Finding 1165725 (2025-006)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2025-12-19
Audit: 376486
Organization: Iditarod Area School District (AK)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There is a significant deficiency in internal controls over payroll transactions, leading to inadequate documentation for employee pay rates.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with internal control processes as outlined in 2 CFR Part 200, which mandates proper documentation for program transactions.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Strengthen internal controls and improve documentation processes for payroll transactions to ensure compliance and prevent potential unallowable costs.

Finding Text

Finding 2025-006 Lack of Internal Control over Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Activities Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education, passed through the State of Alaska, Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) Federal Program(s): Title I-A Basis/School Improvement 1003(a) Assistance Listing Number(s):84.010A Award Number(s): Federal Award Numbers: S010A230002 and S010A24000, Pass through entity award numbers: IP 25.IASD.01 and SI 25.IASD.01 Award Year(s): 2025 Type of Finding: Significant deficiency in internal control over compliance. Criteria: Management is responsible for designing, implementing and maintaining internal controls relevant to ensuring that transactions charged to programs follow proper internal control processes (2 CFR Part 200 Subpart E § 200.400 (d)). Condition and Context: We tested seventeen (17) payroll transactions charged to the program and noted three (3) instances where the transaction lacked supporting documentation for approved employee pay rate. The transactions were not considered unallowable under the program. Cause: Lack of internal controls over maintaining adequate supporting documentation for transactions charged to the program. Effect: Lack of adequate supporting documentation for transactions allows for an environment where unallowable costs could be charged to the program. Repeat Finding: No. Questioned Costs: None reported. Recommendation: We recommend that management strengthen internal controls over payroll transactions and improve the maintenance of supporting documentation processes to ensure compliance and accuracy of payroll transactions. Management Response: Management concurs with this finding. See Corrective Action Plan

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2025-006 Lack of Internal Control over Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Activities Name of Contact Person: Tamara VanderPool, Payroll Director and Lisa Pearce, Business Manager Root Cause: **Insufficient staffing level. Inconsistent application of the personnel action forms and required documentation for changes to payroll details. Corrective Action Plan: • Clarify roles and responsibilities regarding payroll processing. • Establish a review process of all payroll transactions and documentation. Proposed Completion Date: Fall of 2025.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.041 IMPACT AID $1.06M
84.215 INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO LITERACY; PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS; FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS; AND CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMUNITY PROJECTS $805,770
84.010 TITLE I GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES $415,283
84.299 INDIAN EDUCATION -- SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR INDIAN CHILDREN $292,640
84.027 SPECIAL EDUCATION GRANTS TO STATES $111,315
84.060 INDIAN EDUCATION GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES $86,705
84.367 SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION STATE GRANTS (FORMERLY IMPROVING TEACHER QUALITY STATE GRANTS) $26,458
84.425 EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND $22,506
84.173 SPECIAL EDUCATION PRESCHOOL GRANTS $1,627
84.358 RURAL EDUCATION $1,613
15.130 INDIAN EDUCATION ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOLS $125