Finding Text
FINDING 2022-002 Subject: COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listing Numbers: 84.425D, 84.425U Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425D210013, S425U200013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness 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 awards 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 200.334 states in part: "Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report or, for Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the submission of the quarterly or annual financial report, respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of a subrecipient. . . ." 2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part: ?The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following: . . . (2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in ?? 200.328 and 200.329. . . . (3) Records that identify adequately the source and application of funds for federally funded activities. These records must contain information pertaining to Federal awards, authorizations, obligations, unobligated balances, assets, expenditures, income and interest and be supported by source documentation. . . ." 34 CFR 76.722 states: "A State may require a subgrantee to submit reports in a manner and format that assists the State in complying with the requirements under 34 CFR 76.720 and in carrying out other responsibilities under the program." Condition: An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance requirement. Cause: Management had not established an effective system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance requirement. Context: Although, the School Treasurer and the Superintendent worked independently to compile the information for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) annual data reports (Reports) reports and then reviewed each other?s notes and prepared the annual date reports, the control was not effective and did not detect and allow correction of errors prior to submission. Due to the lack of effective internal controls, the Reports contained the following errors: -ESSER I, Annual Year 1 Report The School Corporation did not file this report. According to the detailed disbursements, no ESSER funds were expended for the applicable date range. However, the full-time employee numbers should have been reported. These numbers were 117.5 at 3/13/20 and 113.5 at 9/30/20. - ESSER I, Annual Year 2 Report The School Corporation did not enter the correct amounts for the following categories: - Addressing Physical Health & Safety - Personal Services - Salaries. The appropriated amount of $44,000 was reported instead of the actual disbursement of $36,377. - Meeting Student's Academic, Social, Emotional, and Other Needs - Supplies. The appropriated amount of $73,390 was reported instead of the actual disbursement of $796. - ESSER II, Annual Year 2 Report The School Corporation did not enter the correct amount for the Meeting Student?s Academic, Social, Emotional, and Other Needs ? Supplies category. The appropriated amount of $408,715 was report instead of the actual disbursement of $400,439. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Effect: The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled material noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable: No Recommendation: We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish internal controls to ensure compliance and comply with the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.