Significant Deficiency 2025-001. Procurement United States Department of Education, passed through New York State Department of Education Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies ALN: 84.010A United States Department of Agriculture, passed through New York State Department of Education Child Nutrition Cluster Non-Cash Assistance (food distribution) National School Lunch Program ALN: 10.555 Cash Assistance School Breakfast Program ALN: 10.553 National School Lunch Program ALN: 10.555 Criteria: 2 CFR §200.303 of the Uniform Guidance requires non-federal entities receiving federal awards to establish and maintain 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. Under the Uniform Guidance, federal awards recipients must maintain written documentation of internal control policies and procedures, such as procurement policies that adhere to state and local law, as well as federal regulations and statutes; procedures for documenting how costs are to be allocated to federal awards, documenting actual time and effort for payroll costs charged to federal awards; cash management procedures to minimize the time elapsed between the receipts and disbursements of federal funds; and, how to safeguard personally identifiable information. Condition: The District has not updated its existing policies and written procedures to conform to Uniform Guidance requirements. Cause: Staffing constraints have limited the District’s ability to perform a timely review of its existing policies and written procedures. Effect: Having insufficient or non-compliant written policies and procedures weaken internal controls over the federal awards received, increasing the risk of noncompliance with federal statutes and regulations. Questioned Costs: Dollar amount undetermined, as adequate documentation was not available. Identification of a Repeat Finding: This is a repeat finding from the previous audit referenced, 2024-001 in connection with the audit of the Educational Stabilization Fund awards expended, ALN: 84.425D, ALN: 84.425U, and ALN: 84.425W. Recommendation: The District must review its existing written policies and procedures and update them as needed in order to comply with requirements of Uniform Guidance. Views of Responsible Officials of Auditee: The District has developed a policy entitled “Procurement: Uniform Grant Guidance for Federal Awards” that addresses the Uniform Guidance requirements related to procurement. This policy was adopted by the Board of Education at the November 17, 2025 Board meeting.
2025-002: Material Weakness in Internal Controls over Compliance with Suspension and Debarment Federal Assistance Listing Number: 10.553 and 10.555 Federal Award Year: 2025 Program Title: Child Nutrition Cluster Name of Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture Name of Pass-Through Entity: Colorado Department of Education COVID-19 Program: No Criteria: 2 CFR §200.303 requires that the grant recipient must establish, document, and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the recipient is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These controls should align with the 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). Condition: Based on our sample selection of four vendors for testing, we have identified that two of the four vendors tested did not have adequate verification of suspension and debarment. Upon further testing and discussion, the District does not have internal controls in place to verify suspension and debarment on vendors that are paid greater than or equal to $25,000, as required by 2 CFR 200 for various federal awards. Upon further compliance testing, vendors in our testing were in compliance with the requirement. Questioned Costs: No questioned costs have been identified. Cause: The District’s internal controls over suspension and debarment requirement were not properly designed or implemented. Effect: Without internal controls over compliance, the District may not be able to identify noncompliance with a suspended or debarred vendors in a timely manner and may incur potential questioned costs without knowledge of the noncompliance. Repeat Finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend that the District implement internal controls over the suspension and debarment requirement and add this requirement to the procurement process at the District. In addition, we recommend that the District periodically review federal expenditure reports to identify vendors that may have been paid with federal grants in excess of the $25,000 suspension and debarment threshold to prevent potential noncompliance. Corrective Action Plan: Reported on page 64.
Criteria or Specific Requirement: Per 2 CFR 200.303 - Internal Controls and the OMB Compliance Supplement: Child Nutrition Cluster, Procurement and Suspension and Debarment - the District is required to have internal controls to ensure vendors utilized in federal programs are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from participating in covered transactions. Condition: The District, as a subrecipient of federal awards, contracted with multiple vendors, both directly and indirectly through the use of a purchasing cooperative, without verifiying that the vendor was not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from participating in covered transactions. Questioned Costs: This condition resulted in no identified questioned costs. Context: The District does not have internal controls in place to verify that vendors are not suspended or debarred. Effect: Contracts could be made with vendors that are suspended or debarred, resulting in noncompliance with federal regulations. Cause: In the first instance, the District relied upon a purchasing cooperative to verify that the vendor was not suspended or debarred, but this was not done by the cooperative. In the second instance, the District's contract solicitation requested that a return of a quote or bid act as a self-certification that the vendor was not suspended or debarred. The District made purchases from a vendor, even though the vendor did not return a quote or bid to the District. Recommendation: The District should ensure that the purchasing cooperative has procedures in place to verify that vendors are not suspended or debarred. For other contracts in instances where the vendor does not self-certify, the District should use SAM.gov to verify that vendors are not suspended or debarred before entering into the contract. Management's Response: District personnel will ensure that all vendors utilized are not suspended or debarred, whether that be through vendor self-certification or the documented use of SAM.gov
FINDING 2025-003 Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Eligibility Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program for Children Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555, 10.559 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY2024, FY2025 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Eligibility Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context The School Corporation had not properly designed or implemented an effective system of internal controls over review of individual free and reduced status applications and information management in the Skyward Software System used to determine and maintain eligibility status. Individual Applications The School Corporation noted individual applications for both direct certification and income eligible students would be printed and reviewed after the system makes a determination of eligibility status. Out of 40 students tested, no documentation of this review was provided for 34 of the students. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 20 WAWASEE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Skyward Software System The School Corporation is required to design internal controls ensuring computer systems used to maintain student benefit status are secured. Currently, the Skyward Software System allows all school lunch employees to make changes to student benefit status, and there is no indication or record within the system who makes these changes. Additionally, income eligibility guidelines in the system that determine whether students are eligible based on income are updated by the system automatically every year. The School Corporation is required to perform an annual review to ensure these guidelines are accurate. However, no annual review is done by the School Corporation staff. The issues were systemic throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 7 CFR 245.3(c) states in part: "Each School Food Authority shall serve free and reduced price meals or free milk in the respective programs to children eligible under its eligibility criteria. . . ." 7 CFR 245.6(f)(1) states in part: ". . . Only persons directly connected with the administration or enforcement of a program or activity listed in paragraphs (f)(2) or (f)(3) of this section may have access to children's eligibility information, without parental consent. Persons considered directly connected with administration or enforcement of a program or activity listed in paragraphs (f)(2) or (f)(3) of this section are Federal, State, or local program operators responsible for the ongoing operation of the program or activity or responsible for program compliance. Program operators may include persons responsible for carrying out program requirements and monitoring, reviewing, auditing, or investigating the program. Program operators may include contractors, to the extent those persons have a need to know the information for program administration or enforcement. Contractors may include evaluators, auditors, and others with whom Federal or State agencies and program operators contract with to assist in the administration or enforcement of their program in their behalf." Cause A proper system of internal controls over the Skyward Software System was not properly designed and implemented as the School Corporation was not aware its process did not cover the requirements to restrict access to the Skyward Software System and review the income eligibility guidelines yearly. Additionally, the School Corporation was unable to provide documentation to demonstrate it reviewed individual applications to ensure eligibility status was determined accurately. The School Corporation noted that staff turnover resulted in lost documentation; therefore, the School Corporation was unable to provide any other records supporting that staff verified the eligibility status was determined accurately. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 21 WAWASEE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Effect Without a proper system of internal controls, the School Corporation cannot ensure eligibility determinations made by either the Skyward Software System or employees are accurate. The School Corporation cannot ensure modifications made in the Skyward Software System to student eligibility status are traceable, which could result in improper changes to student eligibility status. Additionally, a properly designed annual review process over the income eligibility guidelines within the Skyward Software System is necessary to ensure accurate determinations. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended the School Corporation strengthen its internal controls over eligibility applications to ensure eligibility determinations made by either the Skyward Software System or employees are accurate. We further recommended the School Corporation update the Skyward Software System to identify who makes any modifications within the system to ensure modifications are fully traceable. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-004 Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Suspension and Debarment Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program for Children Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555, 10.559 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY2024, FY2025 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Finding: Significant Deficiency Condition and Context Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with federal award funds, recipients are required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking the SAM exclusions, collecting a certification from that vendor, or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that vendor. The School Corporation had not designed or implemented internal controls, which would consist of policies and procedures, to ensure that vendors were not suspended, or debarred prior to entering into a covered transaction. The School Corporation verifies through review of the SAM exclusions each time it begins doing business with a new vendor. However, a second individual does not verify the website has been reviewed. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 22 WAWASEE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) 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). . . ." Cause The School Corporation provided documentation showing it checked the SAM exclusions to verify the contractor was not suspended or debarred prior to entering into the contract but acknowledged no second employee reviews to ensure the procedure was performed as the School Corporation was not aware this was necessary. Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the School Corporation cannot ensure vendors with whom contracts are entered into are not suspended or debarred from doing business with governmental entities. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that management of the School Corporation design and implement a proper system of internal controls that includes review of processes performed to ensure vendors are not suspended or debarred. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-005 Subject: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies - Internal Controls Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies Assistance Listings Number: 84.010 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S010A220014, S010A230014, S010A240014 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirements: Eligibility, Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking Audit Finding: Material Weakness INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 23 WAWASEE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Repeat Finding This is a repeat finding for internal controls only from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding numbers were 2023-007 and 2023-008. Condition and Context Eligibility Eligibility for Title I is determined on the Eligible School Summary of the Tile I application. Enrollment and poverty numbers are automatically pulled from the Indiana Department of Education's (IDOE) Official Pupil Enrollment count for each school into the Eligible School Summary page of the Tile I application. The counts that are prepopulated should be based on the School Corporation's records as of October of the prior fiscal year. There was no documented review by the School Corporation of the enrollment and poverty counts that were prepopulated into the School Corporation's Title I grant application. Level of Effort - Individual Transactions (Vendor) The Form 9 (financial) data was submitted by the School Corporation to the IDOE semiannually. The data reported included the School Corporation's expenditures recorded during that period. The IDOE calculated Maintenance of Effort based on the expenditure information submitted on the Form 9 for that fiscal year. To verify amounts used by the IDOE in their computation were derived from the books and records of the School Corporation, costs were reviewed to ensure they were recorded properly as to account and object code and reported correctly on the Form 9. The School Corporation did not have an oversight process in place to ensure that expenditures for vendors were posted to the correct fund, account, and object codes. During review of expenditures, it was determined that there was not a documented second review in place for all vendor payments being made. The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 24 WAWASEE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Cause Although the School Corporation stated that one person is verifying the enrollment and poverty counts that are prepopulated by the IDOE into the School Corporation's Title I grant application each year back to School Corporation records in the student information system and program eligibility files, documentation could not be presented for audit that this verification occurred. There was also not an additional person reviewing the verification for accuracy. One person entered and posted vendor expenditures in the accounting system without a review in place to ensure the expenditures were posted to the correct fund, account, and object codes. Although additional employees were involved in the claims process either by submitting paper accounts payable vouchers, signing invoices, or approving purchase orders for some claims we reviewed, there was no review by a second person after the expenditures were entered into the accounting system. Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the School Corporation cannot ensure that the enrollment and poverty counts prepopulated into the School Corporation's Title I grant applications are accurate, nor can the School Corporation ensure that expenditures entered into the accounting system are coded correctly. Incorrect enrollment and poverty counts in the Title I application can lead to an incorrect amount of Title I funding being received by the School Corporation. Incorrect coding of expenditures in the accounting system can result in incorrect Maintenance of Effort calculations. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended the School Corporation strengthen its system of internal controls over the verification of enrollment and poverty counts prepopulated into the Title I grant application by having an additional person review the verification of the counts back to School Corporation records. We also recommended strengthening the School Corporation policies and procedures to ensure that appropriate supporting documentation of this verification and review is retained to be presented for audit. We further recommend that management of the School Corporation establish and implement an effective system of internal controls over vendor expenditures to ensure expenditures for vendors are posted to the correct fund, account, and object codes. For all vendor expenditures, we recommended they are reviewed by an individual other than the person entering them into the accounting system, along with the supporting documentation of the expenditure, and that this process is documented as to the preparer and reviewer. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-006 Subject: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies - Special Tests and Provisions - Annual Report Card, High School Graduation Rate Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies Assistance Listings Number: 84.010 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S010A220014, S010A230014, S010A240014 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions - Annual Report Card, High School Graduation Rate Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context The School Corporation is required to report graduation rate data for its public high school using the four-year adjusted cohort rate. To remove a student from the cohort, the School Corporation must confirm the reason for removal in writing. Additionally, required documentation for each removal type must be retained by the School Corporation. The School Corporation did not have effective internal controls to ensure required documentation to support the reason for a student's removal from the high school graduation cohort for mobility reasons was prepared, reviewed, and retained. Although one person updated the reason for a student's removal in the Student Information System, and another reviewed the documentation and approved the reason, the internal control was not sufficient to ensure compliance. Of the seven students tested, the School Corporation provided incorrect supporting documentation to substantiate the removal of two students from the cohort. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 20 USC 7801(23)(B) states: "To remove a student from a cohort, a school or local educational agency shall require documentation, or obtain documentation from the State educational agency, to confirm that the student has transferred out, emigrated to another country, or transferred to a prison or juvenile facility, or is deceased." INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 26 WAWASEE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Cause There were two instances we noted where proper documentation was not retained. For one of the instances, the employee preparing the documentation was aware of the documentation requirements for the mobility code used, the proper documentation was just not retained due to an oversight. For the other instance, the employee preparing the documentation was not aware of the documentation requirements of the specific mobility code used. Additionally, although the School Corporation had a documented internal control in place where one person updated the reason for a student's removal in the Student Information System, and another person reviewed the documentation and approved the reason, the internal control was not sufficient to ensure proper documentation was prepared, reviewed, and retained for all students removed from the cohort. Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the School Corporation cannot ensure proper documentation is maintained to support the removal of all students from the high school graduation cohort for mobility reasons. As a result, proper documentation was not maintained for all students removed from the cohort to support their removal. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended the School Corporation strengthen its system of internal controls over students' removal from the high school graduation cohort for mobility reasons by ensuring the documentation supporting each student's removal from the cohort for mobility reasons is in compliance with the different documentation requirements established by the Indiana Department of Education. We also recommended strengthening the School Corporation policies and procedures to ensure that appropriate supporting documentation is retained to be presented for audit. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-007 Subject: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies - Special Tests and Provisions - Assessment System Security Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies Assistance Listings Number: 84.010 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S010A220014, S010A230014, S010A240014 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions - Assessment System Security Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 27 WAWASEE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Condition and Context State educational agencies (SEA), in consultation with local educational agencies (LEA), are required to establish and maintain an assessment security system that is valid, reliable, and consistent with relevant professional and technical standards. Within its assessment system, SEAs must have policies and procedures to maintain test security measures and ensure that LEAs implement those policies and procedures. As such, the Indiana Department of Education created and published the Indiana Assessments Policy Manual. As a part of the assessment security, any individual who administers, handles, or has access to secure test materials at the school or school corporation shall complete assessment training and sign a testing security and integrity statement that remains on file in the appropriate building-level office each year. Each individual required to sign the testing integrity agreement shall sign the form by an established date. The School Corporation had a process to provide assessment system security training and to ensure each employee that attended training signed the agreement indicating training was received. However, there was no process in place to ensure that all school employees required to be trained were trained. Due to the lack of internal controls over ensuring employees requiring training received training, some employees that should have been trained were not. A sample of 27 employees required to receive training was selected for testing from the School Corporation's roster. Of the 27 employees tested, 2 did not receive the training as required. Additionally, 1 employee completed the training and signed the agreement, but it was completed 37 days late. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 511 IAC 5-5-5(b) states: "Any individual who administers, handles, or has access to secure test materials at the school or school corporation shall complete assessment training and sign a testing security and integrity agreement to remain on file in the appropriate building-level office each year." Cause There was not an internal control in place to ensure that all employees who were required to complete assessment training took the training and signed the agreement by the date established. The School Corporation was not aware that this was necessary, noting that they used a training platform to provide the training, which sends automated email reminders to employees to complete the training until it is completed. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 28 WAWASEE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the School Corporation cannot ensure all employees required to complete the training and sign the testing security and integrity statement do so by the established date. As a result, not all employees required to complete the assessment training and sign the testing security and integrity statement did so. Additionally, not all employees who completed the assessment training and signed the testing security and integrity statement did so by the established date. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish and implement an effective system of internal control over security assessment training which ensures that all employees required to complete the training and sign the testing security and integrity statement do so by the established date. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-008 Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants, COVID-19 - Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 21611-113-PN01, 22611-113-PN01, 23611-113-PN01, 24611-113-PN01, H027X210084, 23619-113-PN01, 24619-113-PN01, 25619-113-PN01, 22619-113-ARP, 86203 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking Audit Finding: Material Weakness Condition and Context The Form 9 (financial) data was submitted by the School Corporation to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) semi-annually. The data reported included the School Corporation's expenditures recorded during that period. The IDOE calculated Maintenance of Effort based on the expenditure information submitted on Form 9 for that fiscal year. To verify amounts used by the IDOE in their computation were derived from the books and records of the School Corporation, costs were reviewed to ensure they were recorded properly as to account and object code and reported correctly on the Form 9. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 29 WAWASEE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) The School Corporation did not have an oversight process in place to ensure that expenditures for vendors were posted to the correct fund, account, and object codes. During review of expenditures, it was determined that there was not a documented second review in place for all vendor payments being made. This issue was systemic throughout the audit period. 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). . . ." Cause One person entered and posted vendor expenditures in the accounting system without a review in place to ensure the expenditures were posted to the correct fund, account, and object codes. Although additional employees were involved in the claims process either by submitting paper accounts payable vouchers, signing invoices, or approving purchase orders for some claims we reviewed, there was no review by a second person after the expenditures were entered into the accounting system. Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the School Corporation cannot ensure that expenditures entered into the accounting system are coded correctly. Incorrect coding of expenditures in the accounting system can result in incorrect Maintenance of Effort calculations. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish and implement an effective system of internal controls over vendor expenditures to ensure expenditures for vendors are posted to the correct fund, account, and object codes. For all vendor expenditures, we recommended they are reviewed by an individual other than the person entering them into the accounting system, along with the supporting documentation of the expenditure, and that this process is documented as to the preparer and reviewer. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-001 Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Eligibility Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY24, FY25 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Eligibility Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 13 DELPHI COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Repeat Finding This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2023-003. Condition and Context Any child enrolled in a participating school or summer camp, or attending a SFSP meal service site, who meets the applicable program's definition of "child," may receive meals under the applicable program. In the case of the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, children belonging to households meeting nationwide income eligibility requirements may receive meals at no charge or at reduced price. Children who have been determined ineligible for free or reduced price school meals pay the full price, set by the School Food Authority, for their meals. Children attending SFSP meal service sites receive their meals at no charge. As a general rule, a child's eligibility for free or reduced price meals under a Child Nutrition Cluster program may be established by the submission of an annual application or statement which furnishes such information as family income and family size. Local educational agencies, institutions, and sponsors then determine eligibility by comparing the data reported by the child's household to published income eligibility guidelines. Additionally, a child may be direct certified. For a direct certification, annual eligibility determinations are based on the child's household receiving benefits under SNAP, FDPIR, the Head Start Program (ALN 93.600), or, under most circumstances, the TANF program (ALN 93.558). A household may furnish documentation of its participation in one of these programs; or the school, institution, or sponsor may obtain the information directly from the State or local agency that administers these programs. Certain foster, runaway, homeless, and migrant children are categorically eligible for free school lunches and breakfasts. Direct certified households do not need to complete an application. Direct Certifications The Food Service Director ran the direct certification report monthly and uploaded it to the school lunch point-of-sale system. However, documentation of an oversight or review process to ensure the monthly upload occurred, had imported correctly, and students' status was updated accordingly was not evidenced. Applications The Food Service Director was responsible for reviewing the online and paper application eligibility status and entering the information into the school lunch point-of-sale system. Furthermore, the Assistant Food Service Director had access to make changes to eligibility. Documentation of an oversight or review process to ensure that the income verification, calculations, and eligibility status entered into the school lunch point-of-sale system and subsequent changes were accurate and properly supported was not evidenced. Of the 60 students tested for the school year ended June 30, 2024, the eligibility determinations were not correct as follows: There was 1 student that received free meals; however, based on the application's income and family size, eligibility should have been for reduced-price meals. Students were determined to be free or reduced without a properly completed application. As a result, 2 students received free meals and 1 student received reduced-price meals instead of paying regular price for meals. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 14 DELPHI COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Additionally, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) conducted an administrative review in April 2025 covering the 2024-2025 school year. The IDOE review identified multiple applications that were certified incorrectly or were approved with falsified information. The finding noted household income reported on the income application was changed by a school staff member to allow households to qualify for a free or reduced benefit. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance was systemic throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 7 CFR 245.6(c)(4) states: "Calculating income. The local educational agency must use the income information provided by the household on the application to calculate the household's total current income. When a household submits an application containing complete documentation, as defined in § 245.2, and the household's total current income is at or below the eligibility limits specified in the Income Eligibility Guidelines as defined in § 245.2, the children in that household must be approved for free or reduced price benefits, as applicable." 7 CFR 245.6(e) states: "Recordkeeping. The local educational agency must maintain documentation substantiating eligibility determinations on file for 3 years after the date of the fiscal year to which they pertain, except that if audit findings have not been resolved, the documentation must be maintained as long as required for resolution of the issues raised by the audit." Cause Management had not developed an adequate system of internal controls to ensure student eligibility status was properly determined. Effect As a result of the IDOE administrative review, the School Corporation had to return funds totaling $32,052, of which $24,639 was from the National School Lunch Program and $7,413 from the School Breakfast Program. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 15 DELPHI COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal controls to ensure student eligibility is accurately determined. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-002 Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program for Children Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555, 10.559 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY24, FY25 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Repeat Finding This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2023-005. Condition and Context Procurement When the value of goods or services exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold, the proper purchasing method would be the bidding process, unless the purchase meets certain other qualifications. Federal regulations allow for informal procurement methods when the value of the procurement for goods or services does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, which is customarily set at $250,000. However, Indiana Code 5-22-8 has a more restrictive threshold of $150,000 or less for when small purchase procedures may be used. This informal process allows for methods other than the formal bid process. The informal process is divided between two methods based on thresholds: micro-purchases, typically for those purchases $10,000 or under, and small purchase procedures for those purchases above the micropurchase threshold but below the simplified acquisition threshold. Micro-purchases may be awarded without soliciting competitive price rate quotations. If small purchase procedures are used, then price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources. If it is determined a single source provider can be used for a small purchase, documentation must be retained supporting the determination. The School Corporation procured goods totaling $149,426 from five vendors that fell under the small purchase threshold during the audit period. Price or rate quotes were not obtained for any of the vendors nor was there any documentation detailing the history of procurement, which must include the reason for the procurement method used. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 16 DELPHI COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Suspension and Debarment Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions, recipients are required to verify that contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (e.g., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000 and all subawards. The verification is to be done by checking the SAM exclusions list, collection of a certification from that person or entity, or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person or entity. There were four covered transactions over $25,000 identified during the audit period totaling $130,448. All four were selected for testing; however, the School Corporation did not verify that two of the four vendors totaling $70,411 were not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from participation in federal assistance programs. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.318(a) states: "The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section, for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The non- Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327." 2 CFR 200.318(i) states: "The non-Federal entity must maintain records sufficient to detail the history of procurement. These records will include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: Rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type, contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price." Indiana Code 5-22-8-3(d) states: "If the purchasing agent receives a satisfactory quote, the purchasing agent shall award a contract to the lowest responsible and responsive offeror for each line or class of supplies required." INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 17 DELPHI COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) 2 CFR 200.320 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must have and use document procurement procedures, consistent with the standards of this section and §200.317, 200.318, and 200.319 for any of the following methods of procurement used for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or sub-award. (a) Informal procurement methods. When the value of the procurement for property or services under a Federal award does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), as defined in § 200.1, or a lower threshold established by a non-Federal entity, formal procurement methods are not required. The non-Federal entity may use informal procurement methods to expedite the completion of its transactions and minimize the associated administrative burden and cost. The informal methods used for procurement of property or services at or below the SAT include: . . . (2) Small purchases— (i) Small purchase procedures. The acquisition of property or services, the aggregate dollar amount of which is higher than the micro-purchase threshold but does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. If small purchase procedures are used, price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources as determined appropriate by the non-Federal entity. . . ." 2 CFR 180.300 states: "When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You do this by: (a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or (b) Collecting a certification from that person; or (c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person." Cause Management had not designed or implemented a system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirement. Effect Material noncompliance with the grant agreement and compliance requirements could cause federal expenditures to be unallowable which the funding agency could potentially recover. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal controls to ensure compliance with requirements related to procurement and suspension and debarment. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 18 DELPHI COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-003 Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program for Children Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555, 10.559 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY24, FY25 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Finding: Material Weakness Condition and Context Monthly Sponsor Claims for Reimbursement (Claims) were submitted to the Indiana Department of Education based upon the number of meals served for the month. The Claims were prepared by the School Corporation's Food Service Director without an oversight or review process in place to ensure accuracy and completeness. The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." Cause Management had not developed a system of internal controls to ensure the Claims were complete and accurate. Effect The failure to establish an effective system of internal controls could have enabled material noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement to go undetected. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 19 DELPHI COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal controls to ensure reports submitted are complete and accurate. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-004 Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Earmarking Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 22611-151-PN01, 22611-151-ARP, 23611-151-PN01, 23619-151-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the required level of expenditures for nonpublic school students with disabilities was met. Although the Proportionate Share Report was prepared by the Treasurer and reviewed and approved by the Special Education Director, the internal controls were not effective to ensure nonpublic school expenditures were appropriately identified and reported. The nonpublic expenditures spent did not meet the earmarking requirements for grant award numbers 22611-151-PN01, 22611-151-ARP, 23611-151-PN01, and 23619-151-PN01. The required expenditures for nonpublic proportionate shares were $11,074, $2,423, $9,363, and $504, respectively. The School Corporation could only provide documentation of expenditures of $10,465, $0, $2,561, and $0, respectively. In addition, the School Corporation did not track the expenditures in a separate line item within the ledger to specifically identify services provided for nonpublic school students. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the 22611-151-PN01, 22611-151-ARP, 23611-151-PN01, and 23619-151-PN01 grants. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 20 DELPHI COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: . . . (g) Be adequately documented. . . . " 2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ." 511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states: "The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities, who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total number of students with disabilities of the same age range." Cause Through inquiry of management, they were unaware of the requirements to track the nonpublic proportionate share expenditures separately. Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the School Corporation was unable to track expenditures for nonpublic services and ensure the proper amount was spent which could result in the repayment of federal awards. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal controls to ensure the required level of expenditures for nonpublic school students with disabilities is met and properly tracked to ensure compliance with the matching, level of effort, earmarking requirements. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-005 Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 22611-151-PN01, 23611-151-PN01, 24611-151-PN01, 22611-151-ARP, 23619-151-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context Procurement When the value of goods or services exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold, the proper purchasing method would be the bidding process, unless the purchase meets certain other qualifications. Federal regulations allow for informal procurement methods when the value of the procurement for goods or services does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, which is customarily set at $250,000. However, Indiana Code 5-22-8 has a more restrictive threshold of $150,000 or less for when small purchase procedures may be used. This informal process allows for methods other than the formal bid process. The informal process is divided between two methods based on thresholds: micro-purchases, typically for those purchases $10,000 or under, and small purchase procedures for those purchases above the micropurchase threshold but below the simplified acquisition threshold. Micro-purchases may be awarded without soliciting competitive price rate quotations. If small purchase procedures are used, then price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources. If it is determined a single source provider can be used for a small purchase, documentation must be retained supporting the determination. The School Corporation procured goods totaling $60,002 from four vendors that fell under the small purchase threshold during the audit period. The School Corporation did not provide adequate documentation detailing the history of procurement, which must include the reason for the procurement method used, for all four vendors. Price or rate quotes were not obtained for three of the vendors as required. The School Corporation obtained three quotes for one vendor; however, the highest quote was selected without a documented reason. Suspension and Debarment Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions, recipients are required to verify that contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (e.g., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000 and all subawards. The verification is to be done by checking the SAM exclusions list, collection of a certification from that person or entity, or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person or entity. There was one covered transaction over $25,000 identified during the audit period which was selected for testing. The School Corporation did not verify that the vendor was not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from participation in federal assistance programs. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 22 DELPHI COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.318(a) states: "The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section, for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The non-Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327." 2 CFR 200.318(i) states: "The non-Federal entity must maintain records sufficient to detail the history of procurement. These records will include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: Rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type, contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price." Indiana Code 5-22-8-3(d) states: "If the purchasing agent receives a satisfactory quote, the purchasing agent shall award a contract to the lowest responsible and responsive offeror for each line or class of supplies required." 2 CFR 200.320 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must have and use document procurement procedures, consistent with the standards of this section and §200.317, 200.318, and 200.319 for any of the following methods of procurement used for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or sub-award. (a) Informal procurement methods. When the value of the procurement for property or services under a Federal award does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), as defined in § 200.1, or a lower threshold established by a non-Federal entity, formal procurement methods are not required. The non-Federal entity may use informal procurement methods to expedite the completion of its transactions and minimize the associated administrative burden and cost. The informal methods used for procurement of property or services at or below the SAT include: . . . (2) Small purchases— INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 23 DELPHI COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) (i) Small purchase procedures. The acquisition of property or services, the aggregate dollar amount of which is higher than the micro-purchase threshold but does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. If small purchase procedures are used, price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources as determined appropriate by the non-Federal entity. . . ." 2 CFR 180.300 states: "When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You do this by: (a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or (b) Collecting a certification from that person; or (c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person." Cause Management had not designed or implemented a system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirement. Effect Material noncompliance with the grant agreement and compliance requirements could cause federal expenditures to be unallowable which the funding agency could potentially recover. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal controls to ensure compliance with requirements related to procurement and suspension and debarment. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-006 Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Equipment and Real Property Management Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listings Number: 84.425U Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): S425U210013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Equipment and Real Property Management Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 24 DELPHI COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Condition and Context A property record or capital asset listing which would include a description of the property, a serial number or other identification number, the source of funding for the property (including the federal award identification number (FAIN)), who holds title, the acquisition date, cost of the property, percentage of federal participation in the project costs for the federal award under which the property was acquired, the location, and use and condition of the property is to be maintained for assets purchased that exceed the School Corporation's capitalization threshold of $5,000. The School Corporation hired a consultant to compile a capital asset listing report that was to contain all inventory and assets purchased that exceeded the School Corporation's capitalization threshold through June 30, 2025. The consultant prepared the report; however, the School Corporation did not have any policies or procedures in place to ensure the listing was complete. The School Corporation spent $802,314 on improvements, of which $344,829 was paid with COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Funds. The improvements should have been recorded as a capital asset purchased with grant funds as this project exceeded the capitalization threshold. The capital asset listing provided only included part of the project totaling $167,208 and did not identify the source of the funding, the correct cost of the property, or the percentage of federal participation as required. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the ESSER III grant S425U210013 in both fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025. 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 200.313(d) states in part: "Management requirements. Procedures for managing equipment (including replacement equipment), whether acquired in whole or in part under a Federal award, until disposition takes place will, as a minimum, meet the following requirements: (1) Property records must be maintained that include a description of the property, a serial number or other identification number, the source of funding for the property (including the FAIN), who holds title, the acquisition date, and cost of the property, percentage of Federal participation in the project costs for the Federal award under which the property was acquired, the location, use and condition of the property, and any ultimate disposition data including the date of disposal and sale price of the property. (2) A physical inventory of the property must be taken and the results reconciled with the property records at least once every two years. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 25 DELPHI COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) (3) A control system must be developed to ensure adequate safeguards to prevent loss, damage, or theft of the property. Any loss, damage, or theft must be investigated. (4) Adequate maintenance procedures must be developed to keep the property in good condition. . . ." Cause Effective internal controls were not in place to ensure that all assets purchased with federal funds were added to the School Corporation's capital asset listing. The School Corporation uses a consultant to prepare the capital asset listing which did not include all required information. Effect Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the repayment of federal funds. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal controls that would ensure compliance with the equipment and real property management requirements. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
Criteria or Specifc Requirement: Per 2 CFR 200.303 - Internal Controls and the OMB Compliance Supplement: Special Education Cluster (IDEA), Procurement and Suspension and Debarment - the District is required to create, implement, and document an effective system of internal controls to certify that vendors utilized by the District are neither suspended nor debarred by the federal government. Condition: District personnel perform a search for all new vendors on SAM.gov's exclusion list to ensure that the vendor is neither suspended nor debarred from contracting with federal agencies; however, District personnel do not retain documentation that this search was performed. Questioned Costs: This condition resulted in no identified questioned costs. Context: District personnel are not documenting the procedures performed to ensure that vendors are neither suspended nor debarred by the federal governemnt. Effect: Is is possible for District personnel to not perform internal control procedures, as there is no way for management to determine if the procedure had been performed. Cause: The District's policies do not require that this procedure be documented. Recommendation: The District's policies should require that documentation is retained for all internal control procedures performed, including a search to verify that vendors are neither suspended nor debarred by the federal government. Management's Response: Management does not disagree with this response. Documentation will be maintained for this internal control in the future.
