Finding 1169870 (2024-011)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
A
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2026-01-21
Audit: 383008
Organization: Saint Paul Public Schools (MN)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The District lacks proper documentation for payroll transactions, leading to non-compliance with federal requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Uniform Guidance mandates that salary charges must be based on accurate records and supported by approved documentation.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement controls to ensure all timesheet documentation is retained and approved to prevent future issues.

Finding Text

EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND – ALLOWABLE COSTS U.S. Department of Education COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listing Number: 84.425 Passed Through Minnesota Department of Education Pass Through Number: S425U220045 Award Period: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: The Uniform Guidance requires charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. In addition, these records must be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated, be incorporated into the official records of the entity, and reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated. Condition: During our testing of a sample of payroll transactions charged to the grant we noted not all transactions were supported by properly approved documentation. Context: Forty-five payroll disbursements were selected for testing. Three disbursements lacked documented supervisor approval, which is required to validate time worked and authorize payment. Additionally, one disbursement included amounts incorrectly allocated to the program based on the employee’s intended time allocation. Questioned costs: $7,070 Cause: Support for timesheets was not retained Effect: The District is not in compliance with the Uniform Guidance. Repeat finding: Yes – 2023-005. Recommendation: We recommend the District puts in place proper controls to ensure supporting documentation for timesheets is retained for all employees Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the finding.

Corrective Action Plan

EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND – ALLOWABLE COSTS U.S. Department of Education Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listing Number: 84.425 Passed Through Minnesota Department of Education Pass Through Number: S425U220045 Award Period: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 Recommendation: We recommend the District puts in place proper controls to ensure supporting documentation for timesheets is retained for all employees Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action planned in response to finding: The District will work on ensuring proper controls are put in place. This will be implemented by December 31, 2025, and the School Board will be responsible for monitoring the status. Name of the contact person responsible for corrective action: Tom Sager, Executive Chief of Financial Services Planned completion date for corrective action plan: December 31, 2025

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Material Weakness

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1169840 2024-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169841 2024-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169842 2024-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169843 2024-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169844 2024-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169845 2024-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169846 2024-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169847 2024-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169848 2024-013
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169849 2024-013
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169850 2024-013
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169851 2024-013
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169852 2024-013
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169853 2024-013
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169854 2024-013
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169855 2024-013
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169856 2024-014
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169857 2024-014
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169858 2024-014
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169859 2024-014
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169860 2024-014
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169861 2024-014
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169862 2024-014
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169863 2024-014
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169864 2024-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169865 2024-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169866 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169867 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169868 2024-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169869 2024-011
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.553 SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM $6.66M
84.027 SPECIAL EDUCATION GRANTS TO STATES $4.91M
84.367 SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION STATE GRANTS (FORMERLY IMPROVING TEACHER QUALITY STATE GRANTS) $3.81M
84.424 STUDENT SUPPORT AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM $2.03M
84.002 ADULT EDUCATION - BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $1.58M
84.411 EDUCATION INNOVATION AND RESEARCH (FORMERLY INVESTING IN INNOVATION (I3) FUND) $1.46M
84.365 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION STATE GRANTS $1.36M
84.371 COMPREHENSIVE LITERACY DEVELOPMENT $1.19M
32.009 EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY FUND PROGRAM $1.04M
10.559 SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN $903,232
84.048 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION -- BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $733,288
10.582 FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAM $701,716
84.425 EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND $609,251
16.839 STOP SCHOOL VIOLENCE $475,529
12.U01 ROTC $399,523
84.173 SPECIAL EDUCATION PRESCHOOL GRANTS $290,291
84.060 INDIAN EDUCATION GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES $192,493
10.555 NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM $191,968
20.205 HIGHWAY PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION $177,403
93.959 BLOCK GRANTS FOR PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE $148,500
84.181 SPECIAL EDUCATION-GRANTS FOR INFANTS AND FAMILIES $135,000
84.305 EDUCATION RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND DISSEMINATION $130,896
84.010 TITLE I GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES $122,593
93.566 REFUGEE AND ENTRANT ASSISTANCE STATE/REPLACEMENT DESIGNEE ADMINISTERED PROGRAMS $104,926
84.334 GAINING EARLY AWARENESS AND READINESS FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS $103,591
84.336 TEACHER QUALITY PARTNERSHIP GRANTS $96,510
84.196 EDUCATION FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH $86,808
10.185 LOCAL FOOD FOR SCHOOLS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT PROGRAM $78,432
10.558 CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM $64,992
10.226 SECONDARY EDUCATION, TWO-YEAR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, AND AGRICULTURE IN THE K-12 CLASSROOM $9,660
10.556 SPECIAL MILK PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN $1,802