unit ledgers for expenditures, and 21 Reports did not have appropriate supporting documentation. For fiscal year 2023, 23 Reimbursement Reports were tested. Three Reimbursements Report did not agree to supporting documentation, and key line items could not be verified. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Identification as a repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure supporting documentation is used and retained for all reimbursement requests submitted. fficials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2023-005 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 19611-022-PN01, 20611-022-PN01, 21611-022-PN01, 22611-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01, 20619-022-PN01, 21619-022- PN01, 22619-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Qualified Opinion FINDING 2023-005 (Continued) Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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." 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 Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the 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. . . ." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Condition: The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. Cause: A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. FINDING 2023-005 (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. As a result, amounts requested for reimbursement could not be traced to the Cooperative’s ledgers for expenditures. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Greene-Sullivan Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. For fiscal year 2022, 51 Reimbursement Reports were tested. 14 Reimbursement Reports could not be traced to unit ledgers for expenditures, and 21 Reports did not have appropriate supporting documentation. For fiscal year 2023, 23 Reimbursement Reports were tested. Three Reimbursements Report did not agree to supporting documentation, and key line items could not be verified. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Identification as a repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure supporting documentation is used and retained for all reimbursement requests submitted. fficials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2023-005 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 19611-022-PN01, 20611-022-PN01, 21611-022-PN01, 22611-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01, 20619-022-PN01, 21619-022- PN01, 22619-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Qualified Opinion FINDING 2023-005 (Continued) Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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." 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 Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the 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. . . ." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Condition: The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. Cause: A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. FINDING 2023-005 (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. As a result, amounts requested for reimbursement could not be traced to the Cooperative’s ledgers for expenditures. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Greene-Sullivan Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. For fiscal year 2022, 51 Reimbursement Reports were tested. 14 Reimbursement Reports could not be traced to unit ledgers for expenditures, and 21 Reports did not have appropriate supporting documentation. For fiscal year 2023, 23 Reimbursement Reports were tested. Three Reimbursements Report did not agree to supporting documentation, and key line items could not be verified. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Identification as a repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure supporting documentation is used and retained for all reimbursement requests submitted. fficials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding has prepared a corrective action plan.
FINDING 2023-005 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 19611-022-PN01, 20611-022-PN01, 21611-022-PN01, 22611-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01, 20619-022-PN01, 21619-022- PN01, 22619-022-PN01, 22611-022-ARP, 23611-022-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Qualified Opinion FINDING 2023-005 (Continued) Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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 200.302(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." 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 Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the 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. . . ." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Condition: The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. Cause: A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. FINDING 2023-005 (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. As a result, amounts requested for reimbursement could not be traced to the Cooperative’s ledgers for expenditures. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Greene-Sullivan Special Education Cooperative (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2021-2022, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Reporting compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the reporting requirements. The Cooperative had not designed or implemented adequate policies or procedures to determine that requests for reimbursement were submitted accurately and agreed to supporting documentation. There was a documented oversight, review, and approval process in place; however, the Cooperative did not adequately ensure that proper procedures were followed. For fiscal year 2022, 51 Reimbursement Reports were tested. 14 Reimbursement Reports could not be traced to unit ledgers for expenditures, and 21 Reports did not have appropriate supporting documentation. For fiscal year 2023, 23 Reimbursement Reports were tested. Three Reimbursements Report did not agree to supporting documentation, and key line items could not be verified. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Identification as a repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure supporting documentation is used and retained for all reimbursement requests submitted. fficials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding has prepared a corrective action plan.