Finding Reference Number: 2025-001 Name of Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Treasury Name of Pass-through Entity: Howard County Government Program Title: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Federal Award No.: 02-11-0-D000-0237 Assistance Listing Number: 21.027 Federal Award Year: 2024-2025 Compliance Requirement: Suspension and debarment Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria: Per 2 CFR 200.213 Suspension and Debarment restricts awards, subawards, and contracts with certain parties that are debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participation in Federal assistance programs or activities. 2 CFR 180.300 states that an entity may determine suspension and debarment status by: (a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or (b) Collecting a certification from that person; or (c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person. Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: 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). Condition: during our fiscal year 2025 compliance audit, we noted that the Authority awarded all twenty-seven (27) subawards without checking for suspension and debarment. Context: The Authority awarded twenty-seven (27) subawards during fiscal year 2025 totaling $1,000,000, which represents over 99% of the total federal expenditures during fiscal year 2025. Cause: The Authority did not establish controls to check for suspension and debarment before awarding contracts. The Authority was also not aware of the fact that they had to check for suspension and debarment. Effect: As a result of not checking for suspension and debarment, awards may have been made to organizations that are not eligible. Identification as a Repeat Finding, if Applicable: No. Questioned Costs: None identified.Recommendation: We recommend the Authority evaluate its policies and procedures to ensure that suspension and debarment requirements are being met prior to entering into covered transactions. Policies and procedures should reiterate the three options for determining suspension and debarment status listed in 2 CFR 180.300. Responsible Official: Controller Views of Responsible Official and Planned Corrective Action: Management concurs with the audit finding. See the accompanying management’s corrective action plan for planned corrective action.
Finding Reference Number: 2025-002 Name of Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Treasury Name of Pass-through Entity: Howard County Government Program Title: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Federal Award No.: 02-11-0-D000-0237 Assistance Listing Number: 21.027 Federal Award Year: 2024-2025 Compliance Requirement: Reporting Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria: Non-Federal entities are required to comply with the terms of the grant agreement. This includes preparing and submitting all required reports in a timely manner. Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: 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). Condition: during our fiscal year 2025 compliance audit, we noted that the Authority did not submit two out of the four quarterly detailed expense list per childcare provider report selected for testing. Context: The Authority is required to submit (4) quarterly project and expenditure report and (4) quarterly detailed expense list per childcare provider. While the quarterly project and expenditure reports were submitted timely, the authority did not prepare and submit the quarterly detailed expense list per childcare provider reports. Cause: The Authority did not have proper internal controls to ensure that all required reports were submitted timely to the grantor. Effect: As a result, the authority did not prepare and submit the quarterly detailed expense list per childcare provider reports timely. Identification as a Repeat Finding, if Applicable: No. Questioned Costs: None identified. Recommendation: We recommend the Authority evaluate its policies and procedures to ensure that it complies with the reporting requirements of the grant. Responsible Official: Controller Views of Responsible Official and Planned Corrective Action: Management concurs with the audit finding. See the accompanying management’s corrective action plan for planned corrective action.
Finding Reference Number: 2025-003 Name of Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Treasury Name of Pass-through Entity: Howard County Government Program Title: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Federal Award No.: 02-11-0-D000-0237 Assistance Listing Number: 21.027 Federal Award Year: 2024-2025 Compliance Requirement: Subrecipient Monitoring Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria: A pass-through entity (PTE) must Identify the Award and Applicable Requirements – Clearly identify to the subrecipient: (1) the award as a subaward at the time of subaward (or subsequent subaward modification) by providing the information described in 2 CFR 200.332(a)(1); (2) all requirements imposed by the PTE on the subrecipient so that the federal award is used in accordance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the award (2 CFR 200.332(a)(2)); and (3) any additional requirements that the PTE imposes on the subrecipient in order for the PTE to meet its own responsibility for the federal award (e.g., financial, performance, and special reports) (2 CFR 200.332(a)(3)). Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: 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). Condition: During our fiscal year 2025 compliance audit, we noted that the Authority awarded all twenty-seven (27) subawards without referring to federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the award as described in 2 CFR 200.332(a)(1), 2 CFR 200.332(a)(2), and 2 CFR 200.332(a)(3). Context: The Authority awarded twenty-seven (27) subawards during fiscal year 2025 totaling $1,000,000, which represents over 99% of the total federal expenditures during fiscal year 2025. Cause: The Authority did not have adequate controls to review subaward agreements to ensure all compliance requirements are captured, that information is consistent between pass-through entity records and the subaward, and that all required elements are included. Effect: As a result of not including the proper information in the subaward agreements, the subrecipients may not be able to comply with the terms of the grant agreement and 2 CFR part 200. Identification as a Repeat Finding, if Applicable: No. Questioned Costs: None identified.Recommendation: We recommend the Authority evaluate its policies and procedures to ensure that subaward agreements include all required information as described in 2 CFR 200.332(a)(1), 2 CFR 200.332(a)(2), and 2 CFR 200.332(a)(3). Responsible Official: Controller Views of Responsible Official and Planned Corrective Action: Management concurs with the audit finding. See the accompanying management’s corrective action plan for planned corrective action.
Federal Agency: US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Program Name: SNAP Cluster: State Administrative Matching Grants for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ALN #: 10.561 Award Number (Federal Award Year): IDHS SNAP FCSDQ03623 (2024-2025) Questioned Costs: None 2025-004. Finding: Internal Controls over Procurement The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign did not have sufficient rationale documented for the noncompetitive procurement method selected within their iBuy procurement system at the time of approval of the purchase to allow a reviewer to determine the appropriateness of the procurement method. Condition: The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s internal controls over small purchases include review and approval of a purchase requisition form that documents the procurement method selected. Prior to June 15, 2025, when a noncompetitive procurement method was selected, a radio button within the iBuy system allowed for selection of one of several circumstances where noncompetitive procurement is permitted by 2 CFR 200.320, including that the procurement can only be fulfilled by a single source. When this selection was made, additional information supporting this rationale should have been available to the reviewer to determine that this noncompetitive procurement method was appropriate. Out of four small purchase procurement transactions tested prior to June 15, 2025, for one transaction (25%), there was not sufficient evidence to support that documentation of the noncompetitive procurement method selected was provided at the time of review and approval. Based on additional information provided to us during our testing, there were no indications that the noncompetitive method selected was inappropriate. This transaction was selected from the period prior to the iBuy enhancement. Subsequent to June 15, 2025, the purchase requisition form in the iBuy system was enhanced to require users to complete mandatory fields within the purchase requisition form when a noncompetitive procurement method is selected and provide detailed written justification. The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Criteria: Uniform Grant Guidance (2 CFR 200.303) requires nonfederal entities receiving Federal awards to establish and maintain internal controls designed to reasonably ensure compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and program compliance requirements. Effective internal controls should include procedures to ensure procurement procedures are properly followed and support is properly maintained as required by 2 CFR 200.318. Cause: University officials stated a single e-procurement system is used to collect and capture procurement-related information. University officials further stated the electronic system required selection of the relevant procurement method in the form of a radio button but did not require additional information in the central procurement file. Rather, this information was maintained by the requesting unit. Effect: If the procurement purchase requisition forms do not include sufficient supporting documentation of the rationale for the noncompetitive method of procurement selected, the University could approve payments of federal funds to vendors that do not meet federal regulations. (Finding Code No. 2025-004, 2024-004) Recommendation: We recommend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign review current processes within the iBuy system for noncompetitive procurement transactions to ensure sufficient documentation is included to support the rationale for the noncompetitive method of procurement selected. University Response: While the University accepts the finding, we note that corrective action was implemented on June 15, 2025. No exceptions related to the iBuy central procurement file were found after implementation.
Federal Agencies: US Department of Defense (DoD); US Department of Energy (DOE); US Health and Human Services (HHS) Program Names: Research & Development Cluster: Basic, Applied and Advanced Research in Science and Engineering; Research and Technology Development; Fossil Energy Research and Development; and HIV-Related Training and Technical Assistance ALN #s: 12.630; 12.910; 81.089; 93.145 Award Numbers (Federal Award Year): ARMY W911NF-17-2-0196 (2024-2025); DARPA HR0011-23-2-0004 (2024-2025); DOE DE-FE0031581 (2024-2025); and HRSA 5 U1OHA32109-07 (2024-2025) Questioned Costs: None 2025-003. Finding: Cash Management – Timeliness of Subrecipient Payments The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Illinois Chicago did not make certain subrecipient payments timely and the controls in place did not identify the late payments. Condition: Out of seventeen subrecipient payments tested which were made by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign under the Research & Development Cluster, three payments (18%) were not made within 30 days after receipt of the billing from the subrecipient. The payments ranged from 37-79 days after receipt of the billing from the subrecipients. The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Out of eight subrecipient payments tested which were made by the University of Illinois Chicago under the HIV-Related Training and Technical Assistance Program, two payments (25%) were not made within 30 days after receipt of the billing from the subrecipient. The payments were made 34 and 40 days after the receipt of billing from the subrecipients. The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Criteria: Under Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200.305(b)(3)), when the reimbursement method is used, the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity must make payment within 30 calendar days after receipt of the billing, unless the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity reasonably believes the request to be improper. Uniform Grant Guidance (2 CFR 200.303) requires nonfederal entities receiving Federal awards to establish and maintain internal controls designed to reasonably ensure compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and program compliance requirements. Effective internal controls should include procedures to ensure subrecipient payments are made timely. Cause: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign officials stated the multi-layered review and approval process along with workload caused the exceptions noted. University of Illinois Chicago officials stated the subrecipient payments were late due to competing priorities. Effect: Without proper program cash management processes and procedures, late subrecipient payments could result in the loss of future funding. (Finding Code No. 2025-003, 2024-002, 2023-006, 2022-008) Recommendation: We recommend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Illinois Chicago review current processes, policies and procedures to minimize the time elapsing between the receipt of billings from the subrecipient and the transfer of federal funds to the subrecipient. University Response: Accepted. The University will take steps to address the recommendation in this finding.
