Finding 29145 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
E
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-01-29
Audit: 29685
Organization: Bethel School District No. 52 (OR)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The District lacks adequate documentation for calculating eligibility for Title I grants, leading to potential inaccuracies in reported poverty percentages.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with documentation standards for Title I support, specifically regarding the percentage of students from low-income families.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should enhance controls over eligibility calculations and ensure proper record-keeping to meet grant documentation requirements.

Finding Text

Finding 2022-001 Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance - Inadequate documentation of eligibility calculation. Title I Grants to Local Education Agencies Assistance Listing No. 84.010 Grant Period: Year Ended June 30, 2022 Criteria and Condition: Grantees are required to document that their schools meet the eligibility requirements for Title I support including the percentage of students from low-income families. The District does not have documentation supporting the calculations and associated percentages claimed. Context: As part of our audit procedures, we reviewed the targeting report submitted to the State and compared it to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Identified Percentages report. The numbers did not match. Inquired with the client and noted that the grant manager who created the targeting figures was no longer employed by the District and they had no backup to support the figures. An alternative method to calculate the percentage of students from low-income families is to use the CEP poverty figures multiplied by 1.6. This also did not match the targeting information submitted to the State however all the percentages reported were less than the allowable 1.6 multiplier and therefore there are no questioned costs due to the control deficiency over compliance. Effect or Potential Effect: Without sufficient supporting documentation, the calculation of the poverty percentages for the targeting submission to the State could be incorrect. Incorrect poverty figures could result in the misappropriation of grant funds and unallowed expenditures. Cause: The District?s grant manager failed to maintain adequate records supporting the calculation of the poverty percentages. Recommendation: Management should strengthen the controls over the calculation of eligibility requirements and proper record keeping to ensure all necessary information is created, reviewed, and maintained per the grant requirements. Views of Responsible Official(s) and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has reviewed record keeping requirements with the new Grants Manager to ensure that appropriate supporting documentation is maintained per the grant agreement.

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Eligibility Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 29144 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 29146 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 29147 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 605586 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 605587 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 605588 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 605589 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.553 School Breakfast Program $870,636
10.665 Schools and Roads - Grants to States $222,218
10.555 National School Lunch Program $153,617
84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants $85,175
17.259 Wioa Youth Activities $79,154
10.559 Summer Food Service Program for Children $75,868
10.575 Farm to School Grant Program $45,825
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $39,713
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $21,466
10.582 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program $15,082
84.048 Career and Technical Education -- Basic Grants to States $14,940
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $8,818
12.010 Youth Conservation Services $8,505
84.365 English Language Acquisition State Grants $7,470
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants $7,357
15.234 Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination $5,830
10.558 Child and Adult Care Food Program $3,102
10.649 Pandemic Ebt Administrative Costs $3,063
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $2,326
84.060 Indian Education_grants to Local Educational Agencies $1,807
93.556 Promoting Safe and Stable Families $1,698
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $923