Finding 1227508 (2023-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2026-08-20

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The District submitted its audit and reporting package late, violating 2 CFR section 200.512(a) requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Late submission risks suspension of federal and state funding, with ongoing delays attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic and staffing issues.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Ensure timely maintenance and reconciliation of financial records, and prioritize contracting with audit firms to meet future deadlines.

Finding Text

Late Submission Federal Program Information: Funding agency: U.S Department of Education Title: Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund, American Rescue Plan - Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER), American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief - Homeless Children and Youth and Child Nutrition Cluster CFDA number: 84.425D, 84.425U, 84.425W, 10.555, 10.559 Award year and number: 32-0583-912020, 32-0584-922021, 32-0583-972021, 32-0583-932021, 32-0584-772021, 32-0584-772022, 32-0584-79-2022 Criteria or Specific Requirement: 2 CFR section 200.512(a) requires the reporting package and data collection form be submitted to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse the earlier of 30 calendar days after the reports are received from auditors or nine months after the end of the audit period. Condition: The fiscal year audit and reporting package is being submitted after the required due date. Context: We reviewed the audit submission date in comparison to the required due date. Questioned Costs: To be determined by grantor Effect: There is a potential for suspension or cessation of federal and/or state funding. Cause: The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic caused a delay in the audit and as such the required deadline could not be met. Repeat: Yes Auditor's Recommendations: The District should take steps to ensure that its financial records are maintained on a current basis, reconciled timely, and audited within nine months after year end. View of Responsible Officials: In November 2022, the District was informed by its then auditor that they could not complete the audit for FY2022. By that time, most audit firms were booked solid and the District had a difficult time contracting with a firm. Wipfli, LLC entered into a 3-year contract with the District with the understanding that the FY2022 audit would likely not be filed on time. The FY2022 audit was issued on May 7, 2024. The District committed to having financial information ready for the FY2023 audit by the end of June 2024, which was already twelve months after the end of the audit period. Unfortunately, the financial information for FY2023 was not ready as promised and this had an adverse effect on Wipfli LLC's ability to perform its work as scheduled. To further complicate matters, key accounting personnel left the District in August 2024 and June 2025. These individuals had 30 year and 20 years experience in the District, respectively. Despite the fact that this will be a repeat finding for the FY2024 and FY2025 audits, the current accounting personnel and their staff are committed to maintaining the District's financial records on a current basis, reconciling accounts timely and will work to have them audited within the required deadlines.

