Finding 374359 (2023-003)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-03-07

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The District misused Impact Aid funds for purchases unrelated to special education, including chlorine and first aid kits.
  • Impacted Requirements: This violates federal regulations requiring that funds be used solely for excess costs of special education services.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Ensure all expenditures are related to special education, involve the special education supervisor in purchase approvals, and implement training on proper fund usage.

Finding Text

Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education Title: Impact Aid (Title VII of ESEA) FAL Number: 84.041 Passthrough: N/A Award Year: 2023 Criteria: Title 34 Subtitle B Chapter III Part 300 Section 300.202 Use of Amounts (a) General. Amounts provided to the LEA under Part B of the Act— (1) Must be expended in accordance with the applicable provisions of this part; (2) Must be used only to pay the excess costs of providing special education and related services to children with disabilities, consistent with paragraph (b) of this section; and (3) Must be used to supplement State, local, and other Federal funds and not to supplant those funds. Condition: During our review of information provided in the Impact Aid application we identified the following issues:  The District used Impact Aid funds to purchase goods and services which were unrelated to special education. • The District purchased $946.00 in chlorine and Co2 for the swimming pools. • The District purchased $69,001.67 in major bleeding first aid kits Questioned Costs: $69,947.67 This is the value of the two purchases which were for items not related to special education needs. Cause: The District did not ensure the funds expended were related to special education. Effect: The District is not in compliance with Federal regulations related to internal control procedures and compliance requirements in relation to the grant and could put funding in jeopardy or require the District to reimburse the program. Auditor’s Recommendation: We recommend that all expenditures from the Impact Aid Special Education fund be related to special education needs. We recommend that the special education supervisor be in the purchase order approval queue for all purchases from this fund and that no approvals are made for any expenditures not related to special education students’ needs. Responsible official’s view:  Specific corrective action plan for the finding: The district will implement controls of review for all expenses related to the Impact Aid- Special Education Fund. The Financial Coordinators along with the Finance Director will ensure that proper budgets are authorized to Departments in order to ensure that the correct funding is available. These two instances were due to lack of budget within the Department that caused them to use the incorrect funding source at the time. The district will make sure to include the Student Support Services Director within the review process and the district will provide additional training regarding uses of funds.  Timeline for completion of corrective action plan: The district is already implementing this practice.  Employee positions(s) responsible for meeting the timeline: Financial Specialist; Special Ed. Coordinator, Special Ed. Director; Grants Specialist; Financial Coordinator’s; Finance Director Grants Specialists, CPO, Finance Specialist, Purchasing Specialist, Federal Grants Coordinator, Federal Grants Specialist

Corrective Action Plan

Specific corrective action plan for finding: The district will implement controls of review for all expenses related to the Impact Aid- Special Education Fund. Dom Atcitty, Grants Specialist, Carol Gonzales, Finance Director will ensure that proper budgets are authorized to Departments to ensure that the correct funding is available. These two instances were due to lack of budget within the Department that caused them to use the incorrect funding source at the time. The district will make sure to include Amanda Sutherland, Student Support Services Director within the review process and the district will provide additional training regarding uses of funds. Timeline for completion of corrective action plan: District has implemented this plan as of July 1, 2023 Employee position(s) responsible for meeting the timeline: Dom Atcitty, Grants Specialists, Carol Gonzales, Finance Director and Amanda Sutherland, Student Support Services Director

Categories

Questioned Costs Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Special Tests & Provisions

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 374357 2023-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 374358 2023-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 374360 2023-006
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 374361 2023-007
    Significant Deficiency
  • 950799 2023-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 950800 2023-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 950801 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 950802 2023-006
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 950803 2023-007
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.041 Impact Aid $5.34M
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $2.90M
84.060 Indian Education_grants to Local Educational Agencies $1.06M
10.553 School Breakfast Program $681,248
15.130 Indian Education_assistance to Schools $662,189
84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants $637,170
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $418,854
10.565 Commodity Supplemental Food Program $416,346
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $274,510
10.555 National School Lunch Program $156,139
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants $125,592
84.048 Career and Technical Education -- Basic Grants to States $106,556
84.365 English Language Acquisition State Grants $38,202
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $34,200
84.196 Education for Homeless Children and Youth $14,789
93.981 Improving Student Health and Academic Achievement Through Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Management of Chronic Conditions in Schools $7,429
84.040 Impact Aid_facilities Maintenance $7,117