Finding 1173042 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-02-10
Audit: 386498
Organization: Petal School District (MS)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The school district failed to obtain a required second quote for therapy services exceeding $10,000, violating federal procurement rules.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with federal procurement regulations, specifically for expenditures over $10,000.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement policies and procedures to strengthen internal controls and ensure compliance with procurement requirements.

Finding Text

Significant Deficiency/ Immaterial Non-Compliance Finding 2025-001: Procurement. U.S. Department of Education Passed-through Mississippi Department of Education Program Name: Special Education – IDEA Part B Program Assistance Listing Number: 84.027 Compliance Requirement: Procurement CRITERIA: Recipients of federal funds must follow federal procurement rules and regulations. For services in excess of $10,000, the district is required to obtain two quotes and/or proposals. CONDITION: During our testing of expenditures from the Special Education – IDEA Part B program, we noted the district expended in excess of $10,000 with a vendor on therapy services for special education students. The services do appear to be for allowable costs and activities under the IDEA Part B grant. However, the district was unable to provide evidence that a required second quote and/or a proposal was obtained. CONTEXT: The school district did not follow requirements related to procurement of goods and services. CAUSE: The cause is a result of not properly implementing a designed system of accounting and internal controls. EFFECT: Noncompliance with state and federal purchasing laws. IDENTIFICATION OF REPEAT FINDING: No. QUESTIONED COSTS: None RECOMMENDATION: The school district should implement policies and procedures to ensure all applicable compliance requirements are being met. VIEWS OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS: We will implement policies or procedures to establish an internal control system that will ensure strong financial accountability, including compliance with state and federal purchasing requirements.

Corrective Action Plan

AUDITEE’S CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN As required by 2 CFR 200.511, the Petal School District has prepared and hereby submits the following corrective action plan for the findings included in the Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs for the year ended June 30, 2025: Finding Correction Action Plan Details 2025-001 a. Name of Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Kristi Fimiano – Chief Financial Officer b. Corrective Action Planned: We will implement policies or procedures to establish an internal control system that will ensure strong financial accountability, including compliance with all federal grant requirements. c. Anticipated Completion Date: Immediately.

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.555 NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM $1.74M
84.425 EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND $1.70M
84.027 SPECIAL EDUCATION GRANTS TO STATES $1.28M
84.010 TITLE I GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES $1.00M
10.553 SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM $636,220
84.048 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION -- BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $103,223
10.559 SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN $93,400
12.U01 ROTC $76,194
84.367 SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION STATE GRANTS (FORMERLY IMPROVING TEACHER QUALITY STATE GRANTS) $69,218
93.778 MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM $66,365
84.173 SPECIAL EDUCATION PRESCHOOL GRANTS $65,124
84.365 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION STATE GRANTS $34,079
84.424 STUDENT SUPPORT AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM $5,743