FINDING 2025-002 Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Eligibility Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): SY23-24, SY24-25 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Eligibility Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Repeat Finding This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2023-002. 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 was effective in preventing, or detecting and correcting, noncompliance related to the eligibility determination of a child receiving meals. Any child enrolled in a participating school who meets the applicable program's definition of "child," may receive meals under the applicable program. For the School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program, children belonging to households meeting nationwide income eligibility requirements may receive meals at no charge or at a reduced price. Children who have been determined ineligible for free or reduced-price school meals pay the full price set by the School Food Authority for their meals. As a general rule, a child's eligibility for free or reduced-price meals under a Child Nutrition Cluster program may be established by the submission of an annual application or statement which furnishes such information as family income and family size. Local educational agencies, institutions, and sponsors then determine eligibility by comparing the data reported by the child's household to published income eligibility guidelines. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 17 EASTERN PULASKI COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Additionally, a child may be directly certified. For a direct certification, annual eligibility determinations are based on the child's household receiving benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), the Head Start Program (ALN 93.600), or, under most circumstances, the TANF program (ALN 93.558). A household may furnish documentation of its participation in one of these programs, or the school, institution, or sponsor may obtain the information directly from the state or local agency that administers these programs. Certain foster, runaway, homeless, and migrant children are categorically eligible for free school lunches and breakfasts. Direct certified households do not need to complete an application. The School Corporation's child nutrition program software company, Skyward, automatically imported the eligibility parameters into the system and the Food Service Director (FSD) reviewed to ensure accuracy. Parents submitted applications online as part of the registration packet with eligibility determined by the software; the FSD would then approve the application. The FSD generated and reviewed the direct certification reports without an oversight or review process in place. Based on a test of 60 students who received free or reduced-price meals, 9 were determined to not be eligible for free or reduced meals as follows: There were 2 students identified as eligible for free meals due to income applications that did not submit applications for that school year and were not included on the direct certifications provided by the School Corporation. There were 3 students identified as eligible for reduced meals due to income applications that did not submit applications for that school year and were not included on the direct certifications provided by the School Corporation. There were 3 students identified as eligible for free meals due to being directly certified that were not included on any of the direct certification reports provided by the School Corporation. There was 1 student identified as eligible for reduced meals due to being directly certified that was not included on any of the direct certification reports provided by the School Corporation. All 9 of the students identified above should have had a paid status in the nutrition program software. 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). . . ." INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 18 EASTERN PULASKI COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) 7 CFR 245.6 states in part: ". . . (b) Direct certification. In lieu of requiring a household to complete the free and reduced price meal or free milk application, as specified in paragraph (a) of this section, the local educational agency must certify children as eligible for free meals or free milk in accordance with paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section or may certify children as eligible for free meals or free milk in accordance with paragraph (b)(2) of this section. If a household also submits an application for directly certified children, the direct certification eligibility determination will take precedence. . . . (5) Direct certification documentation. (i) The required documentation for direct certification is provided in paragraph (2) of the definition of Documentation in § 245.2. (ii) (A) Beginning in School Year 2012-2013, direct certification with SNAP shall be conducted using a data matching technique only. Letters to households for direct certification may be used only as an additional means to notify households of children's eligibility based on receipt of SNAP benefits. The last period that letters to households may be used as the primary method for direct certification is School Year 2011-2012. While such notices cannot be the primary method used by a state to document receipt of SNAP, the local educational agency shall accept such a letter if presented by a household. . . . (iii) Individual notices from officials of eligible programs for a Foster child, a Homeless child, a Migrant child, a Runaway child, or a Head Start child, as defined in § 245.2, may continue to be used. These notices are provided to school officials who must certify these children as eligible for free meals or free milk, as applicable, without further application, upon receipt of such notice. . . ." (c) Determination of eligibility— (1) Duration of eligibility. Except as otherwise specified in paragraph (c)(3) of this section, eligibility for free or reduced price meals, as determined through an approved application or by direct certification, must remain in effect for the entire school year and for up to 30 operating days into the subsequent school year. The local educational agency must determine household eligibility for free or reduced price meals either through direct certification or the application process at or about the beginning of the school year. The local educational agency must determine eligibility for free or reduced price meals when a household submits an application or, if feasible, through direct certification, at any time during the school year. . . . (4) Calculating income. The local educational agency must use the income information provided by the household on the application to calculate the household's total current income. . . ." Cause The School Corporation did not have effective internal controls in place to ensure the students' eligibility status went to paid when a current application was not received or the student was not included on the direct certification list for that year. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 19 EASTERN PULASKI COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the School Corporation cannot ensure students receiving free or reduced-price meals are eligible for the benefits received. Providing ineligible students with reduced or free meals would cause the School Corporation to receive too much federal funding from the program as funding received is based on meals served to eligible students. 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 student eligibility for free or reduced-price lunches is accurately determined. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-003 Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Equipment and Real Property Management 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): S425D210013, S425U210013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Equipment and Real Property Management Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Repeat Finding This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2023-003. Condition and Context The School Corporation had not properly implemented an effective system of internal controls, which would include appropriate segregation of duties, that would likely be effective in preventing, or detecting and correcting, noncompliance. A property record or capital asset listing, which would include a description of the property, a serial number or other identification number, the source of funding for the property (including the federal award identification number (FAIN)), who holds title, the acquisition date, cost of the property, percentage of federal participation in the project costs for the federal award under which the property was acquired, the location, and use and condition of the property, is to be maintained for assets purchased that exceed the School Corporation's capitalization threshold. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 20 EASTERN PULASKI COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) During the audit period, the School Corporation purchased six pieces of equipment with COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Funds that exceeded the capitalization threshold. Of the six assets, one was not added to the detailed listing of capital assets. Additionally, of the five that were added to the capital asset listing, the records did not include all the required information such as a serial or identification number, the source of funding for the property (including the federal award identification number), who holds title, acquisition date, cost of the property, percentage of federal participation in the project costs for the federal award under which the property was acquired, location of the property, and the use and condition of the property. In addition, assets were not properly safeguarded and maintained. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.313(d) states in part: "Management requirements. Procedures for managing equipment (including replacement equipment), whether acquired in whole or in part under a Federal award, until disposition takes place will, as a minimum, meet the following requirements: (1) Property records must be maintained that include a description of the property, a serial number or other identification number, the source of funding for the property (including the FAIN), who holds title, the acquisition date, and cost of the property, percentage of Federal participation in the project costs for the Federal award under which the property was acquired, the location, use and condition of the property, and any ultimate disposition data including the date of disposal and sale price of the property. (2) A physical inventory of the property must be taken and the results reconciled with the property records at least once every two years. (3) A control system must be developed to ensure adequate safeguards to prevent loss, damage, or theft of the property. Any loss, damage, or theft must be investigated. (4) Adequate maintenance procedures must be developed to keep the property in good condition. . . ." Cause The School Corporation did not have adequate internal controls to ensure compliance with the Equipment and Real Property Management compliance requirement. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 21 EASTERN PULASKI COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the School Corporation cannot ensure that capital asset purchases are properly accounted for in the capital asset listing. Not properly accounting for equipment that meets the capital asset threshold does not provide an accurate depiction of the total capital assets maintained by the School Corporation and does not denote whether federal funds were used to acquire the asset. 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 asset records include all the necessary information and new assets are added individually. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
2025-001 Improve Controls Over Reporting (Significant Deficiency) Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Treasury Program: COVID-19 - State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund AL Number: 21.027 Award Year: 2025 Type of Finding Internal Control over Compliance – Significant Deficiency Criteria In accordance with 2 CFR 200.303 Internal controls, management of the City is responsible for establishing, documenting, and maintaining effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the City is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. A deficiency in internal control over compliance exists when the design or operation of a control over compliance does not allow management or employees, in the normal course of performing their assigned functions, to prevent, or detect and correct, noncompliance with a type of compliance requirement of a federal program on a timely basis. Condition and Context Reports submitted to grantors were not independently reviewed by a person other than the preparer. Cause Weaknesses in the design of internal controls. Effect or Potential Effect There are no questioned costs as a result of this finding as there are no costs directly associated with the finding. Recommendation The City should implement formal policies and procedures regarding separation of duties and the requirement of a second individual being involved in the reporting process. Views of Responsible Official and Planned Corrective Action Management’s views and Corrective Action Plan are included at the end of this report.
Criteria or Specific Requirement: Per 2 CFR 200.303 - Internal Controls and the OMB Complaince Supplement: Child Nutrition Cluster, Reporting - The District is required to have internal controls, including segregation of duties, over reporting of monthly reimbursement claims. Condition: The same individiual is responsible for preparing and submitting monthly reimbursement claims for the Child Nutrition Program without an independent review or approval before submission. Questioned Costs: The condition has resulted in no identified questioned costs. Context: Currently one individual is responsible for preparing and submitting the monthly reimbursement claims. Effect: Meal claims could be submitted to the Illinois State Board of Education that do not accurately reflect the number of meals served. Consequently, the District could be over- or under-reimbursed by this program. Cause: Abscense of formal internal control procedures resulted in one person performing all reporting functions. Recomendation: Implement segregation of duties by requiring one person to prepare the monthly claim and a second person (e.g., supervisor) to review and approve the claim before submission. The review should be suppported with signatures or electronic approval logs. Management's Reponse: A corrective action plan will be developed and implemented. A secondary review of the meal claim to the supporting documents will be performed before the meal claim is submitted.
FINDING 2025-003 Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Activities Allowed or Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles, Special Tests and Provisions - Non-Profit School Food Service Accounts Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program for Children Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555, 10.559 Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): FY2023-24 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirements: Activities Allowed or Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles, Special Tests and Provisions - Non-Profit School Food Service Accounts Audit Findings: Significant Deficiency, Modified Opinion Repeat Finding This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2023-003. Condition and Context Food Service - Expenditures 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 related to transfers of the grant. A transfer totaling $148,955 was made from the School Lunch fund to the Payroll Clearing fund on July 1, 2023, as a part of the conversion to the new financial system. Documentation to support that this was to fund an allowable activity or cost of the grant was not provided for audit. Food Service - Revenues 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 related to food service revenues being accounted for in the School Food Account. A School Food Authority (SFA) is required to account for all revenues and expenditures of its nonprofit school food service in accordance with state and federal requirements. A SFA must operate its food services on a nonprofit basis; all revenue generated by the school food service must be used to operate and improve its food services. In the prior audit, the School Corporation's process was to receipt the School Lunch reimbursement received into a Food Service Federal Reimbursement fund and then transfer that reimbursement to the School Lunch fund the following month. The April 2022 and April 2023 reimbursements of $158,679 and $91,108, respectively, were receipted into the Food Service Federal Reimbursement fund on July 7, 2022, and June 2, 2023. The reimbursements, totaling $249,787, had not been transferred to the School Lunch fund, which is the designated school food service fund, as of June 30, 2023. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 23 GRIFFITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) In July 2023, the School Corporation converted to a new financial system. The $250,995 balance in the Food Service Federal Reimbursement fund was not converted into the new financial system, and, therefore, was not transferred to the School Lunch fund. Audit adjustments were proposed, accepted by the School Corporation, and made to the financial statement and the Combining Schedule of Receipts, Disbursements, Other Financing Sources (Uses), and Cash and Investment Balances - Regulatory Basis presented as Other Information in the Financial Statement Audit Report of the School Corporation. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance was isolated to the 2023-2024 school year. 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). . . ." 7 CFR 220.7(e) states in part: ". . . the School Food Authority shall, with respect to participating schools under its jurisdiction: (1) (i) Maintain a nonprofit school food service; (ii) . . . use all revenues received by such food service only for the operation or improvement of that food service . . ." 7 CFR 210.14(a) states in part: "Nonprofit school food service. School food authorities shall maintain a nonprofit school food service. Revenues received by the nonprofit school food service are to be used only for the operation or improvement of such food service, except that, such revenues shall not be used to purchase land or buildings, unless otherwise approved by FNS, or to construct buildings. . . ." 7 CFR 220.2 states in part: ". . . Nonprofit school food service account means the restricted account in which all of the revenue from all food service operations conducted by the school food authority principally for the benefit of school children is retained and used only for the operation or improvement of the nonprofit school food service. . . ." INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 24 GRIFFITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) 7 CFR 210.2 states in part: ". . . Nonprofit school food service account means the restricted account in which all of the revenue from all food service operations conducted by the school food authority principally for the benefit of school children is retained and used only for the operation or improvement of the nonprofit school food service. . . ." 7 CFR 225.15(a)(1) states: "Sponsors shall operate the food service in accordance with: the provisions of this part; any instructions and handbooks issued by FNS under this part; and any instructions and handbooks issued by the State agency which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this part." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles. (b) Conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in these principles or in the Federal award as to types or amount of cost items. . . . (g) Be adequately documented. . . ." Cause The School Corporation's management did not have properly designed internal controls in place to ensure all funds in the prior financial system were properly converted into the new financial system. 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, unsupported costs were transferred out of the School Lunch fund and prior period errors were not corrected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirements could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs Known questioned costs of $148,955 were identified as explained in the Condition and Context. Recommendation We recommended that management of the School Corporation design and implement a proper system of internal controls, including policies and procedures that would provide segregation of duties to ensure appropriate reviews, approvals, and oversight are taking place to ensure costs transferred out are adequately documented and that reimbursements errors are corrected. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-004 Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Activities Allowed or Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants, COVID-19 - Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 22611-148-PN01, 23611-148-PN01, 24611-148-PN01, 25611-148-PN01, 22611-148-ARP, 22619-148-PN01, 23619-148-PN01, 24619-148-PN01, 25619-148-PN01, 22619-148-ARP Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirements: Activities Allowed or Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context The School Corporation had not properly designed or implemented a system of internal controls to ensure that proper documentation was retained for audit. A sample of 40 expenditures from the School Corporation's special education funds during the audit period was selected for testing. Of the sample, there were 5 transactions for which the School Corporation was unable to provide supporting documentation. As a result, 5 expenditures totaling $11,683 could not be verified as allowable activities or costs for the program. The lack of effective internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.334 states in part: "Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report or, for the Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annual, from the date of submission of the quarterly or annual financial report, respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of a subrecipient. . . ." INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 26 GRIFFITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) 34 CFR 300.202(a) states: "General. Amounts provided to the LEA under Part B of the Act— (1) Must be expended in accordance with the applicable provisions of this part; (2) Must be used only to pay the excess costs of providing special education and related services to children with disabilities, consistent with paragraph (b) of this section; and (3) Must be used to supplement State, local, and other Federal funds and not to supplant those funds." 34 CFR 300.208 states: "(a) Uses. Notwithstanding §§ 300.202, 300.203(b), and 300.162(b), funds provided to an LEA under Part B of the Act may be used for the following activities: (1) Services and aids that also benefit nondisabled children. For the costs of special education and related services, and supplementary aids and services, provided in a regular class or other education-related setting to a child with a disability in accordance with the IEP of the child, even if one or more nondisabled children benefit from these services. (2) Early intervening services. To develop and implement coordinated, early intervening educational services in accordance with § 300.226. (3) High cost special education and related services. To establish and implement cost or risk sharing funds, consortia, or cooperatives for the LEA itself, or for LEAs working in a consortium of which the LEA is a part, to pay for high cost special education and related services. (b) Administrative case management. An LEA may use funds received under Part B of the Act to purchase appropriate technology for recordkeeping, data collection, and related case management activities of teachers and related services personnel providing services described in the IEP of children with disabilities, that is needed for the implementation of those case management activities." 34 CFR 300.800 states: "The Secretary provides grants under section 619 of the Act to assist States to provide special education and related services in accordance with Part B of the Act— (a) To children with disabilities aged three through five years; and (b) At a State's discretion, to two-year-old children with disabilities who will turn three during the school year." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 27 GRIFFITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles. (b) Conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in these principles or in the Federal award as to types or amount of cost items. . . . (g) Be adequately documented. . . ." Cause Due to turnover of staffing in the School Corporation's administrative office, an effective system of internal controls was not established that would have ensured compliance, or that supporting documentation would have been maintained and made available for audit, with the grant agreement and the Activities Allowed or Unallowed and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirements. Effect Without a proper system of internal controls in place that operated effectively, the School Corporation did not retain and provide appropriate supporting documentation. This prevented the determination of the School Corporation's compliance with the compliance requirements listed above. Questioned Costs We identified $11,683 in known questioned costs as noted above in the Condition and Context. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish an effective system of internal controls to ensure documentation to support all grant expenditures will be maintained and made available for audit as related to the grant agreement and the Activities Allowed or Unallowed and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirements. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-005 Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA)- Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants, COVID-19 - Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 22611-148-PN01, 23611-148-PN01, 24611-148-PN01, 25611-148-PN01, 22611-148-ARP, 22619-148-PN01, 23619-148-PN01, 24619-148-PN01, 25619-148-PN01, 22619-148-ARP Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 28 GRIFFITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) 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 related to the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirement. Procurement - Micro-Purchases Federal regulations allow for informal procurement methods when the value of the procurement for property or services does not exceed the micro-purchase threshold, which is set at $10,000. Micro-purchases may be awarded without soliciting competitive price rate quotations. Three vendors determined to fall under the micro-purchase threshold were selected for testing. One claim from one of the vendors selected for testing did not have proper supporting documentation maintained by the School Corporation to determine if the proper procurement method was followed. Suspension and Debarment Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with federal award funds, recipients are required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking the SAM exclusions, collecting a certification from that vendor, or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that vendor. One vendor provided contracted services paid with special education grant funds during the audit period totaling $269,948. Upon inquiry of the School Corporation, it was determined that the School Corporation did not verify that the contractor was not suspended or debarred or otherwise excluded. The lack of effective internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 29 GRIFFITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) 2 CFR 200.318 states in part: "(a) The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section, for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The non-Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327. . . . (i) The non-Federal entity must maintain records sufficient to detail the history of procurement. These records will include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: Rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type, contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price. . . ." 2 CFR 200.320 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent with the standards of this section and §§ 200.317, 200.318, and 200.319 for any of the following methods of procurement used for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or sub-award. (a) Informal procurement methods. When the value of the procurement for property or services under a Federal award does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), as defined in § 200.1, or a lower threshold established by a non-Federal entity, formal procurement methods are not required. The non-Federal entity may use informal procurement methods to expedite the completion of its transactions and minimize the associated administrative burden and cost. The informal methods used for procurement of property or services at or below the SAT include: . . . (1) Micro-purchases — (i) Distribution. The acquisition of supplies or services, the aggregate dollar amount of which does not exceed the micro-purchase threshold (See the definition of micro-purchase in § 200.1). To the maximum extent practicable, the non-Federal entity should distribute micro-purchases equitably among qualified suppliers. (ii) Micro-purchase awards. Micro-purchases may be awarded without soliciting competitive price or rate quotations if the non-Federal entity considers the price to be reasonable based on research, experience, purchase history or other information and documents it files accordingly. Purchase cards can be used for micropurchases if procedures are documented and approved by the non-Federal entity. (iii) Micro-purchase thresholds. The non-Federal entity is responsible for determining and documenting an appropriate micro-purchase threshold based on internal controls, an evaluation of risk, and its documented procurement procedures. The micropurchase threshold used by the non-Federal entity must be authorized or not prohibited under State, local, or tribal laws or regulations. Non-Federal entities may establish a threshold higher than the Federal threshold established in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) in accordance with paragraphs (a)(1)(iv) and (v) of this section. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 30 GRIFFITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) (iv) Non-Federal entity increase to the micro-purchase threshold up to $50,000. Non-Federal entities may establish a threshold higher than the micro-purchase threshold identified in the FAR in accordance with the requirements of this section. The non-Federal entity may self-certify a threshold up to $50,000 on an annual basis and must maintain documentation to be made available to the Federal awarding agency and auditors in accordance with § 200.334. The self-certification must include a justification, clear identification of the threshold, and supporting documentation of any of the following: (A) A qualification as a low-risk auditee, in accordance with the criteria in § 200.520 for the most recent audit; (B) An annual internal institutional risk assessment to identify, mitigate, and manage financial risks; or, (C) For public institutions, a higher threshold consistent with State law. . . ." 2 CFR 180.300 states: "When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You do this by: (a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or (b) Collecting a certification from that person; or (c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person." Cause A proper system of internal controls was not designed 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 affect 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, procurement procedures for goods and services were not adhered to, and vendors to whom payments equal to, or in excess of $25,000, were not verified to not be suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 31 GRIFFITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS 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 there are appropriate procurement procedures for goods and services and contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-006 Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Period of Performance Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants, COVID-19 - Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 22611-148-PN01, 22611-148-ARP, 22619-148-PN01, 22619-148-ARP Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Period of Performance Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context The School Corporation had not properly designed or implemented a system of internal controls to ensure transactions made with the special education grant funding occurred within the appropriate period of performance. Claims for the special education programs were paid without an appropriate level of review or oversight to ensure the expenditures charged to each grant were within the allowed time frame. Although the reimbursement requests submitted to the Indiana Department of Education were prepared and approved by two different employees, the School Corporation was unable to provide evidence of this review and approval process, which may have included a review of the costs included on each request to verify they were within the correct period of performance. Reimbursement requests lacked supporting documentation of the disbursements for the Special Education Grant. Detailed reports were not retained by the School Corporation to verify the vendor, payroll, and payroll benefits occurred during the period of performance. Due to comingling of funds, a total of $176,037 of disbursements charged to the 5200 IDEA Special Education Grant fund could not be directly tied to grant awards (22611-148-PN01, 22611-148-ARP, 22619-148-PN01, and 22619-148-ARP) to determine if these disbursements were in the allowed period of performance of each grant award. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 32 GRIFFITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) (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 200.1 states in part: ". . . Financial obligations, when referencing a recipient's or subrecipient's use of funds under a Federal award, means orders placed for property and services, contracts and subawards made, and similar transactions that require payment. . . . Period of performance means the total estimated time interval between the start of an initial Federal award and the planned end date, which may include one or more funded portions, or budget periods. Identification of the period of performance in the Federal award per § 200.211(b)(5) does not commit the awarding agency to fund the award beyond the currently approved budget period. . . . Unliquidated financial obligations means, for financial reports prepared on a cash basis, financial obligations incurred by the non-Federal entity that have not been paid (liquidated). . . ." 2 CFR 200.309 states: "If a Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity approves an extension, or if a recipient extends under § 200.308(e)(2), the Period of Performance will be amended to end at the completion of the extension. If termination occurs, the Period of Performance will be amended to end upon the effective date of termination. If a renewal award is issued, a distinct Period of Performance will begin." Cause Due to turnover of staffing in both the Special Education personnel and the School Corporation's administrative office, the School Corporation's management had not developed nor implemented a system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreements and the Period of Performance compliance requirement. The School Corporation had not filed reimbursement requests in a timely manner. Effect The failure to establish an effective system of internal controls placed the School Corporation at risk of noncompliance with the grant agreement and the Period of Performance compliance requirement. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs We identified $176,037 in known questioned costs as noted above in the Condition and Context. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 33 GRIFFITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a system of internal controls, which includes ensuring grant expenditures are obligated and liquidated timely to ensure compliance with the grant agreement and the Period of Performance compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-007 Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Earmarking and Level of Effort Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States, Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 22611-148-ARP, 23611-148-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, and Earmarking Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not designed or implemented at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Earmarking The nonpublic proportionate share of expenditures for the 22611-148-ARP and 23611-148-PN01 grant awards could not be verified for proper classification and did not meet the proportionate share requirement. The 22611-148-ARP and 23611-148-PN01 grant awards did not meet the minimum nonpublic proportionate share of expenditures by $457 and $38,859, respectively. Level of Effort - Maintenance of Effort Maintenance of Effort is a district-level test that determines whether the School Corporation is providing a consistent level of financial support to public schools from year to year. This rule ensures that the School Corporation does not use Special Education funds to shore up reductions in state and local support for public education. The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) performs the maintenance of effort calculation utilizing Form 9 information provided by the School Corporation from the prior year. As such, the amounts submitted to the IDOE in the prior year to be used in the computation are tested to ensure they were recorded properly in the School Corporation's records as to the account or object code. In fiscal year 2023-2024, 40 transactions were tested to ensure the disbursements were posted to the proper account and object code. For 21 of the 40 transactions selected in 2023-2024, appropriate supporting documentation was not provided for audit. As a result, 21 disbursements could not be verified as to whether they were posted to the proper account or object code. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 34 GRIFFITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) In addition, 25 disbursement line items were sampled from the IDOE Form 9 for 2023-2024 to ensure the amounts agreed to the ledger. One disbursement line item for 2023-2024 could not be traced to the ledger. Therefore, we were unable to determine if the disbursement line item was posted to the proper account or object code. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated instances to 2023-2024. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: . . . (g) Be adequately documented. . . ." 2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ." 511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states: "The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities, who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total number of students with disabilities of the same age range." Cause Due to turnover of staffing in both the special education personnel and the School Corporation's administrative office along, with recordkeeping issues, the School Corporation's management had not developed a system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance. The School Corporation also did not ensure that supporting documentation would have been maintained and made available for audit, as related to the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the School Corporation cannot ensure compliance with the level of effort - maintenance of effort and earmarking requirements. As a result, amounts reported to the oversight agency were not accurately reported. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 35 GRIFFITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure the required nonpublic proportionate share funds are spent. In addition, proper recordkeeping should be maintained to ensure compliance with the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-008 Subject: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies - Internal Controls Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies Assistance Listings Number: 84.010 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S010A220014, S010A230014, S010A240014 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Eligibility Audit Finding: Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2023-006. 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. Data from the School Corporation's student software system was uploaded to the Indiana Department of Education's (IDOE) Data Exchange System. Enrollment and poverty information for the School Corporation was then abstracted by the IDOE from the Data Exchange System into the Title I application. The School Corporation had not designed or implemented an oversight or review process to ensure that the data was accurately uploaded by the IDOE into the Title I application. The lack of effective internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 36 GRIFFITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) (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). . . ." Cause A proper system of internal controls was not designed 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. 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. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that management of the School Corporation design and implement a proper system of internal controls, including policies and procedures that would provide segregation of duties to ensure appropriate reviews, approvals, and oversight are taking place to ensure compliance. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-009 Subject: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies - Earmarking Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies Assistance Listings Number: 84.010 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S010A220014, S010A230014 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking Audit Findings: Significant Deficiency, Other Matters Repeat Finding This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2023-008. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 37 GRIFFITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) 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. A portion of the School Corporation's Title I allocation was required to be set aside for parental involvement and homeless reservation. The required amount to be set aside was indicated in the Title I grant application. The School Corporation is responsible for monitoring each required set aside throughout the life of the grant to ensure the obligation is met. There was no oversight or review process in place to ensure monitoring of each required set aside. The School Corporation did not provide documentation to show that the obligation was met, or not met, for parental involvement or to service all the homeless students in the School Corporation and did not transfer the unused funds to the next grant award. The lack of effective internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 20 USC 6313(c)(3)(A) states: "A local educational agency shall reserve such funds as are necessary under this part, determined in accordance with subparagraphs (B) and (C), to provide services comparable to those provided to children in schools funded under this part to serve - (i) homeless children and youths, including providing educationally related support services to children in shelters and other locations where children may live; (ii) children in local institutions for neglected children; and (iii) if appropriate, children in local institutions for delinquent children, and neglected or delinquent children in community day programs." Cause Due to turnover of staffing in the School Corporation's administrative office and recordkeeping issues, the School Corporation's management had not developed a system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance or that supporting documentation would have been maintained and made available for audit, as related to the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 38 GRIFFITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance. As a result, proper documentation was not maintained to ensure the obligation to provide parental involvement and service homeless students was met or unmet. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that management of the School Corporation design and implement a proper system of internal controls, including policies and procedures that would provide segregation of duties to ensure appropriate reviews, approvals, and oversight are taking place to ensure compliance. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-010 Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Equipment and Real Property Management Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listings Number: 84.425U Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): S425U210013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Equipment and Real Property Management Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context The School Corporation had not properly designed a system of internal controls to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Equipment and Real Property Management compliance requirement. The School Corporation prepared a fixed asset report that contained all inventory and assets purchased that exceeded the School Corporation's capitalization threshold through June 30, 2025. The School Corporation did not have any policies or procedures in place to ensure the listing was complete and contained all the required information nor was there any documentation that a physical inventory was completed every two years as required by Indiana Code. The School Corporation had the following required information missing from the details of capital assets: source of funding for the property, acquisition date, cost of the property, percentage of federal participation in the project costs for the federal award under which the property was acquired, use and condition of the property, and disposition data. In addition, assets were not properly safeguarded and maintained. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 39 GRIFFITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) 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 200.313(d) states in part: ". . . (1) Property records must be maintained that include a description of the property, a serial number or other identification number, the source of funding for the property (including the FAIN), who holds title, the acquisition date, and cost of the property, percentage of Federal participation in the project costs for the Federal award under which the property was acquired, the location, use and condition of the property, and any ultimate disposition data including the date of disposal and sale price of the property. (2) A physical inventory of the property must be taken and the results reconciled with the property records at least once every two years. (3) A control system must be developed to ensure adequate safeguards to prevent loss, damage, or theft of the property. Any loss, damage, or theft must be investigated. (4) Adequate maintenance procedures must be developed to keep the property in good condition. . . ." Cause The vendor the School Corporation contracts with did not complete the fixed asset detail report due to being behind schedule. 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, not all assets purchased, in whole or in part with federal dollars, were added to the capital asset listing. In addition, the assets added to the capital asset listing did not include all required information. 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 40 GRIFFITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Recommendation We recommended that management of the School Corporation design and implement a proper system of internal controls, including policies and procedures that would provide segregation of duties, to ensure an asset inventory is performed at least every two years. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-003 Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Eligibility and Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY2024, FY2025 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirements: Eligibility, Reporting Audit Finding: Material Weakness Repeat Finding This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2023-002. Condition and Context Eligibility The School Corporation had not established effective internal controls that would likely be effective in preventing, or detecting and correcting, noncompliance related to the eligibility determination of a child receiving meals. Any child enrolled in a participating school or summer camp, or attending a SFSP meal service site, who meets the applicable program's definition of "child," may receive meals under the applicable program. In the case of the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, children belonging to households meeting nationwide income eligibility requirements may receive meals at no charge or at reduced price. Children who have been determined ineligible for free or reduced-price school meals pay the full price, set by the School Food Authority, for their meals. Children attending SFSP meal service sites receive their meals at no charge. As a general rule, a child's eligibility for free or reduced price meals under a Child Nutrition Cluster program may be established by the submission of an annual application or statement which furnishes such information as family income and family size. Local educational agencies, institutions, and sponsors then determine eligibility by comparing the data reported by the child's household to published income eligibility guidelines. Additionally, a child may be direct certified. For a direct certification, annual eligibility determinations are based on the child's household receiving benefits under SNAP, FDPIR, the Head Start Program (ALN 93.600), or, under most circumstances, the TANF program (ALN 93.558). A household may furnish documentation of its participation in one of these programs; or the school, institution, or sponsor may obtain the information directly from the State or local agency that administers these programs. Certain foster, runaway, homeless, and migrant children are categorically eligible for free school lunches and breakfasts. Direct certified households do not need to complete an application. The School Corporation's process was for the Food Service Director to review the eligibility determination determined by the software system, to ensure its accuracy, prior to notifying the family of the student's eligibility status. The parameters used by the School Corporation's software system were automatically pulled in from the USDA website but were not reviewed by the School Corporation to validate that the parameters were correct. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 18 OAK HILL UNITED SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Additionally, student determinations made through direct certification comprised the majority of eligible students and there was no identified internal control over this process. Reporting The School Corporation had not established effective internal controls that would likely be effective in preventing, or detecting and correcting, noncompliance related to the accurate reporting of program operations to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). School Food Authorities (SFAs) and sponsors must submit monthly claims for reimbursement for meals and snacks served to eligible students within 60 days following the last day of the month covered by the claim. The School Corporation submitted claims timely and had designed an internal control involving a review performed by the Chief Financial and Business Officer after submission of the claim by the Food Service Director. However, documentation evidencing the implementation of this review process could not be provided. The lack of internal controls was systemic throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 7 CFR 245.3(b) states in part: "Each participating local educational agency and all participating schools under its jurisdiction must adhere to the eligibility criteria specified in this part. . . ." Cause A proper system of internal controls was not designed and implemented 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. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 19 OAK HILL UNITED SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) 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 student eligibility for free or reduced price lunches is accurately determined and SFA monthly claims submitted to the IDOE are reviewed for accuracy. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-004 Subject: Special Education Cluster - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States Assistance Listings Number: 84.027X Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): 22611-019-ARP Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Findings: Significant Deficiency, Other Matters Condition and Context Procurement Small purchases, procurements between $50,000 and $150,000, require three quotes to be obtained and a contract awarded. There was one disbursement tested for $52,598 for small purchase procurement, and, while the appropriate number of quotes were obtained, a contract was not awarded for the transaction as required by Indiana Code 5-22-8-3. Suspension and Debarment Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with the Special Education Cluster (IDEA) award funds, recipients are required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking the System for Award Management (SAM) Excluded Parties List System (EPLS), collecting a certification from that person or entity, or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person or entity. It was determined that the School Corporation had a process in place to verify that vendors were not suspended or debarred, but the process was not operating effectively. For the one vendor tested also related to the transaction noted above, documentation of the SAM.gov search could not be provided. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 20 OAK HILL UNITED SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the transaction and award number noted above. 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 200.214 states: "Non-Federal entities are subject to the non-procurement debarment and suspension regulations implementing Executive Orders 12549 and 12689, 2 CFR part 180. The regulations in 2 CFR part 180 restrict awards, subawards, and contracts with certain parties that are debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participation in Federal assistance programs or activities." 2 CFR 200.318 states in part: "(a) The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards of this section, for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or subaward. The non-Federal entity's documented procurement procedures must conform to the procurement standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327. . . . (i) The non-Federal entity must maintain records sufficient to detail the history of procurement. These records will include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: Rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type, contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price. . . ." 2 CFR 200.320 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must have and use documented procurement procedures, consistent with the standards of this section and §§ 200.317, 200.318, and 200.319 for any of the following methods of procurement used for the acquisition of property or services required under a Federal award or sub-award. (a) Informal procurement methods. When the value of the procurement for property or services under a Federal award does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), as defined in § 200.1, or a lower threshold established by a non-Federal entity, formal procurement methods are not required. The non-Federal entity may use informal procurement methods to expedite the completion of its transactions and minimize the associated administrative burden and cost. The informal methods used for procurement of property or services at or below the SAT include: . . . INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 21 OAK HILL UNITED SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) (2) Small purchases— (i) Small purchase procedures. The acquisition of property or services, the aggregate dollar amount of which is higher than the micro-purchase threshold but does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. If small purchase procedures are used, price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources as determined appropriate by the non-Federal entity. . . ." Indiana Code 5-22-8-3 states: "(a) This section applies only if the purchasing agent expects the purchase to be: (1) at least fifty thousand dollars ($50,000); and (2) not more than one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000). (b) A purchasing agent may purchase supplies under this section by inviting quotes from at least three (3) persons known to deal in the lines or classes of supplies to be purchased. (c) The purchasing agent shall mail an invitation to quote to the persons described in subsection (b) at least seven (7) days before the time fixed for receiving quotes. (d) If the purchasing agent receives a satisfactory quote, the purchasing agent shall award a contract to the lowest responsible and responsive offeror for each line or class of supplies required. (e) The purchasing agent may reject all quotes. (f) If the purchasing agent does not receive a quote from a responsible and responsive offeror, the purchasing agent may purchase the supplies under IC 5-22-10-10." 31 CFR 19.300 states: "When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must verify that the person with whom you do business is not excluded or disqualified. You do this by: (a) Checking the EPLS, or (b) Collecting a certification from that person if allowed by this rule, or (c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person." Cause The School Corporation was not aware of the Indiana Code requirement to enter into a contract for the equipment purchase. The School Corporation was aware of the requirements to check for suspension and debarment, but due to newer personnel at the School Corporation they were not able to locate the records or verify that the suspension and debarment verification was performed. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 22 OAK HILL UNITED SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Effect The failure to design and implement an effective internal control system enabled noncompliance to remain undetected. Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and terms and conditions of the federal award could result in the reduction 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 amend its procurement policy and system of internal controls to ensure that procurement requirements meet the stricter federal and/or state requirements. Additionally, the internal control system effectiveness should be improved to ensure all contractors that are paid $25,000 or more, all or in part with federal funds, are not suspended or debarred from participating in federal programs before entering into contracts. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-002 Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Allowable Costs/Cost Principles 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: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 17 PENN-HARRIS-MADISON SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Repeat Finding This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2023-004. Condition and Context The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund provided funding to states and school districts to combat the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools, and to address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the nation's students. States were required to subgrant a portion of its ESSER allocation to local educational agencies (LEA). Prior to the LEAs receiving their respective subgrants, the LEAs were required to complete an application for ESSER funding, which was submitted to the Indiana Department of Education, the passthrough entity, for approval. The application included a district level budget identifying how the LEA intended to spend program funds. Per the School Corporation's approved application, program funding was budgeted for salaries and respective benefits, counseling services, and supplies. An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation over adjustments into the ESSER II (CRRSA) fund to ensure compliance with requirement related to the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. The School Corporation transferred a total of $273,534 of expenditures made up of vendor, payroll, and related benefit payments into grant funds; however, adequate supporting documentation was not provided to determine where the expenditures were originally paid, to whom the original payment was made, and at what amount the original payment was made. The $273,534 was determined to be questioned costs. As a result, the School Corporation was unable to verify the total expenditures requested for reimbursement for the COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund grant. The School Corporation requested $273,534, which resulted in an over reimbursement for the COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund grant. The lack of internal controls and supporting documentation was isolated to the adjustments noted above. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 18 PENN-HARRIS-MADISON SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles. (b) Conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in these principles or in the Federal award as to types or amount of cost items. . . . (g) Be adequately documented. . . ." 34 CFR 76.700 states: "A State and a subgrantee shall comply with § 76.500, the State plan, applicable statutes, regulations, and approved applications, and shall use Federal funds in accordance with those statutes, regulations, plan, and applications." Indiana Department of Education ESSER III Application Walk Through states in part: ". . . Please budget the appropriate items in the district budget. Be sure to include all requested items or activities in the budgeted total and include sufficient detail in the narrative boxes below. Be sure to provide sufficient detail for IDOE to determine the reasonableness, allowability, and necessity of the proposed activity. You may include additional documentation in the Attachments section of the Summary Page. . . ." Cause A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the School Corporation for adjustments. Additionally, proper documentation was not maintained to support adjustments. 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. Additionally, without maintaining proper supporting documentation it is not possible to determine if the underlying costs are an allowable cost to the federal program. As a result, costs were reimbursed that did not have adequate documentation to ensure compliance with the compliance requirement. 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 We identified $273,534 in known questioned costs as noted above in the Condition and Context. Recommendation We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure costs and adjustments are adequately documented. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
Criteria or Specific Requirement: Per 2 CFR 200.303 - Internal Controls and the OMB Compliance Supplement: Education Stabilization Fund, Reporting - The District is required to have internal controls, including segregation of duties, over reporting of quarterly expenditure reports. Condition: The same individual is responsible for preparing and submitting quarterly expenditure reports for the Education Stabilization Fund without an independent review or approval prior to submission. Questioned Costs: This condition resulted in no identified questioned costs. Context: Currently, one individual is responsible by preparing and submitting the quarterly expenditure reports. Effect: Quarterly expenditure reports could be submitted to the Illinois State Board of Education that do not accurately reflect the expenditures disbursed from the grant during the period. Consequently, the District could be over- or under- reimbursed by this grant program. Cause: Absence of formal internal control procedures resulted in one person performing all reporting functions. Recommendation: Implement segregation of duties by requiring one person to prepare the monthly claim and a second person (e.g., supervisor) to review and approve the claim. The review should be supported with signatures or electronic approval logs. Management's Response: Managaement agrees with the finding and will implement a corrective action plan to remedy the control deficiency.
FINDING 2025-001 Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) - Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, COVID-19 - Special Education Grants to States Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 22611-164-ARP, 23611-164-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 13 SUNMAN-DEARBORN COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Condition and Context Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with federal award funds, recipients are required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking the SAM exclusions, collecting a certification from that person, or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person. Upon inquiry of the School Corporation, it was determined that the School Corporation did not have policies and procedures in place to ensure vendors were not suspended or debarred. A population of three covered transactions for goods or services that equaled or exceeded $25,000 paid from special education federal grant funds during the audit period was identified. For two of the three transactions, the School Corporation did not verify the vendors' suspension and debarment status prior to payment. The lack of effective internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. 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 180.300 states: "When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You do this by: (a) Checking SAM Exclusions; or (b) Collecting a certification from that person; or (c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person." Cause A proper system of internal controls was not designed 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. Officials were not aware of the need to follow federal guidelines for suspension and debarment for expenditures associated with the Special Education Cluster awards. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 14 SUNMAN-DEARBORN COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance. As a result, vendors to whom payments equal to or in excess of $25,000 were not verified to be not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. 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. Recommendation We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure that contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-002 Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Suspension and Debarment Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program for Children Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555, 10.559 Federal Award Numbers and Years ( or Other Identifying Numbers): 2023-2024, 2024-2025 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Finding: Material Weakness Repeat Finding This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2023-004. Condition and Context Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with federal award funds, recipients are required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods or services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000. Verification is to be done by checking the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS), collecting a certification from that person, or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person. 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. During the period audited, covered transactions in the amount of $76,353 were made during the audit period to one vendor. The School Corporation checked the EPLS; however, there was not a review system in place to ensure the verification was completed and accurate. 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). . . ." INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 16 MADISON-GRANT UNITED SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Cause Management had not established a system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirement. 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. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls, including policies and procedures that would provide segregation of duties to ensure appropriate reviews, approvals, and oversight are taking place. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-003 Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Special Tests and Provisions - Wage Rate Requirement 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) : S425D210013, S425U210013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions - Wage Rate Requirements Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context Construction contracts in excess of $2,000 financed by federal assistance funds must pay wages not less than those established for the locality of the project (prevailing wage rates) by the Department of Labor (DOL) to their laborers and mechanics. Nonfederal entities are to include in their construction contracts subject to the Wage Rate Requirements a provision that the contractor or subcontractor comply with these requirements and the DOL regulations. This would include a requirement to submit a copy of the payroll and statement of compliance to the entity for each week in which contract work was performed. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 17 MADISON-GRANT UNITED SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) The School Corporation had not designed nor implemented a system of internal controls to ensure that construction contracts in excess of $2,000 paid from federal grant funds included a prevailing wage rate clause. One contractor, with a construction contract in excess of $2,000, was identified during the audit period. The contract did not include the required wage rate clause; however, certified payrolls were submitted by the contractor for the contract. The total dollar value of that construction contract was $152,964. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 29 CFR 5.5 states in part: "(a) Required contract clauses. The Agency head will cause or require the contracting officer to require the contracting officer to [sic] insert in full, or (for contracts covered by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (48 CFR chapter 1)) by reference, in any contract in excess of $2,000 which is entered into for the actual construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting and decorating, of a public building or public work, or building or work financed in whole or in part from Federal funds or in accordance with guarantees of a Federal agency or financed from funds obtained by pledge of any contract of a Federal agency to make a loan, grant or annual contribution (except where a different meaning is expressly indicated), and which is subject to the labor standards provisions of any of the laws referenced by § 5.1, the following clauses. . . . (1) Minimum wages— (i) Wage rates and fringe benefits. All laborers and mechanics employed or working upon the site of the work (or otherwise working in construction or development of the project under a development statute), will be paid unconditionally and not less often than once a week, and without subsequent deduction or rebate on any account (except such payroll deductions as are permitted by regulations issued by the Secretary of Labor under the Copeland Act (29 CFR part 3)), the full amount of basic hourly wages and bona fide fringe benefits (or cash equivalents thereof) due at time of payment computed at rates not less than those contained in the wage determination of the Secretary of Labor which is attached hereto and made a part hereof, regardless of any contractual relationship which may be alleged to exist between the contractor and such laborers and mechanics. . . . (3) Records and certified payrolls— . . . (ii) Certified payroll requirements— INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 18 MADISON-GRANT UNITED SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) (A) Frequency and method of submission. The contractor or subcontractor must submit weekly, for each week in which any DBA- or Related Acts-covered work is performed, certified payrolls to the [write in name of appropriate Federal agency] if the agency is a party to the contract, but if the agency is not such a party, the contractor will submit the certified payrolls to the applicant, sponsor, owner, or other entity, as the case may be, that maintains such records, for transmission to the [write in name of agency]" 2 CFR 200 Appendix II states in part: "In addition to other provisions required by the Federal agency or non-Federal entity; all contracts made by the non-Federal entity under the Federal award must contain provisions covering the following, as applicable. . . . (D) Davis-Bacon Act, as amended (40 U.S.C. 3141-3148). When required by Federal program legislation, all prime construction contracts in excess of $2,000 awarded by non-Federal entities must include a provision for compliance with the Davis-Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. 3141-3144, and 3146-3148) as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR Part 5, 'Labor Standards Provisions Applicable to Contracts Covering Federally Financed and Assisted Construction'). In accordance with the statute, contractors must be required to pay wages to laborers and mechanics at a rate not less than the prevailing wages specified in a wage determination made by the Secretary of Labor. In addition, contractors must be required to pay wages not less than once a week. . . ." Cause A proper system of internal controls was not designed 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. The School Corporation was not aware of the requirements for wage rate requirements. 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, wage rate requirements were not properly followed by the School Corporation. 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. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a system of internal controls and include the wage rate requirement clause in construction contracts. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
Criteria According to 34 CFR Section 685.309, under the Federal Direct loan program, institutions must complete and return the Enrollment Reporting roster file via NSLDS within 15 days of receipt. Enrollment information must be reported within 30 days whenever attendance changes for students, unless a roster will be submitted within 60 days. An institution must notify the Secretary of Education if it discovers that a loan under Title IV of the Act was made to or on behalf of a student who was enrolled or accepted for enrollment at the school, and the student has ceased to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis or failed to enroll on at least a half-time basis for the period for which the loan was intended. The Department of Education lists several certification methods for enrollment reporting, including certifying directly through the NSLDS web site, certifying through the NLSDS’s batch enrollment reporting process, or through certification of rosters provided to the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC). Per 2 CFR 200.303, a non-federal entity must 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 terms and conditions of the federal award. Condition Found The University generally certifies its enrollment reports through rosters provided to the NSC. Of the forty (40) students with enrollment changes selected for testwork, we noted thirty-four (34) students whose changes in enrollment status were not transmitted to NSLDS within the required timeframe. For these students the students’ enrollment status changed from full-time to graduated in May 2025, when the students graduated. Accordingly, the status change should have been transmitted after the spring semester, within 60 days of being notified of the change. However, the University did not report status change until 79 days after the school became aware of the status change. Cause The University did not configure its file for submission to NSC correctly and therefore the submission was not properly processed by NSC and transmitted to NSLDS timely. The University did not have a control in place to monitor and verify that files sent to NSC were appropriately and timely transmitted to NSLDS. Possible Asserted Effect Inaccurate and delayed submission of student enrollment status information affects the determinations that lenders and servicers of student loans make related to in-school status, deferments, grace periods, and repayment schedules, as well as the federal government's payment of interest subsidies. Questioned Costs No questioned costs identified. Statistical Sampling The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Repeat Finding This was not a finding in the prior year. Recommendation We recommend that the University review its internal processes and controls to ensure that any enrollment changes are reported within the required 30 or 60 day time frame, including determining that changes submitted to NSC are timely and accurately transmitted to NSLDS. View of University Officials The University agrees with this finding. Upon identification of the configuration error, the University corrected its NSC file submission settings to ensure enrollment status changes are properly processed and transmitted to NSLDS. Additionally, effective immediately, the University has implemented a new monitoring control whereby an employee independent of the enrollment reporting function performs a review of NSLDS to verify that data submitted through NSC has been accurately and timely transmitted in accordance with required timeframes. This control is designed to provide timely detection of any future transmission failures and ensure corrective action is taken within the required reporting windows.
