Finding 2024-006 – Special Education Cluster – AL No. 84.027 Department of Education Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Noncompliance and Material Weakness Related to Internal Control over Compliance of the Major Program Condition: Upon review of the Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School’s final expense report filed with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education it was noted that the reports did not agree with the School’s general ledgers. Criteria: Massachusetts Department of Education and Secondary Education Requires: • Final expenditure reports are required to be filed within 60 days of the grant period ending date and agree with general ledgers. Context: The Final expense report for the FY 2023 Special Education PL94-142 reported that the grant was fully spent, however the grant was not fully spent per the School’s general ledger. Effect: Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School was not in compliance with the Final Expenditure Reporting requirement as set forth by the Massachusetts Department of Education and Secondary Education as it did not agree to the Schools accounting ledgers. Questioned Costs: N/A Cause: In June 2023 Assabet’s staff member handling grants retired. They only came in once a week to help with grants until new staff could be hired. In October of 2023 our current grant manager was hired and had very limited training on grants before the retiree quit fully in January 2024. Due to this, training in Edgrants was extremely limited and the FY23 grants mentioned where not handled correctly. Identification as a Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend the Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School follow procedures to ensure that the Final Expenditure Reports are in agreement with the School’s general ledger. Responsible for Corrective Plan: Sabrina Howley Estimated Completion Date: 11/5/25, Ongoing Action Taken: In June 2023 Assabet’s staff member handling grants retired. They only came in once a week to help with grants until new staff could be hired. In October of 2023 our current grant manager was hired and had very limited training on grants before the retiree quit fully in January 2024. Due to this, training in Edgrants was extremely limited and the FY23 grants mentioned where not handled correctly. All grants since FY24/25 in Gem$ have been managed correctly with processing the FER (no longer FR-1) within the 60 days of the grant period. This will be an ongoing every year for all Federal and State Grants. FER’s will be completed once the grant is fully spent according to our general ledger.