Finding 1149721 (2024-002)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-08-11

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The District's internal control policies for the food service program need regular updates to ensure compliance and proper documentation.
  • Impacted Requirements: Contracts with vendors must be standardized to include all necessary terms related to federal awards and procurement guidelines.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Conduct an annual assessment of internal controls and enhance documentation practices, including supervisory sign-offs on meal counts and procurement records.

Finding Text

Perform assessment of internal control policies and procedures in the food service program Criteria: Internal control policies and procedures should be reviewed and updated routinely to ensure all aspects of compliance and documentation related thereto overall administration and compliance surrounding food service program. Condition: The District participates in a procurement cooperative (bidding and awarding) performed by a third-party entity on behalf of the participants. Pursuant to the established guidelines, it is recommended that each participating entity enters into an individual contractual arrangement with each awarded vendor. The District utilizes a standard form which references the third-party entity throughout. The District should utilize standardized District contracts with all vendors to ensure all appropriate terms for the District and those applicable to federal award programs and the Uniform Guidance (Appendix E) (inclusive, but not limited to suspension, debarment, buy American, etc.) have been included. Moreover, all procurement documentation should be maintained on file by appropriate District personnel, and all invoices from vendors should be clearly documented as items/costs have been verified to the underlying procurement and contract. The following are additional considerations which have been communicated to management recommended to management in previous years, which we continue to evaluate: We recommend the enhancement of the documentation surrounding daily work, inclusive of formal sign-off/attestation by appropriate supervisory personnel, (meal counts, daily cashout). District management should continually evaluate the documentation within allowable guidance and management’s expectations. Sign-off by appropriate supervisory personnel of the monthly claims sheet, which is required to be completed daily and maintained. We recommend documentation be enhanced surrounding ordering, ensuring procurement from Ensure reporting from the point-of-sale system is utilized and signed-off/attested to for the monthly payment of meals tax. Effect: Compliance with and documentation thereof may be lacking without routine review and assessment. Questioned Costs: None Auditor’s Recommendation: We recommend the District perform an assessment of internal control policies and procedures, evaluating and enhancing accordingly to ensure all compliance and other documentary requirements are met on an annual basis. This assessment should be incorporated with a routinely implemented risk assessment program.

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 573277 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 573278 2024-003
    - Repeat
  • 573279 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1149719 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1149720 2024-003
    - Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $2.61M
10.555 National School Lunch Program $2.35M
10.559 Summer Food Service Program for Children $81,428
84.367 Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants (formerly Improving Teacher Quality State Grants) $61,702
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $48,959
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $10,218
84.365 English Language Acquisition State Grants $9,867
10.553 School Breakfast Program $8,519
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $2,782
84.173 Special Education Preschool Grants $99
84.027 Special Education Grants to States $-3,976