FINDING 2025-004 – Payroll Allocations Federal Program: Continuum of Care Program Federal Identifying Number: Direct funding grants - IL0395L5T102214, IL0395L5T102315, IL0184L5T102316, IL0184L5T102417, IL1790H5T102200, IL1791H5T102200, IL1792H5T102200; Passed- through grants -IL1759D5T102201, IL1878D5T102300, IL1759D5T102202, and 8567-D Federal Assistance Listing Number: 14.267 Passed Through: All Chicago Making Homeless History and Aids Foundation of Chicago Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Criteria/Specific Requirement: A. The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) require Inner Voice, Inc. to ensure federal expenditures to be consistent with the standards set forth in the Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR part 200, subpart E. B. The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) section 200.430(g)(1)(i) Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses states the following, “Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. These records must: Be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated. C. The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) section 200.303 Internal Controls states the following, “The non-Federal entity must: 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.” Condition: Our audit procedures over expenditures revealed the following: 1) For one (1) of forty (40) expenditure transactions tested, The Inner Voice, Inc. did not adequately track or review time and effort documentation for accuracy. For this selection, the time study applied to allocate salary and actual hours reported and paid did not agree. Questioned Costs: None. Context: The Inner Voice, Inc. expended a total of $5,207,762 of federal awards in fiscal year 2025. The Inner Voice, Inc. expended a total of $3,992,341 of federal awards in fiscal year 2025 under the Continuum of Care program. Effect: The Inner Voice, Inc. is not in compliance with Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200.426 as it relates to activities allowed or unallowed and allowable costs/cost principles requirements. Additionally, the effect of noncompliance can result in questioned costs. Cause: The Inner Voice, Inc.’s implementation of internal controls is inconsistent in the 1) review of time study against payment and 2) review and approval of payroll salaries transactions. Recommendation: We recommend that The Inner Voice, Inc. establish and maintain effective internal control over federal awards to ensure expenditures are supported as required by 2 CFR 200.430(g)(1)(i). This includes: a. Conducting a formal time and effort study to support payroll allocations; b. Enhancing policies and procedures surrounding time and effort documentation and review and approval of payroll expenditures. Management’s Response: See Corrective Action Plan.
FINDING 2025-005 – Procurement, Suspension and Debarment (Partially Repeated from Prior Year Finding 2024-002) Federal Program: Continuum of Care Program Federal Identifying Number: Direct funding grants - IL0395L5T102214, IL0395L5T102315, IL0184L5T102316, IL0184L5T102417, IL1790H5T102200, IL1791H5T102200, IL1792H5T102200; Passed- through grants -IL1759D5T102201, IL1878D5T102300, IL1759D5T102202, and 8567-D Federal Assistance Listing Number: 14.267 Passed Through: All Chicago Making Homeless History and Aids Foundation of Chicago Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Criteria/Specific Requirement: A. The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) section 200.318(a) General Procurement Standards states the following, “Documented procurement procedures. The recipient or subrecipient must maintain and use documented procedures for procurement transactions under a Federal award or subaward, including for acquisition of property or services.” B. The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) section 200.319 Competition states the following, “All procurement transactions under the Federal award must be conducted in a manner that provides for full and open competition and is consistent with the standards of this section and §200.320.” C. The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) section 180.300 states a participant entering into a covered transaction must verify that the person with whom it intends to do business is not excluded or disqualified by: a. Checking SAM Exclusions; or b. Collecting a certification from that person; or c. Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person. D. The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) section 200.303 Internal Controls states the following, “The non-Federal entity must: 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.” Condition: For fourteen (14) out of fourteen (14) procurement and suspension and debarment transactions tested we noted the following: 1) The Inner Voice, Inc. did not complete the appropriate procurement process; 2) The Inner Voice, Inc. did not maintain appropriate documentation to support the procurement method utilized (if any); and 3) The Inner Voice, Inc. did not provide or maintain documentation that suspension and debarment searches were performed. Questioned Costs: None. Context: The Inner Voice, Inc. expended a total of $5,207,762 of federal awards in fiscal year 2025. The Inner Voice, Inc. expended a total of $3,992,341 of federal awards in fiscal year 2025 under the Continuum of Care program. The procurement, suspension and debarment transactions we selected for testing totaled $1,180,252 or 29.6% percent of program expenditures. Effect: The Inner Voice, Inc. is not in compliance with Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200 as it relates to procurement, suspension and debarment requirements. Additionally, the effect of noncompliance can result in questioned costs. Cause: 1. The Inner Voice, Inc.’s procurement policy provides limited guidance on procurement methods, documentation of procurement process, and references to Uniform Guidance procurement categories and definitions. Additionally, policy does not include processes pertaining to suspension and debarment checks. 2. Where policies are in place, they are not being followed. Recommendation: We recommend that The Inner Voice, Inc.: a. Enhance policies and procedures surrounding procurement, suspension and debarment. b. Communicate and reinforce its policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable requirements. Management’s Response: See Corrective Action Plan.
FINDING 2025-003 Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Internal Controls Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program for Children, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555, 10.559, 10.582 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY 2023-2024, FY 2024-2025 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirements: Eligibility, Procurement and Suspension and Debarment, Reporting Audit Finding: Material Weakness Repeat Finding This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit regarding internal controls over eligibility and suspension and debarment. The prior audit finding number was 2023-003. Condition and Context The School Corporation had not properly designed or implemented an effective system of internal controls, which would have included segregation of duties, that would have likely been effective in preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 20 PLYMOUTH COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Eligibility Any child enrolled in a participating school or summer camp, who meets the applicable program's definition of "child," may receive meals under applicable programs. A child belonging to households meeting nationwide income eligibility requirements may receive meals at no charge or at a reduced price. Children that have been determined ineligible for free or reduced-price meals pay the full price for their meals. A child's eligibility for free and reducedpriced meals under a Child Nutrition Cluster program may be established by the submission of an annual application or statement which furnished such information as family income and family size. The School Corporation determines eligibility by comparing the data reported by the child's household to published income eligibility guidelines. Annual eligibility determinations may also be based on the child's household receiving benefits under SNAP, FDPIR, the Head Start Program, or, under most circumstances, the TANF program. A household may furnish documentation of its participation in one of those programs, or the School Corporation may obtain the information directly from the State or local agency that administers those programs. Certain foster, runaway, homeless, and migrant children are categorically eligible for free school lunches and breakfasts. Direct certified households do not need to complete an application. The School Corporation utilized a software vendor to determine eligibility based on free and reduced applications submitted online by parents. The income guidelines were updated in the software by one employee without an oversight or review process in place to ensure accuracy. Additionally, one employee uploaded the Direct Certification reports from the state into the software system without a documented oversight or review process in place to ensure directlycertified students were properly processed. Suspension and Debarment Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with federal award funds, recipients are required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking the SAMs exclusions, collecting a certification from that vendor, or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that vendor. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place over suspension and debarment. The Food Service Director verified that vendors were not suspended or debarred, but there was no evidence of a second review. Reporting School Food Authorities (SFAs) and sponsors must submit monthly claims for reimbursement for meals and snacks served to eligible students within 60 days following the last day of the month covered by the claim. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place over reporting. The Food Service Director submitted the monthly claims for reimbursement, but there was no evidence of a second review of these claims. The lack of internal controls over eligibility was isolated to fiscal year 2023-2024. The lack of internal controls over suspension and debarment and reporting was systemic throughout the audit period. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 21 PLYMOUTH COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) 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). . . ." Cause The Food Service Manager was unaware of the need for internal controls. This was due to turnover issues with the management of the School Corporation. The Treasurer had not communicated this need to the Food Service Manager. Therefore, a proper system of internal controls was not designed or implemented by management of the School Corporation, which would have included 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. 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 was not capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that management of the School Corporation design and implement a proper system of internal controls, including policies and procedures that would provide segregation of duties to ensure appropriate reviews, approvals, and oversight are taking place. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-004 Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Activities Allowed or Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program for Children, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555, 10.559, 10.582 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY 2023-2024, FY 2024-2025 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirements: Activities Allowed or Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context The School Corporation had not designed or implemented a system of internal controls, which would have included appropriate segregation of duties, that would have likely been effective in preventing, or detecting and correcting, noncompliance. The School Corporation transferred $313,369 from the School Lunch fund into the Operations fund. This transfer was labeled as an indirect cost transfer; however, indirect costs were not approved to be charged to the program. This transfer was also not approved by the School Board. The issue was identified and corrected by the current Treasurer prior to June 30, 2025. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance over allowable activities was an isolated instance. Criteria 2 CFR 200.302 states in part: "(a) Each state must expend and account for the Federal award in accordance with state laws and procedures for expending and accounting for the state's own funds. In addition, the state's and the other non-Federal entity's financial management systems, including records documenting compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award, must be sufficient to permit the preparation of reports required by general and program-specific terms and conditions; and the tracing of funds to a level of expenditures adequate to establish that such funds have been used according to the Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. . . . (b) The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following . . . (1) Identification, in its accounts, of all Federal awards received and expended and the Federal programs under which they were received. Federal program and Federal award identification must include, as applicable, the Assistance Listings title and number, Federal award identification number and year, name of the Federal agency, and name of the pass-through entity, if any. (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. . . . (3) Records that identify adequately the source and application of funds for federallyfunded activities. These records must contain information pertaining to Federal awards, authorizations, financial obligations, unobligated balances, assets, expenditures, income and interest and be supported by source documentation. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 23 PLYMOUTH COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) (4) Effective control over, and accountability for, all funds, property, and other assets. . . ." 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 200.400 states in part: "The application of these cost principles is based on the fundamental premises that: (a) The non-Federal entity is responsible for the efficient and effective administration of the Federal award through the application of sound management practices. (b) The non-Federal entity assumes responsibility for administering Federal funds in a manner consistent with underlying agreements, program objectives, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. (c) The non-Federal entity, in recognition of its own unique combination of staff, facilities, and experience, has the primary responsibility for employing whatever form of sound organization and management techniques may be necessary in order to assure proper and efficient administration of the Federal award. . . ." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: . . . (g) Be adequately documented. . . ." 2 CFR 200.404 states in part: "A cost is reasonable if, in its nature and amount, it does not exceed that which would be incurred by a prudent person under the circumstances prevailing at the time the decision was made to incur the cost. The question of reasonableness is particularly important when the non- Federal entity is predominantly federally-funded. In determining reasonableness of a given cost, consideration must be given to: . . . (e) Whether the non-Federal entity significantly deviates from its established practices and policies regarding the incurrence of costs, which may unjustifiably increase the Federal award's cost." INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 24 PLYMOUTH COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) 2 CFR 200.508 states in part: "The auditee must: . . . (d) Provide the auditor with access to personnel, accounts, books, records, supporting documentation, and any other information as needed for the auditor to perform the audit required by this part." Federal Register, Vol. 87, No. 18 states in part: "Treasury has divided the Restriction on Use section into . . . (B) other restrictions on use, which include (1) debt service and replenishing reserves, (2) settlements and judgements, and (3) general restrictions. These restrictions apply to all eligible use categories. . . ." Cause The School Corporation had not developed a system of internal controls that would have ensured that all activities and costs were in compliance with the Activities Allowed or Unallowed and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirements. 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 was not capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, noncompliance as identified in the Condition and Context. 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 activities are allowable. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-005 Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Special Tests and Provisions - School Food Accounts Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program for Children, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Assistance Listings Numbers: 10.553, 10.555, 10.559, 10.582 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY 2023-2024, FY 2024-2025 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions - School Food Accounts Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 25 PLYMOUTH COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Condition and Context The School Corporation had not designed or implemented a system of internal controls, which would have included appropriate segregation of duties, that would have likely been effective in preventing, or detecting and correcting, noncompliance. One of the three monthly reimbursement claims tested was receipted into the School Lunch fund twice. The issue was identified and corrected by the current Treasurer prior to June 30, 2025. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance over special tests and provisions - school food accounts is an isolated instance. 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: . . . (3) Records that identify adequately the source and application of funds for federallyfunded activities. These records must contain information pertaining to Federal awards, authorizations, financial obligations, unobligated balances, assets, expenditures, income and interest and be supported by source documentation. . . ." Cause The School Corporation had not developed a system of internal controls that would have ensured that monthly reimbursements were properly credited to the School Food Account. Effect The lack of internal controls prevented the School Corporation's compliance with the Special Tests and Provisions - School Food Accounts compliance requirement and inaccurate crediting of the School Lunch fund as detailed in the Condition and Context. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 26 PLYMOUTH COMMUNITY 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 reimbursements are properly credited to the School Lunch fund. