FINDING 2022-017 Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listings Number: 84.425D Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S425D200013, S425D210013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context The School Corporation had not designed nor implemented a system of internal controls to ensure that the four Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) annual data reports required to be filed during the audit period were complete and accurate prior to submission. Each of the reports was prepared by one employee without an oversight or review process in place to prevent, or detect and correct, errors. Furthermore, the reported data on three of the reports as noted below could not be traced back to records that accumulate or summarize the data; therefore, the accuracy and completeness of the reports could not be verified. ESSER I, Year 1 Report The Full-Time Employee (FTE) Positions as of March 13, 2020, and FTE Positions as of September 30, 2020, were not able to be verified to the School's records. ESSER I, Year 2 Report The Key Line Item, Meeting Students' Academic, Social, Emotional, and Other Needs (Excluding Mental Health Supports) - Personnel Services - Salary was overstated by $950. An additional Key Line Item, Operational Continuity and Other Allowed Uses - purchased professional services was understated by $138,739. ESSER II, Year 1 Report The Key Line Item, Meeting Students' Academic, Social, Emotional, and Other Needs (Excluding Mental Health Supports) - Purchased Professional and Technical Services was understated by $111,290. An additional Key Line Item, Meeting Students' Academic, Social, Emotional, and Other Needs (Excluding Mental Health Supports) - Supplies was understated by $6,500. 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 200.334 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, financial 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." Cause Management had not designed nor implemented a system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective system of internal controls 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. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a system of internal controls to ensure compliance and comply with the grant agreement and the Reporting compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.