Finding 1173803 (2025-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-02-17

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The School Corporation lacks an effective internal control system for managing federal awards, leading to potential noncompliance with grant requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR section 200.303, which mandates effective internal controls over federal awards.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should enhance internal controls for claim reimbursements, ensuring a formal documented review process by the Treasurer.

Finding Text

Information on the federal program: Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Program: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program Assistance Listing Number: 10.553, 10.555 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY2024, FY2025 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Finding: Material Weakness Criteria: 2 CFR section 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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). . . ." Condition: An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the reporting compliance requirement. Cause: The School Corporation's management had not developed a system of internal controls to ensure compliance with the reporting requirements. Effect: The failure to establish an effective internal control system could place the School Corporation at risk of noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirements. A lack of formal documented review of reports have also allowed noncompliance with the compliance requirements and allowed the misuse and mismanagement of federal funds and assets by not having proper oversight, reviews, and approvals over the activities of the programs. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: During the testing of claim reimbursements, we noted that monthly reimbursements are prepared and reconciled by Food Service Director. The reimbursements are reviewed informally by the Treasurer but this review is not formally documented and therefore, auditable evidence of the review was not available. The lack of formal, documented review existed throughout the audit period. Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable: No. Recommendation: We recommended that the School Corporation's management review internal controls surrounding the claim reimbursement process. The secondary review of the request for reimbursement should include a review of the underlying meal count reports to ensure the claim reimbursement request is accurate and complete. That secondary review should be formally documented by the Treasurer. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

FINDING 2025-002 Information on the federal program: Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Program: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program Assistance Listing Number: 10.553, 10.555 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): FY2024, FY2025 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Finding: Material Weakness Condition: An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the reporting compliance requirement. Context: During the testing of claim reimbursements, we noted that monthly reimbursements are prepared and reconciled by Food Service Director. The reimbursements are reviewed informally by the Treasurer but this review is not formally documented and therefore, auditable evidence of the review was not available. The lack of formal, documented review existed throughout the audit period. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding. Management will implement a formal, documented review of the monthly reimbursement claims submitted by the Food Service Director prior to submission to the State. Responsible Party and Timeline for Completion: The Food Service Director will prepare and reconcile monthly claims. The FSD will forward to the cafeteria supervisor for review. Both the FSD and cafeteria supervisor will sign off before being submitted to the state for reimbursement. This measure has already been implemented beginning with the November 2025 claim submitted in January 2026.

Categories

School Nutrition Programs Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1173800 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1173801 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1173802 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.425 EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND $632,906
84.027 SPECIAL EDUCATION GRANTS TO STATES $356,495
10.555 NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM $167,139
10.553 SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM $148,137
84.010 TITLE I GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES $79,545
84.367 SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION STATE GRANTS (FORMERLY IMPROVING TEACHER QUALITY STATE GRANTS) $19,082
93.778 MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM $15,669
84.424 STUDENT SUPPORT AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM $12,314
84.173 SPECIAL EDUCATION PRESCHOOL GRANTS $12,032