Finding 481411 (2023-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-08-19
Audit: 317437
Organization: Aliquippa School District (PA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The District failed to submit required 'quarterly cash on hand reports' and 'final expenditure reports' for federal grants, violating PDE and Uniform Guidance regulations.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with Section 2 CFR 200.403(g) is necessary for accurate financial reporting related to ESSER and ARP ESSER grant programs.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Re-file the final expenditure reports with corrected financial data to meet compliance and prevent sanctions from PDE.

Finding Text

CONDITION: The District did not comply with the laws and regulations related to its participation in it’s various federal grant program reporting requirements. Personnel did not complete and submit the required ‘quarterly cash on hand reports’ and ‘final expenditure report’ (FER) for the grant programs based on supporting accurate general ledger expenditures as required by Section 2 CFR 200.403(g) of the Uniform Guidance. This is a repeat finding from (2022-002) from the previous fiscal year. CRITERIA: The PA Department of Education (PDE) and Section 2 CFR 200.403(g) of the Uniform Guidance requires the completion and submission of a ‘quarterly cash on hand report’ quarterly as needed and a ‘final expenditure report’ (FER) at the conclusion of each grant program year (including any carryover period) based on information contained in the School District’s financial management system and supported by all underlying documentation. EFFECT: The District was not in compliance with the PA Department of Education (PDE) and Section 2 CFR 200.403(g) of the Uniform Guidance financial reporting requirements relative to its participation the ESSER and ARP ESSER grant programs that require submission of ‘quarterly cash on hand reports’ and a ‘final expenditure report’ (FER) based on supporting accurate financial management system expenditures. CAUSE: The District experienced turnover in key business office personnel during the last two fiscal years, which resulted in errors in posting federal expenditures to the appropriate general ledger account codes. This further lead to inaccurate reporting as outlined above. QUESTIONED COST: None RECOMMENDATION: I recommend that the District re-file the required federal program ‘final expenditure reports’, if possible, based on accurate financial information obtained from the District’s financial management system after any corrections are made, in order to 1) comply with PDE and Uniform Guidance reporting requirements for the District’s applicable federal programs, and 2) to avoid any sanctions from PDE as a result of not filing these reports properly with accurate general ledger detail in a timely manner. All further federal grant reporting should be completed based on accurate general ledger expenditures. VIEW OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS: See Correction Action Plan

Corrective Action Plan

CONDITION: The District did not comply with the laws and regulations related to its participation in it’s various federal grant program reporting requirements. Personnel did not complete and submit the required ‘quarterly cash on hand reports’ and ‘final expenditure report’ (FER) for the grant programs based on supporting accurate general ledger expenditures as required by Section 2 CFR 200.403(g) of the Uniform Guidance. CRITERIA: The PA Department of Education (PDE) and Section 2 CFR 200.403(g) of the Uniform Guidance requires the completion and submission of a ‘quarterly cash on hand report’ quarterly as needed and a ‘final expenditure report’ (FER) at the conclusion of each grant program year (including any carryover period) based on information contained in the School District’s financial management system and supported by all underlying documentation. MANAGEMENT’S CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN: The School District concurs with the above noted finding. The School District has employed a new Business Manager whose responsibilities include the oversight of accounting records and preparation of all required financial reports related to PDE federal grant programs in a timely manner, and to ensure that the information reported to PDE is supported by the underlying documentation contained in the District’s general ledger. Procedures will be put into place during the remaining months of the 2023-2024 fiscal year, and all subsequent years, for ensuring federal program reports are prepared accurately and agree with the financial management system and supported by all underlying documentation.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 481412 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 481413 2023-004
    Material Weakness
  • 481414 2023-005
    Material Weakness
  • 481415 2023-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 481416 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 481417 2023-004
    Material Weakness
  • 481418 2023-005
    Material Weakness
  • 481419 2023-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 481420 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 481421 2023-004
    Material Weakness
  • 481422 2023-005
    Material Weakness
  • 481423 2023-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 481424 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 481425 2023-004
    Material Weakness
  • 481426 2023-005
    Material Weakness
  • 1057853 2023-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1057854 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1057855 2023-004
    Material Weakness
  • 1057856 2023-005
    Material Weakness
  • 1057857 2023-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1057858 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1057859 2023-004
    Material Weakness
  • 1057860 2023-005
    Material Weakness
  • 1057861 2023-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1057862 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1057863 2023-004
    Material Weakness
  • 1057864 2023-005
    Material Weakness
  • 1057865 2023-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1057866 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1057867 2023-004
    Material Weakness
  • 1057868 2023-005
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $1.03M
10.553 School Breakfast Program $192,697
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $187,363
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $84,420
10.555 National School Lunch Program $55,454
84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants $52,703
10.582 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program $31,813
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $24,845
93.778 Medical Assistance Program $10,324
10.558 Child and Adult Care Food Program $667
10.649 Pandemic Ebt Administrative Costs $628
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants $518