Finding 1217354 (2025-006)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-06-11

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The School Board lacks a proper review and approval process for reimbursement requests and reports submitted to the Louisiana Department of Education.
  • Impacted Requirements: This deficiency leads to discrepancies between general ledger expenditures and reported amounts, violating federal compliance standards.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement procedures to ensure timely review and approval of all claims and maintain supporting documentation for accurate reporting.

Finding Text

Reference # and title: 2025-006 Controls and Compliance over Reporting on ESSER Federal program and specific federal award identification: AL Number Award Year FEDERAL GRANTER/ PASS THROUGH GRANTOR/PROGRAM NAME United States Department of Education; passed through Louisiana Department of Education COVID-19 Education Stabilization Funds: Education Stabilization (ESSER III) 84.425U 2021 Criteria or specific requirement: Good internal controls require that all requests for reimbursement and special reporting submitted to the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) are adequately reviewed and approved before submission, but in a timely manner, to ensure amounts reported are complete and accurate. Condition found: Total expenditures per the general ledger did not agree to the amounts reported in the fiscal year end’s periodic expense report submission. It appears that part of the reason the expenditures did not agree was due to prior year errors in reporting. There is no review and approval process by a second person over the periodic expense report submissions. In testing the special reporting for the ESSER program, it was noted that the School Board had not maintained the supporting documentation for this report and therefore could not be adequately tested. Context: This finding appears to be systemic. Possible asserted effect (cause effect): Cause: The School Board did not have an adequate review and approval process over requests for reimbursements and reports submitted to LDOE. Effect: The School Board did not meet all federal compliance requirements over reporting. Recommendations to prevent future occurrences: The School Board should establish procedures to ensure all claims for reimbursement and reports are reviewed and approved by the required personnel in a timely manner and adequately maintained. Origination date and prior year reference (if applicable): This finding originated fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. View of responsible official: These reports are now done timely and reviewed by another staff member.

Corrective Action Plan

Reference # and title: 2025-006 Controls and Compliance over Reporting on ESSER Federal program and specific federal award identification: AL Number Award Year FEDERAL GRANTER/ PASS THROUGH GRANTOR/PROGRAM NAME United States Department of Education; passed through Louisiana Department of Education COVID-19 Education Stabilization Funds: Education Stabilization (ESSER III) 84.425U 2021 Criteria or specific requirement: Good internal controls require that all requests for reimbursement and special reporting submitted to the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) are adequately reviewed and approved before submission, but in a timely manner, to ensure amounts reported are complete and accurate. Condition found: Total expenditures per the general ledger did not agree to the amounts reported in the fiscal year end’s periodic expense report submission. It appears that part of the reason the expenditures did not agree was due to prior year errors in reporting. There is no review and approval process by a second person over the periodic expense report submissions. In testing the special reporting for the ESSER program, it was noted that the School Board had not maintained the supporting documentation for this report and therefore could not be adequately tested. Corrective action planned: We will acquire the backup for reports such as this moving forward. Person responsible for corrective action: Mrs. Lora White, Business Manager 200 Bushley Street Phone: (318) 744-5727 Harrisonburg, LA 71340 Fax: (318) 744-9221 Anticipated completion date: This is expected to be completed July 2025.

Categories

Cash Management Reporting Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1217348 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1217349 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1217350 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1217351 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1217352 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1217353 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1217355 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.555 NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM $435,877
84.425 COVID-19 EDUCATION STABILIZATION (ESSER III EB INTERVENTIONS) $302,732
84.421 SWD TRANSITION DISABILITY INNOVATION FUND (DIF) $294,117
84.027 GRANTS TO STATES (PART B) $291,053
10.553 SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM $178,769
84.425 COVID-19 EDUCATION STABILIZATION (ESSERF III FORMULA) $166,583
84.010 TITLE I GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES $79,080
84.367 TITLE II SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION STATE GRANTS $51,688
84.358 TITLE V - RURAL EDUCATION ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM $48,605
84.371 STRIVING READERS COMPREHENSIVE LITERACY $21,600
84.027 GRANTS TO STATES (PART B) - HIGH COST $17,201
84.173 SPECIAL EDUCATION PRESCHOOL GRANTS $6,587
10.560 STATE ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES FOR COMMODITY STORAGE $3,705
84.027 GRANTS TO STATES (PART B) - SET ASIDE $2,518
84.173 PRESCHOOL GRANTS - SET ASIDE $2,000
93.596 COMMUNITY NETWORK LEAD AGENCY - CCDF $1,838