2023-004 - Written Policies Required by the Uniform Grant Guidance Finding Type. Immaterial Noncompliance; Significant Deficiency in Internal Controls over Compliance. Federal program(s) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Clean Water State Revolving Fund (ALN 66.458); Passed through the Michigan Department of Energy, Great Lakes, and Environment; All project numbers Criteria. The Uniform Guidance requires a non‐federal entity that has expended federal awards for a grant awarded on or after December 26, 2014 to have written policies pertaining to: 1) Payments (draws of federal funds and how to minimize the time lapsing between the receipt of federal funds and the disbursement to contractors/employees/subrecipients) (§200.302(6)); 2) Procurement (including bidding and a conflict of interest policy) (§200.318); 3) Allowability of costs charged to federal programs (§200.302(7)); 4) Compensation (personnel and benefits policy) (§200.430 and §200.431); and 5) Travel costs (including mileage and per diem) (§200.474). Condition. Although the City has processes in place to cover these areas, there are no formal written policies covering payments, procurement, allowability of costs, compensation, and travel costs in accordance with the Uniform Guidance. Cause. This condition is a result of the City’s limited resources. Effect. As a result of this condition, the City was exposed to increased risk that grant requirements under 2 CFR 200 would not be followed. Questioned Costs. No costs were questioned as a result of this finding. Recommendation. We recommend that the City develop and implement the required policies as soon as practical. View of Responsible Officials. A written policy was developed and implemented in February 2024 that meets the requirements under Federal guidance. Responsible Official. Director of Finance and Administration Estimated Completion Date. February 2024
FINDING 2023-002 Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listings Number: 84.425D Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): S425D210013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context The School Corporation had not properly designed or implemented a system of internal controls, which would include appropriate segregation of duties, that would likely be effective in preventing, or detecting and correcting, noncompliance. The School Corporation was required to submit annual data reports to the Indiana Department of Education via JotForm, a form/report builder. Data to be submitted included, but was not limited to, current period expenditures, prior period expenditures, and expenditures per activity. During the audit period the School Corporation submitted one ESSER I report, two ESSER II reports, and two ESSER III reports, for a total of five reports. Although the Treasurer prepared the annual data collection report, and the ESSER Program Director or Assistant Superintendent of Schools, both of whom are knowledgeable about the program, reviewed and approved the report prior to submission, the internal control was not effective and did not prevent, or detect and correct, errors prior to submission. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 16 SOUTH GIBSON SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) All five reports were selected for testing. Neither of the ESSER II annual data reports were accurately supported by the School Corporation's records. The errors identified were as follows: The ESSER II, Year 1 report, which covered the period of July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, reported total expenses of $58,917; however, the School Corporation's ledger for the same period had total expenses of $1,306. The ESSER II, Year 2 report, which covered the period of July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, reported total expenses of $60,441; however, the School Corporation's ledger for the same period had total expenses of $63,565. The lack of effective internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the S425D210013 grant award. 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 200.302(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." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Cause A proper system of internal controls was not designed and implemented by management of the School Corporation which would include segregation of key functions. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 17 SOUTH GIBSON SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Effect Without the proper design or implementation of the components of a system of internal controls, including policies and procedures that provide segregation of duties and additional oversight as needed, the internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance. As a result, the reports were not supported by the School Corporation's underlying accounting records. Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure all reports submitted on behalf of the COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund program are supported by the School Corporation's underlying accounting records. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-002 Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listings Number: 84.425D Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): S425D210013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context The School Corporation had not properly designed or implemented a system of internal controls, which would include appropriate segregation of duties, that would likely be effective in preventing, or detecting and correcting, noncompliance. The School Corporation was required to submit annual data reports to the Indiana Department of Education via JotForm, a form/report builder. Data to be submitted included, but was not limited to, current period expenditures, prior period expenditures, and expenditures per activity. During the audit period the School Corporation submitted one ESSER I report, two ESSER II reports, and two ESSER III reports, for a total of five reports. Although the Treasurer prepared the annual data collection report, and the ESSER Program Director or Assistant Superintendent of Schools, both of whom are knowledgeable about the program, reviewed and approved the report prior to submission, the internal control was not effective and did not prevent, or detect and correct, errors prior to submission. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 16 SOUTH GIBSON SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) All five reports were selected for testing. Neither of the ESSER II annual data reports were accurately supported by the School Corporation's records. The errors identified were as follows: The ESSER II, Year 1 report, which covered the period of July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, reported total expenses of $58,917; however, the School Corporation's ledger for the same period had total expenses of $1,306. The ESSER II, Year 2 report, which covered the period of July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, reported total expenses of $60,441; however, the School Corporation's ledger for the same period had total expenses of $63,565. The lack of effective internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the S425D210013 grant award. 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 200.302(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." 34 CFR 76.731 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall keep records to show its compliance with program requirements." Cause A proper system of internal controls was not designed and implemented by management of the School Corporation which would include segregation of key functions. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 17 SOUTH GIBSON SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Effect Without the proper design or implementation of the components of a system of internal controls, including policies and procedures that provide segregation of duties and additional oversight as needed, the internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance. As a result, the reports were not supported by the School Corporation's underlying accounting records. Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure all reports submitted on behalf of the COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund program are supported by the School Corporation's underlying accounting records. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-002 Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 21611-058-PN01; 22611-058-PN01 21619-056-PN01; 22619-056-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context The School Corporation utilized separate funds to account for the financial activity of the special education programs. The ledger activity for these funds was used as the basis for the expenditures claimed for reimbursement on the reimbursement requests submitted to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). The School Corporation failed to properly review the reimbursement requests submitted to the IDOE. Although the Assistant Accounting Manager prepared the reimbursement requests, and the Accounting Manager reviewed the requests prior to submission through the IDOE information portal, the internal control was not effective and did not prevent, or detect and correct, material noncompliance. Testing of the reimbursement requests submitted during the audit period identified the following issues: Award 21611-058-PN01 - Seven reimbursement requests were filed during the audit period; all of which were selected for testing. For five of the seven reimbursement requests tested, the expenditures did not agree to the ledger. For four of the five reimbursement requests in which the expenditures did not agree to the ledger, the errors were due to timing issues as expenses were claimed for reimbursement prior to being incurred. As such, the expenditures claimed for reimbursement on two of the requests exceeded the amount per the ledger, with the amount per the ledger then exceeding the expenditures requested for reimbursement by the same amount on the subsequent request. The expenditures included in the fifth reimbursement request exceeded the ledger amount, resulting in a $17 excess reimbursement over what the School Corporation was entitled to receive. Award 22611-058-PN01 - Three reimbursement requests were filed during the audit period; all of which were selected for testing. For two of the three reimbursement requests tested, the amount per the ledger exceeded the expenditures claimed by a total of $416,468. Upon inquiry of the School Corporation to understand why this happened, the officials indicated that total expenditures exceeded the budgeted allocations per the awards. Therefore, the net difference was subtracted from the reimbursement request to determine the amount to request. As such, there was no supporting documentation that detailed the expenditures requested for or excluded from the reimbursement request. Award 21619-056-PN01 - Two reimbursement requests were filed during the audit period; all of which were selected for testing. For one of two reimbursement requests tested, the expenditures included on the reimbursement request exceeded the ledger amount, resulting in a $72 excess reimbursement. Award 22619-056-PN01 - Four reimbursement requests were filed during the audit period; all of which were selected for testing. For one of four reimbursement requests tested, the amount per the ledger exceeded the expenditures claimed by a total of $7,538. Upon inquiry of the School Corporation to understand why this happened, the officials indicated that total expenditures exceeded the budgeted allocations per the awards. Therefore, the net difference was subtracted from the reimbursement request to determine the amount to request. As such, there was no supporting documentation that detailed the expenditures requested for or excluded from the reimbursement request. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the 21611-058-PN01, 22611-058-PN01, 21619-056-PN01, and 22619-056-PN01 grant awards. 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 200.302(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 Financial reporting. . . ." 2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust specific Federal award conditions as needed, . . ." 