Finding 1179830 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-17

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Time certifications for Child Nutrition employees were not prepared, violating federal requirements for documenting salaries and wages.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR 200.430(g)(1)(iii) regarding accurate records reflecting employee work and compensated activities.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Ensure timely submission of time certifications for all employees paid from the nonprofit food service account, as instructed by the Arkansas Department of Education.

Finding Text

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PASSED THROUGH ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CHILD NUTRITION CLUSTER - AL NUMBERS 10.553 AND 10.555 PASS-THROUGH NUMBER 0406 AUDIT PERIOD - YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Criteria or specific requirement: In accordance with 2 CFR 200.430(g)(1)(iii), charges to federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. These records must reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the recipient or subrecipient, not exceeding 100% of compensated activities. Condition: An Administrative Review for Siloam Springs School District was completed by the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, Child Nutrition Unit (DESE, CNU) in December 2025. The review noted that time certifications were not prepared for Child Nutrition employees for the year ended June 30, 2025. Cause: Lack of internal controls and management oversight. Effect: Bi-annual time certifications were not prepared to properly document personnel expenses. Questioned costs: No questioned costs noted. Context: Results of an Administrative Review by the DESE, CNU. Identification as a repeat finding: No Recommendation: The District should follow the guidelines outlined by the USDA regarding documentation of personnel expenses. Views of responsible officials: The Siloam Springs School District was instructed to submit a time certification for all employees paid from the nonprofit food service account to Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, Nutrition Services by January 16, 2026. The District received a letter from the Arkansas Department of Education, Nutrition Servies dated January 9, 2026 informing the District’s corrective action submitted was accepted and therefore, the review was officially closed.

Corrective Action Plan

The district will implement procedures to ensure that all Child Nutrition employees paid 100% from Child Nutrition funds complete a semi-annual time certification as required by the Arkansas Department of Education Child Nutrition Unit

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1179827 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179828 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179829 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.010 TITLE I GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES $979,793
84.027 SPECIAL EDUCATION_GRANTS TO STATES $961,226
10.553 SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM $629,040
84.367 SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION STATE GRANTS (FORMERLY IMPROVING TEACHER QUALITY STATE GRANTS) $174,915
84.365 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION STATE GRANTS $124,008
10.555 NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM $123,727
84.048 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION -- BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $52,062
84.424 STUDENT SUPPORT AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM $51,720
84.173 SPECIAL EDUCATION_PRESCHOOL GRANTS $25,910
84.425 COVID-19 - EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND $3,063
84.371 COMPREHENSIVE LITERACY DEVELOPMENT $1,939