Finding 1191751 (2025-009)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
A
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-29

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The District failed to get prior approval from DESE for capital expenditures, violating federal compliance requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Noncompliance with 2 CFR Section 210.19(a)(1) regarding allowable costs and activities for the Child Nutrition Cluster.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement procedures to ensure all capital expenditures receive necessary pre-approval before spending federal funds.

Finding Text

Finding No. 2025-009 Material Weakness: Activities Allowed and Unallowed - Compliance and Control Finding ALN 10.555, 10.553, 10.582, 10.559 - Child Nutrition Cluster Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture Pass-Through Entity: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Criteria Or Specific Requirement: According to 2 CFR Section 210.19(a)(1), the District must comply with the accounting requirements for all revenues and expenditures of their nonprofit school food service. Capital expenditures are allowed but require Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) approval. Condition: The District did not obtain prior approval from DESE for purchasing capital expenditures that were not included on DESE’s preapproved list of capital expenditures. Approval was obtained subsequent to the spending of funds. Cause: The District incurred capital expenditures in March 2025 with federal funding without obtaining prior approval. Effect Or Potential Effect: The District is not in compliance with the Uniform Guidance compliance requirements regarding allowable costs and activities. Questioned Costs: Not Applicable Context: Of the 40 transactions tested, 23 transactions were identified as costs requiring prior approval. These costs were charged to the Child Nutrition Cluster during the period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. Identification As A Repeat Finding: Not applicable. Recommendation: We recommend that the District implement procedures and controls to ensure pre-approval is obtained prior to the expenditure of federal funding. Views Of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding and is implementing procedures and controls to ensure pre-approval of required expenditures. This will ensure the district is following Uniform Guidance compliance requirements.

Corrective Action Plan

Personnel Responsible For Corrective Action: Kelly Dobell, Controller, Square Watson, Chief Operations Officer, and Spencer Winn, Director of Food and Nutrition Services Anticipated Completion Date: June 30, 2026 Corrective Action Plan: Food and Nutrition Services along with Finance will implement procedures and controls to ensure pre-approval in accordance with the Uniform Guidance compliance requirements.

Categories

Subrecipient Monitoring Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Material Weakness School Nutrition Programs

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1191750 2025-008
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.555 NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM $8.91M
10.553 SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM $4.06M
84.010 TITLE I GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES $1.34M
84.048 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION -- BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $966,013
10.558 CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM $859,310
84.367 SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION STATE GRANTS (FORMERLY IMPROVING TEACHER QUALITY STATE GRANTS) $750,986
84.002 ADULT EDUCATION - BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $704,197
84.424 STUDENT SUPPORT AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM $519,633
84.027 SPECIAL EDUCATION GRANTS TO STATES $515,006
10.582 FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAM $466,080
10.559 SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN $352,462
84.365 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION STATE GRANTS $302,680
84.287 TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS $203,982
16.839 STOP SCHOOL VIOLENCE $183,800
93.566 REFUGEE AND ENTRANT ASSISTANCE STATE/REPLACEMENT DESIGNEE ADMINISTERED PROGRAMS $167,293
84.173 SPECIAL EDUCATION PRESCHOOL GRANTS $114,625
93.558 TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES $90,000
84.215 INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO LITERACY; PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS; FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS; AND CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMUNITY PROJECTS $37,273
84.425 COVID-19: EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND $30,000
10.575 FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM $2,007