2 CFR 200.328 states: "Unless otherwise approved by OMB, the Federal awarding agency must solicit only the OMBapproved governmentwide data elements for collection of financial information (at time of publication the Federal Financial Report or such future, OMB-approved, governmentwide data elements available from the OMB-designated standards lead. This information must be collected with the frequency required by the terms and conditions of the Federal award, but no less frequently than annually nor more frequently than quarterly except in unusual circumstances, for example where more frequent reporting is necessary for the effective monitoring of the Federal award or could significantly affect program outcomes, and preferably in coordination with performance reporting. The Federal awarding agency must use OMB-approved common information collections, as applicable, when providing financial and performance reporting information." Cause A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. 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, requests for reimbursement were not supported by the ledgers. Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure requests for reimbursement are supported by the ledgers. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-002 Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.173 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 21611-058-PN01; 22611-058-PN01 21619-056-PN01; 22619-056-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context The School Corporation utilized separate funds to account for the financial activity of the special education programs. The ledger activity for these funds was used as the basis for the expenditures claimed for reimbursement on the reimbursement requests submitted to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). The School Corporation failed to properly review the reimbursement requests submitted to the IDOE. Although the Assistant Accounting Manager prepared the reimbursement requests, and the Accounting Manager reviewed the requests prior to submission through the IDOE information portal, the internal control was not effective and did not prevent, or detect and correct, material noncompliance. Testing of the reimbursement requests submitted during the audit period identified the following issues: Award 21611-058-PN01 - Seven reimbursement requests were filed during the audit period; all of which were selected for testing. For five of the seven reimbursement requests tested, the expenditures did not agree to the ledger. For four of the five reimbursement requests in which the expenditures did not agree to the ledger, the errors were due to timing issues as expenses were claimed for reimbursement prior to being incurred. As such, the expenditures claimed for reimbursement on two of the requests exceeded the amount per the ledger, with the amount per the ledger then exceeding the expenditures requested for reimbursement by the same amount on the subsequent request. The expenditures included in the fifth reimbursement request exceeded the ledger amount, resulting in a $17 excess reimbursement over what the School Corporation was entitled to receive. Award 22611-058-PN01 - Three reimbursement requests were filed during the audit period; all of which were selected for testing. For two of the three reimbursement requests tested, the amount per the ledger exceeded the expenditures claimed by a total of $416,468. Upon inquiry of the School Corporation to understand why this happened, the officials indicated that total expenditures exceeded the budgeted allocations per the awards. Therefore, the net difference was subtracted from the reimbursement request to determine the amount to request. As such, there was no supporting documentation that detailed the expenditures requested for or excluded from the reimbursement request. Award 21619-056-PN01 - Two reimbursement requests were filed during the audit period; all of which were selected for testing. For one of two reimbursement requests tested, the expenditures included on the reimbursement request exceeded the ledger amount, resulting in a $72 excess reimbursement. Award 22619-056-PN01 - Four reimbursement requests were filed during the audit period; all of which were selected for testing. For one of four reimbursement requests tested, the amount per the ledger exceeded the expenditures claimed by a total of $7,538. Upon inquiry of the School Corporation to understand why this happened, the officials indicated that total expenditures exceeded the budgeted allocations per the awards. Therefore, the net difference was subtracted from the reimbursement request to determine the amount to request. As such, there was no supporting documentation that detailed the expenditures requested for or excluded from the reimbursement request. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the 21611-058-PN01, 22611-058-PN01, 21619-056-PN01, and 22619-056-PN01 grant awards. 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 200.302(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 Financial reporting. . . ." 2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust specific Federal award conditions as needed, . . ." 2 CFR 200.328 states: "Unless otherwise approved by OMB, the Federal awarding agency must solicit only the OMBapproved governmentwide data elements for collection of financial information (at time of publication the Federal Financial Report or such future, OMB-approved, governmentwide data elements available from the OMB-designated standards lead. This information must be collected with the frequency required by the terms and conditions of the Federal award, but no less frequently than annually nor more frequently than quarterly except in unusual circumstances, for example where more frequent reporting is necessary for the effective monitoring of the Federal award or could significantly affect program outcomes, and preferably in coordination with performance reporting. The Federal awarding agency must use OMB-approved common information collections, as applicable, when providing financial and performance reporting information." Cause A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. 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, requests for reimbursement were not supported by the ledgers. Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure requests for reimbursement are supported by the ledgers. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.