Finding 513972 (2024-004)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2024-12-12

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The District failed to submit required quarterly expenditure reports on time for ESSER II CP and ESSER II D2 projects.
  • Impacted Requirements: Timely reporting is essential to comply with Illinois State Board of Education policies and avoid freezing of project funds.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The District should implement a schedule for due dates of all project reports to ensure timely submissions.

Finding Text

Criteria or specific requirement: The District is required to report grant expenditures in accordance with the Illinois State Board of Education State and Federal Grant Administration Policy, Fiscal Requirements, and Procedures in accordance with the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA), 30 ILCS 708/1 et seq and Title 2 Code of Federal Regulations Part 200 — Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. Per the State and Federal Grant Administration Policy, "all federal expenditure reports must be submitted on a cumulative (i.e., year-to-date), cash basis accounting method (i.e., expenses are recognized when they are paid). Outstanding obligations may be reported on June expenditure reports through the project end date – even if the project ends after June. As grantees report cumulative cash basis expenditures via the Electronic Expenditure Reporting system, ISBE will reimburse the expenditures accordingly on a weekly basis. Grantees that submit expenditures only under this traditional reimbursement method can submit as frequent as weekly, but at a minimum, quarterly." Additionally, "expenditure reports are due 20 calendar days after the expenditure through date. Reports not received by the due date will result in project funds being frozen until an acceptable report is submitted." Condition: Quarterly expenditure reports for the projects expenditures were not timely filed for ESSER II CP (1 of 1 quarters required) and ESSER II D2 (1 of 1 quarters required). Questioned Costs: None. Context: Required expenditure reports for the projects expenditures were not timely filed for ESSER II CP (1 of 1 quarters required) and ESSER II D2 (1 of 1 quarters required). Effect: Projects may not be properly monitored and funding could be frozen if reports are not timely filed. Cause: Lack of monitoring due dates of required reports. Recommendation: The District should schedule the due dates of all project reports in order to avoid late filings. Management's response: The District will review procedures to determine if added steps are needed to ensure timely grant expenditure reporting.

Corrective Action Plan

Condition: Quarterly expenditure reports for the projects expenditures were not timely filed for ESSER II CP (1 of 1 quarters required) and ESSER II D2 (1 of 1 quarters required). Plan: To avoid this reporting and internal control issue, the District should schedule the due dates of all expenditure reports in order to avoid late filings. Anticipated Date of Completion: June 30, 2025 Name of Contact Person: Jason Brunaugh, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Human Resources Management Response: This District is aware of the issue and has determined that the majority of the problem occurs when a grant is first approved, and the first reporting period is missed or if a grant continues into subsequent project years. Management has found a dashboard within IWAS that has a listing of all grants by project year and dates that the grants and budgets are approved that will help determine when the first expenditure reports are due. Additionally, management will work on a process to ensure that expenditure reports are no longer missed or filed late.

Categories

Reporting Subrecipient Monitoring Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Cash Management

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 513971 2024-008
    Significant Deficiency
  • 513973 2024-007
    Significant Deficiency
  • 513974 2024-006
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 513975 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 513976 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1090413 2024-008
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1090414 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1090415 2024-007
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1090416 2024-006
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1090417 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1090418 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.027 Special Education Grants to States $608,476
93.959 Block Grants for Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse $162,772
10.553 School Breakfast Program $124,575
10.560 State Administrative Expenses for Child Nutrition $61,689
84.367 Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants (formerly Improving Teacher Quality State Grants) $58,265
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $55,674
10.555 National School Lunch Program $38,682
84.173 Special Education Preschool Grants $27,867
84.048 Career and Technical Education -- Basic Grants to States $26,699
93.778 Medical Assistance Program $26,007
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $16,764
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $3,815
10.649 Pandemic Ebt Administrative Costs $3,256
32.009 Emergency Connectivity Fund Program $1,936