Finding 40125 (2022-001)

Material Weakness
Requirement
F
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-05-14

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The School Corporation lacked an effective internal control system to ensure compliance with federal grant requirements for equipment management.
  • Impacted Requirements: Noncompliance with 2 CFR 200.303 and 2 CFR 200.313(d) regarding proper documentation and management of federally funded equipment.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should implement a robust internal control system to meet compliance standards and prevent future issues with federal funding.

Finding Text

FINDING 2022-001 Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Equipment Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listings Number: 84.425U Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): S425U200013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Equipment and Real Property Management Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 15 SPENCER-OWEN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Condition and Context An internal control system was not designed or implemented at the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Equipment and Real Property Management compliance requirement. The School Corporation used American Rescue Plan - Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) funds to purchase Board room furniture. The School Corporation appropriately added the equipment to the property records; however, the property record failed to include a serial number or other identification number, the source of funding for the property (including the federal award identification number), who holds title, and percentage of federal participation in the project costs for the federal award under which the property was acquired. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.313(d) states in part: "Management requirements. Procedures for managing equipment (including replacement equipment), whether acquired in whole or in part under a Federal award, until disposition takes place will, as a minimum, meet the following requirements: (1) Property records must be maintained that include a description of the property, a serial number or other identification number, the source of funding for the property (including the FAIN), who holds title, the acquisition date, and cost of the property, percentage of Federal participation in the project costs for the Federal award under which the property was acquired, the location, use and condition of the property, and any ultimate disposition data including the date of disposal and sale price of the property. . . ." Cause Management had not designed or implemented a system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Equipment and Real Property Management compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled material noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the Equipment and Real Property Management compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 16 SPENCER-OWEN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a system of internal controls related to the grant agreement and the Equipment and Real Property Management compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.

Corrective Action Plan

FINDING 2022-001 Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Annette Brown, Treasurer Contact Phone Number: (812)829-2233 Views of Responsible Official: We concur with Audit Finding Description of Corrective Action Plan: The School Corporation will implement procedures and processes to ensure that the School Corporation and 3rd Party Inventory Vendor includes all required information on all property purchased with federal funds that is outlined in 2 CFR 200.313(d)(1). The Treasurer will list items that are purchased with federal funds and forward that information to the 3rd Party Vendor. Once the report from the 3rd Party Vendor is received either the Treasurer/Deputy Treasurer/Grant Administrator will review the report to ensure all required information has been included on all items purchased with federal funds. Anticipated Completion Date: Will begin this process moving forward with any property purchased after February 2023.

Categories

Equipment & Real Property Management Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Material Weakness Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 40121 2022-002
    Material Weakness
  • 40122 2022-002
    Material Weakness
  • 40123 2022-002
    Material Weakness
  • 40124 2022-002
    Material Weakness
  • 616563 2022-002
    Material Weakness
  • 616564 2022-002
    Material Weakness
  • 616565 2022-002
    Material Weakness
  • 616566 2022-002
    Material Weakness
  • 616567 2022-001
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund Fy 22 $1.75M
84.027 Special Education_grants to States Fy 21 $585,791
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies Fy 21 $557,996
84.027 Special Education_grants to States Fy 22 $539,343
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies Fy 22 $424,504
10.553 School Breakfast Program Fy 22 $361,963
93.778 Medical Assistance Program Fy 21 $211,231
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund Fy 21 $176,729
93.778 Medical Assistance Program Fy 22 $175,447
84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants Fy 22 $124,265
10.555 National School Lunch Program Fy 21 $108,179
84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants Fy 21 $103,964
84.027 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act/american Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (arp) $60,330
10.553 School Breakfast Program Fy 21 $51,548
10.559 Summer Food Service Program for Children Fy 21 $50,923
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program Fy 22 $48,768
10.579 Child Nutrition Discretionary Grants Limited Availability Fy 22 $48,560
10.559 Summer Food Service Program for Children Fy 22 $43,607
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program Fy 21 $39,279
10.555 National School Lunch Program Fy 22 $34,477
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants Fy 21 $27,045
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants Fy 22 $20,415
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) Fy 21 $12,050
84.196 Education for Homeless Children and Youth Fy 21 $9,524
84.196 Education for Homeless Children and Youth Fy 22 $8,635
84.358 Rural Education Fy 21 $3,991
10.649 Pandemic Ebt Administrative Costs Fy 22 $3,063
84.173 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act/american Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (arp) $391