Finding Text
FINDING 2024-003
Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund
Assistance Listings Number: 84.425D, 84.425U
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425D210013,
S425U210013
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Reporting
Audit Finding: Material Weakness
Repeat Finding
This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was
2022-003.
Condition and Context
An effective internal control system was not designed, nor implemented, at the School Corporation
to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance
requirement.
The School Corporation had not designed, nor implemented, a system of internal controls to ensure
that the annual Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) annual data collection
reports (reports) were completely and accurately submitted. The reports were prepared by one employee
without an oversight or review process in place to prevent, or detect and correct, errors.
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
After staffing changes, a proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of
the School Corporation. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system
should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the School Corporation's
management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist
of actions that would implement these policies.
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
20
SOUTHWESTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
(Continued)
Effect
Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, errors on
reports could remain undetected and uncorrected.
Questioned Costs
There were no questioned costs identified.
Recommendation
We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of
internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure all reports submitted on behalf of the
COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund program funds are accurate and complete.
Views of Responsible Officials
For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.