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-006 Subject: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies - Activities Allowed or Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies Assistance Listings Number: 84.010 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S010A220014, S010A230014 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirements: Activities Allowed or Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context The School Corporation did not have effective internal controls in place to ensure all costs paid from Title I funds and submitted for reimbursement were for allowable activities or allowable costs. As a result, the following compliance issues were noted: On May 26, 2023, a check for $886 was issued for which supporting documentation could not be provided. As a result, it could not be determined if the expense was for an allowable activity or an allowable cost. On August 16, 2024, seven stipends were paid to non-Title I administrative staff from Title I grant funds. Two employees received $5,000 each and five employees received $3,000 each. On December 20, 2024, three stipends for $918 each were paid from Title I grant funds to employees who had previously received a stipend payment on August 16, 2024. These stipends were determined to not be an allowable activity or an allowable cost. The current Treasurer identified the stipend errors. The School Corporation requested and received reimbursement from the seven employees who received these stipends. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 27 PLYMOUTH COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Criteria 2 CFR 200.302 states in part: "(a) Each state must expend and account for the Federal award in accordance with state laws and procedures for expending and accounting for the state's own funds. In addition, the state's and the other non-Federal entity's financial management systems, including records documenting compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award, must be sufficient to permit the preparation of reports required by general and program-specific terms and conditions; and the tracing of funds to a level of expenditures adequate to establish that such funds have been used according to the Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. . . . (b) The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following . . . (1) Identification, in its accounts, of all Federal awards received and expended and the Federal programs under which they were received. Federal program and Federal award identification must include, as applicable, the Assistance Listings title and number, Federal award identification number and year, name of the Federal agency, and name of the pass-through entity, if any. (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. . . . (3) Records that identify adequately the source and application of funds for federallyfunded activities. These records must contain information pertaining to Federal awards, authorizations, financial obligations, unobligated balances, assets, expenditures, income and interest and be supported by source documentation. (4) Effective control over, and accountability for, all funds, property, and other assets. . . ." 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 200.400 states in part: "The application of these cost principles is based on the fundamental premises that: (a) The non-Federal entity is responsible for the efficient and effective administration of the Federal award through the application of sound management practices. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 28 PLYMOUTH COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) (b) The non-Federal entity assumes responsibility for administering Federal funds in a manner consistent with underlying agreements, program objectives, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. (c) The non-Federal entity, in recognition of its own unique combination of staff, facilities, and experience, has the primary responsibility for employing whatever form of sound organization and management techniques may be necessary in order to assure proper and efficient administration of the Federal award. . . ." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (g) Be adequately documented. . . ." 2 CFR 200.404 states in part: "A cost is reasonable if, in its nature and amount, it does not exceed that which would be incurred by a prudent person under the circumstances prevailing at the time the decision was made to incur the cost. The question of reasonableness is particularly important when the non- Federal entity is predominantly federally-funded. In determining reasonableness of a given cost, consideration must be given to: . . . (e) Whether the non-Federal entity significantly deviates from its established practices and policies regarding the incurrence of costs, which may unjustifiably increase the Federal award's cost." 2 CFR 200.508 states in part: "The auditee must: . . . (d) Provide the auditor access to personnel, accounts, books, records, supporting documentation, and any other information as needed for the auditor to perform the audit required by this part." Federal Register, Vol. 87, No. 18 states in part: "Treasury has divided the Restriction on Use section into . . . (B) other restrictions on use, which include (1) debt service and replenishing reserves, (2) settlements and judgements, and (3) general restrictions. These restrictions apply to all eligible use categories. . . ." Cause The School Corporation did not design and implement an effective internal control system to review all payroll expenditures from the Title I funds, ensuring they were for allowable activities. Effect The failure to design and implement an effective internal control system over payroll expenditures caused noncompliance with the compliance requirements as detailed in the Condition and Context. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 29 PLYMOUTH COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a system of internal controls to ensure that grant award fund compliance requirements are appropriately researched prior to spending. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-007 Subject: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies - Earmarking Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies Assistance Listings Number: 84.010 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S010A220014, S010A230014 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context A portion of the School Corporation's Title I allocation was required to be set aside for parent and family engagement and homeless reservation. The amounts required to be set aside were indicated in the Title I grant application. The School Corporation was responsible for monitoring each required set-aside throughout the life of the grant to ensure the obligations were met. There was no oversight or review process in place to ensure the monitoring of each required set-aside. The School Corporation did not expend the required minimum amount for parent and family engagement for the fiscal year 2023-2024 Title I grant. The School Corporation could not provide documentation to show that the obligation was met or not met to service all the homeless students in the School Corporation, and it could not be determined if the unused funds were transferred to the next grant award. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 30 PLYMOUTH COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) (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). . . ." 20 USC 6318(a)(3) states in part: "(A) In general Each local educational agency shall reserve at least 1 percent of its allocation under subpart 2 to assist schools to carry out the activities described in this section, except that this subparagraph shall not apply if 1 percent of such agency's allocation under subpart 2 for the fiscal year for which the determination is made is $5,000 or less. Nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed to limit local educational agencies from reserving more than 1 percent of its allocation under subpart 2 to assist schools to carry out activities described in this section. . . . (D) Use of Funds Funds reserved under subparagraph (A) by a local educational agency shall be used to carry out activities and strategies consistent with the local educational agency's parent and family engagement policy, including not less than 1 of the following: (i) Supporting schools and nonprofit organizations in providing professional development for local educational agency and school personnel regarding parent and family engagement strategies, which may be provided jointly to teachers, principals, other school leaders, specialized instructional support personnel, paraprofessionals, early childhood educators, and parents and family members. (ii) Supporting programs that reach parents and family members at home, in the community, and at school. (iii) Disseminating information on best practices focused on parent and family engagement, especially best practices for increasing the engagement of economically disadvantaged parents and family members. (iv) Collaborating, or providing subgrants to schools to enable such schools to collaborate, with community-based or other organizations or employers with a record of success in improving and increasing parent and family engagement. (v) Engaging in any other activities and strategies that the local educational agency determines are appropriate and consistent with such agency's parent and family engagement policy." INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 31 PLYMOUTH COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) 20 USC 6313(c)(3) states: "(A) In general A local educational agency shall reserve such funds as are necessary under this part, determined in accordance with subparagraphs (B) and (C), to provide services comparable to those provided to children in schools funded under this part to serve— (i) homeless children and youths, including providing educationally related support services to children in shelters and other locations where children may live; (ii) children in local institutions for neglected children; and (iii) if appropriate, children in local institutions for delinquent children, and neglected or delinquent children in community day programs. Cause The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to review parent and family involvement and homeless reservation transactions to ensure they were properly recorded and attributed to the correct expense type. The School Corporation's financial management system was not set up to separately track program expenditures relating to parent and family engagement and homeless reservation. Effect The failure to design and implement an effective internal control system, as well as not tracking expenditures related to parent and family involvement and homeless reservation expenditures, caused noncompliance with the compliance requirement as detailed in the Condition and Context. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended the School Corporation design and implement a set of internal controls that will allow them to ensure the earmarked funds are being used for the correct expenses, are being recorded properly, and are being reported properly to the Indiana Department of Education. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2025-008 Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Special Tests and Provisions - Wage Rate Requirements Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listings Number: 84.425U Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): S425U210013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions - Wage Rate Requirements Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context Construction contracts in excess of $2,000 financed by federal assistance funds must pay wages not less than those established for the locality of the project (prevailing wage rates) by the Department of Labor (DOL) to their laborers and mechanics. Nonfederal entities are to include in their construction contracts subject to the Wage Rate Requirements a provision that the contractor or subcontractor complies with these requirements and the DOL regulations. This would include a requirement to submit a copy of the payroll and statement of compliance to the entity for each week in which contract work was performed. The School Corporation had not designed nor implemented a system of internal controls to ensure the construction contracts in excess of $2,000 paid from the federal grant funds included a prevailing wage rate clause. The School Corporation entered into one contract during the audit period, which included the cost of installation for a HVAC system for $1,203,187. This contract contained the required wage rate clause. Certified payrolls and a statement of compliance for each week in which contract work was performed were not collected timely by the School Corporation. 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). . . ." 29 CFR 5.5 states in part: "(a) Required contract clauses. The Agency head will cause or require the contracting officer to require the contracting officer to [sic] insert in full, or (for contracts covered by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (48 CFR chapter 1)) by reference, in any contract in excess of $2,000 which is entered into for the actual construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting and decorating, of a public building or public work, or building or work financed in whole or in part from Federal funds or in accordance with guarantees of a Federal agency or financed from funds obtained by pledge of any contract of a Federal agency to make a loan, grant or annual contribution (except where a different meaning is expressly indicated), and which is subject to the labor standards provisions of any of the laws referenced by § 5.1, the following clauses . . . INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 33 PLYMOUTH COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) (1) Minimum wages - (i) Wage rates and fringe benefits. All laborers and mechanics employed or working upon the site of the work (or otherwise working in construction or development of the project under a development statute), will be paid unconditionally and not less often than once a week, and without subsequent deduction or rebate on any account (except such payroll deductions as are permitted by regulations issued by the Secretary of Labor under the Copeland Act (29 CFR part 3)), the full amount of basic hourly wages and bona fide fringe benefits (or cash equivalents thereof) due at time of payment computed at rates not less than those contained in the wage determination of the Secretary of Labor which is attached hereto and made a part hereof, regardless of any contractual relationship which may be alleged to exist between the contractor and such laborers and mechanics. . . . (3) Records and certified payrolls - (ii) Certified payroll requirements - (A) Frequency and method of submission. The contractor or subcontractor must submit weekly, for each week in which any DBA- or Related Acts-covered work is performed, certified payrolls to the [write in name of appropriate Federal agency] if the agency is a party to the contract, but if the agency is not such a party, the contractor will submit the certified payrolls to the applicant, sponsor, owner, or other entity, as the case may be, that maintains such records, for transmission to the [write in name of agency]. . . ." 2 CFR 200 Appendix II states in part: "In addition to other provisions required by the Federal agency or non-Federal entity, all contracts made by the non-Federal entity under the Federal award must contain provisions covering the following, as applicable. . . . (D) Davis-Bacon Act, as amended (40 U.S.C. 3141-3148). When required by Federal program legislation, all prime construction contracts in excess of $2,000 awarded by non- Federal entities must include a provision for compliance with the Davis-Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. 3141-3144, and 3146-3148) as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR Part 5, 'Labor Standards Provisions Applicable to Contracts Covering Federally Financed and Assisted Construction'). In accordance with the statute, contractors must be required to pay wages to laborers and mechanics at a rate not less than the prevailing wages specified in a wage determination made by the Secretary of Labor. In addition, contractors must be required to pay wages not less than once a week. . . . Cause The School Corporation was unaware of the Special Tests and Provisions - Wage Rate Requirements compliance requirement of needing to obtain certified payrolls from the vendor throughout the contract period. Management had not designed nor implemented a system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 34 PLYMOUTH COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Effect The failure to design and implement an effective internal control system, as well as not obtaining certified payrolls from the vendor, caused noncompliance with the compliance requirement as detailed in the Condition and Context. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a system of internal controls, as well as appropriately and timely document adherence to required requirements, to ensure compliance with the grant agreement and the Special Tests and Provisions - Wage Rate Requirements compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
2025 - 001: Suspension and Debarment Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture Federal Program Title: Child Nutrition Cluster ALN: 10.553, 10.555, 10.556, 10.559 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: 252MN061N1199, 2025 Pass-Through Agency: Minnesota Department of Education Pass-Through Number: 1-0112-000 Award Period: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025 Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Compliance Criteria or Specific Requirement: The District should have controls in place to ensure compliance with suspension and debarment requirements of the Child Nutrition Cluster, per the requirements of 2 CFR §200.303. The Uniform Guidance requires that when a nonfederal entity enters into a covered transaction with an entity at a lower tier, the non-federal entity must verify that the entity, as defined in 2 CFR section 180.995 and agency adopting regulations, is not suspended or debarred or otherwise excluded from participating in the transaction. This verification may be accomplished by either checking the System for Award Management (SAM) Exclusions maintained by the General Services Administration (GSA), collecting a certification from the entity, or adding a clause to the covered transaction with the entity. Condition: The District did not retain formal documentation of a control to ensure timely completion of suspension and debarment requirements. Questioned Costs: None Context: One of the two covered transactions selected for testing lacked formal control documentation showing that the District completed the required suspension and debarment verification before entering into the contract. The verification was instead performed and documented at a later date. Cause: The District’s policies and procedures did not include formal documentation of a control to ensure vendors are checked for suspension and debarment prior to entering covered transactions. Effect: The District could have entered into a covered transaction with an entity which was suspended or debarred without realizing it. Repeat Finding: Yes – 2024-004 Recommendation: We recommend that the District review its procurement policies and controls to ensure there is a formally documented control to ensure all vendors are checked for suspension and debarment prior to entering into a covered transaction. View of Responsible Official: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.