Finding 605937 (2022-005)

Material Weakness
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-05-10
Audit: 25406
Organization: South Whittier School District (CA)
Auditor: Eide Bailly LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The District failed to maintain complete asset and service inventories, impacting compliance with federal program requirements for the COVID-19 Emergency Connectivity Fund.
  • Impacted Requirements: Noncompliance with criteria regarding unmet connectivity needs and limitations on devices per student/staff as outlined in FCC Report and Order 21-58.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The District should implement stronger record-keeping practices and review program requirements to ensure compliance before starting federal program activities.

Finding Text

50000-Federal ? Program Implementation (Noncompliance and Material Weakness in Internal Controls over Compliance) Federal Programs Affected COVID-19 Emergency Connectivity Fund Program Assistance Listing Number: 32.009 Pass-Through Entity: N/A ? Direct Award Federal Agency: Federal Communications Commission Criteria or Specific Requirements In accordance with FCC Report and Order 21-58, paragraph 5, Emergency Connectivity Funds (ECF) Program support shall be used by schools to meet the otherwise unmet connectivity needs of students and school staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, FCC Report and Order 21-58, paragraph 54 states that ECF Program support shall not be used to fund more than one connected device and more than one Wi-Fi hotspot per students or school staff member during the COVID-19 emergency period. Condition As the District?s asset and service inventories were not complete and did not contain all required elements, a determination could not be made regarding the total number of students and staff members who were provided with assets or services purchased with ECF support. We were therefore unable to verify the District?s compliance with program requirements related to unmet connectivity needs and per-user limitations. Questioned Costs This finding represents a material weakness in internal control over federal compliance. However, there were no questioned costs associated with this finding as we did not identify any unallowable expenditures as a result of the finding. Context The condition was identified through inquiries with District management and review of program records. Effect The District is not in compliance with program requirements related to unmet connectivity needs and per-user limitations. Cause Due to the time-sensitive need to maintain connectivity for student learning, the District did not prioritize adequate record-keeping in accordance with program requirements. Repeat Finding No. Recommendation The District should ensure that program requirements are reviewed and adequate controls over compliance are in place prior to commencing program activities under federal programs.

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Subrecipient Monitoring Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Material Weakness Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 29486 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 29487 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 29488 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 29489 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 29490 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 29491 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 29492 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 29493 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 29494 2022-004
    Material Weakness
  • 29495 2022-005
    Material Weakness
  • 605928 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 605929 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 605930 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 605931 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 605932 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 605933 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 605934 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 605935 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 605936 2022-004
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $1.28M
10.556 Special Milk Program for Children $1.20M
32.009 Emergency Connectivity Fund Program $839,905
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $455,115
10.553 School Breakfast Program $413,067
93.323 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (elc) $338,789
84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants $225,297
10.555 National School Lunch Program $172,907
84.287 Twenty-First Century Community Learning Centers $142,535
84.365 English Language Acquisition State Grants $107,416
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $64,688
10.579 Child Nutrition Discretionary Grants Limited Availability $50,685
84.196 Education for Homeless Children and Youth $25,681
10.558 Child and Adult Care Food Program $21,374
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $11,565
10.582 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program $8,143