Corrective Action Plan

July 28, 2026 Business Services Missoula County Public Schools 909 South Avenue West Missoula, MT 59801 Phone 406-728-2400 Ext 3021 business@mcpsmt.org Management’s Response to Auditor’s Findings and Corrective Action Plan June 30, 2023 Prepared by Management of Missoula County Public Schools Contact: Denise Williams, Executive Director of Business Operations 2023-001 Internal Controls Over Student Activity Expenditures Criteria or Specific Requirement: The State of Montana Student Activity Fund Accounting Manual requires all expenditure of funds have proper documentation. Condition: During review of student activity expenditures it was noted that documentation was not retained for all expenses. Context: We selected 50 total expenditures for testing and noted that 2 of the expenditures did not have documentation of the expense. Effect: We selected 50 total expenditures for testing and noted that 2 of the expenditures did not have documentation of the expense. Cause: The District is not in compliance with State requirements for the accounting for student activity expenditures. Auditor's Recommendation: We recommend that the District review its policies and procedures pertaining to student activity expenditures and receipts and ensure that is up to date and that it can be easily followed and replicated in case of personnel turnover. View of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan: We concur with this finding. It is an on-going issue. Our policies and procedures concerning student activity funds are up to date. We have held meetings with the school bookkeepers to review the MASBO Student Activity Fund Accounting Manual and have provided electronic and paper copies to the principals, activities/athletic directors and bookkeepers. Our next meeting with this group is August 6, 2026. 2023-002 Late Submission Federal Program Information: Funding agency: U.S Department of Education U.S Department of Agriculture Title: Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief ESSER) Fund, American Rescue Plan - Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER), American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief - Homeless Children and Youth and Special Education Cluster Child Nutrition Cluster CFDA number: 84.425D, 84.425U, 84.425W, 84.027, 84.173 10.553, 10.555, 10.559 Award year and number: 32-0583-912020, 32-0584-922021, 32-0583-972021, 32-0583- 932021, 32-0584-772021, 32-0584-772022, 32-0584-79-2022 Criteria or Specific Requirement: 2 CFR section 200.512(a) requires the reporting package and data collection form be submitted to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse the earlier of 30 calendar days after the reports are received from auditors or nine months after the end of the audit period. Condition: The fiscal year audit and reporting package is being submitted after the required due date. Context: We reviewed the audit submission date in comparison to the required due date. Questioned Costs: To be determined by grantor Effect: There is a potential for suspension or cessation of federal and/or state funding. Cause: The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic caused a delay in the audit and as such the required deadline could not be met. Repeat: Yes Auditor's Recommendations: The District should take steps to ensure that its financial records are maintained on a current basis, reconciled timely, and audited within nine months after year end. View of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan: In November 2022, the District was informed by its then auditor that they could not complete the audit for FY2022. By that time, most audit firms were booked solid and the District had a difficult time contracting with a new firm. Wipfli, LLC entered into a 3-year contract with the District with the understanding that the FY2022 audit would likely not be filed on time. The FY2022 audit was issued on May 7, 2024. The District committed to having financial information ready for the FY2023 audit by the end of June 2024, which was already twelve months after the end of the audit period. Unfortunately, the financial information for FY2023 was not ready as promised and this had an adverse effect on Wipfli LLC's ability to perform its work as scheduled. To further complicate matters, key accounting personnel left the District in August 2024 and June 2025. These individuals had 30 years and 20 years’ experience, respectively, in the District. Even though this will be a repeat finding for the FY2024 and FY2025 audits, the current accounting personnel and their staff are committed to maintaining the District's financial records on a current basis, reconciling accounts timely and will work to have them audited within the required deadlines.

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Reporting School Nutrition Programs

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1227490 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227491 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227492 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227493 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227494 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227495 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227496 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227497 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227498 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227499 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227500 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227501 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227502 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227503 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227504 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227505 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227506 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227507 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.566 REFUGEE AND ENTRANT ASSISTANCE_STATE ADMINISTERED PROGRAMS $265,275
84.048 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION -- BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $256,443
84.287 TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS $234,110
84.367 IMPROVING TEACHER QUALITY STATE GRANTS $183,960
10.555 NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM $170,123
84.027 SPECIAL EDUCATION_GRANTS TO STATES $159,486
10.559 SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN $135,529
84.060 INDIAN EDUCATION_GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES $108,123
84.424 STUDENT SUPPORT AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM $94,497
84.013 TITLE I STATE AGENCY PROGRAM FOR NEGLECTED AND DELINQUENT CHILDREN AND YOUTH $76,520
84.126 REHABILITATION SERVICES_VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION GRANTS TO STATES $68,601
84.425 EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND $41,254
84.002 ADULT EDUCATION - BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $28,858
84.173 SPECIAL EDUCATION_PRESCHOOL GRANTS $24,900
93.746 DPHHS ADULT EDUCATION ESL $13,490
93.714 ARRA Ð EMERGENCY CONTINGENCY FUND FOR TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) STATE PROGRAM $5,598
84.010 TITLE I GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES $5,371
84.196 EDUCATION FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH $4,398
84.365 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION STATE GRANTS $2,104
93.764 PPHF- COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS TO IMPLEMENT THE NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION (SHORT TITLE: NATIONAL STRATEGY GRANTS) $202