Finding 24222 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-02-22

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There is a significant lack of controls and documentation for the ESSER quarterly expenditure reporting, leading to a discrepancy of about $38,400.
  • Impacted Requirements: The District failed to comply with federal regulations regarding financial management and documentation retention for federal awards.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement a secondary review process for ESSER reports, ensure proper training for involved staff, and maintain all financial records used in report preparation.

Finding Text

U.S. Department of Education Passed Through Kansas State Department of Education Program Name: Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund II (ESSER) Federal Assistance Listing Numbers: 84.425D Finding 2022-001 SIGNIFICANT DEFICENCY AND MATERIAL NONCOMPLIANCE Report Submission Criteria: Pursuant to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 2 Grants and Agreements, Subpart D Post Federal Award Requirements, Section 200.302 Financial Management (2 CFR ?200.302), ?identification, in its accounts, of all Federal awards received and expended and the Federal programs under which they were received.? Condition: When investigating the controls related to ESSER quarterly expenditure reporting to the State of Kanas we became aware there is no secondary review. During our examination of the reports submitted for the fiscal year, the report we were told was for the quarter ending June 2022, though dated September 2022, does not tie back to financial records by approximately $38,400. We then asked for the financial reports used at the time of submission and were informed that the records used during the preparation of the report were destroyed upon its submission. Cause: The documentation retention relating to the ESSER reporting and the control for its submission is non-existent. There is also a lack of training between and amongst key positions of management. Effect: The quarterly expenditure report submitted to the State of Kansas is non-comparable to the District?s Schedule 2-18 located in the financial statement?s regulatory required supplemental information. Questioned Costs: $38,400 Recommendations: The District should have an employee, not in the position of District Secretary, compare the Financial Manager?s ESSER report before its submission to the State of Kansas for its accuracy with board approved financial information. After the approval by the secondary review employee, the report submitted should be printed, initialed by the secondary reviewer, stapled with the information used to compile the report and combined with all financial records for the fiscal year. The District should also ensure that the positions involved with the financial reporting of the ESSER funds have adequate training for the recording and reporting of the federal monies. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: The District agrees with the finding. See separate document for planned corrective actions.

Corrective Action Plan

CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN October 7, 2022 Kansas State Department of Education and Kansas State Department of Administration Unified School District Number 374 respectfully submits the following corrective action plan for the year ended June 30, 2022. Dirks, Anthony & Duncan, LLC Po Box 885 Ulysses, KS 67880 Audit Period: June 30, 2022 FINDINGS ? FEDERAL AWARD PROGRAMS AUDIT U.S. Department of Education Passed Through Kansas State Department of Education Program Name: Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund II (ESSER) Federal Assistance Listing Numbers: 84.425D Finding 2022-001 Recommendations: The District should have an employee, not in the position of District Secretary, compare the Financial Manager?s ESSER report before its submission to the State of Kansas for its accuracy with board approved financial information. After the approval by the secondary review employee, the report submitted should be printed, initialed by the secondary reviewer, stapled with the information used to compile the report and combined with all financial records for the fiscal year. The District should also ensure that the positions involved with the financial reporting of the ESSER funds have adequate training for the recording and reporting of the federal monies. Action Taken: We agree with the recommendation. Our targeted implementation date is March 2023. If the Kansas State Department of Education and/or Kansas State Department of Administration has questions regarding this plan, please call Rex Richardson at 620-675-2277 Sincerely yours, Rex Richardson Superintendent

Categories

Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 600664 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $245,603
10.555 National School Lunch Program $200,710
32.009 Emergency Connectivity Fund Program $110,260
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $86,899
93.323 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (elc) $72,604
10.553 School Breakfast Program $45,730
84.358 Rural Education $33,246
10.559 Summer Food Service Program for Children $24,109
84.048 Career and Technical Education -- Basic Grants to States $23,500
10.582 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program $15,221
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $14,176
84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants $12,222
84.365 English Language Acquisition State Grants $11,574
84.287 Twenty-First Century Community Learning Centers $2,039
10.649 Pandemic Ebt Administrative Costs $314
93.079 Cooperative Agreements to Promote Adolescent Health Through School-Based Hiv/std Prevention and School-Based Surveillance $267