Valparaiso Community SchoolsLocal Government

FINDING 2025-001 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) – Internal Controls Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listings Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 22611-046-PN01, 22611-046-ARP, 22619-046-ARP Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Earmarking Audit Findings: Significant Deficiency Criteria: 2 CFR section 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 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards:… (g) Be adequately documented. . . ." 2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ." 511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states: "The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities, who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total number of students with disabilities of the same age range." Condition: An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and earmarking compliance requirement. Cause: The School Corporation's management had not developed a system of internal controls to ensure compliance with the earmarking requirements. Effect: The failure to establish an effective internal control system placed the School Corporation at risk of noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirements. A lack of segregation of duties within an internal control system could have also allowed noncompliance with the compliance requirements and allowed the misuse and mismanagement of federal funds and assets by not having proper oversight, reviews, and approvals over the activities of the programs. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Porter County Education Services (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2023-2024, the Cooperative operated the special education program and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreement was between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the earmarking requirements. The Cooperative did not have adequate procedures in place to ensure that the required level of expenditures for non-public school students with disabilities was met for each member school. The Cooperative did not have effective internal controls to ensure non-public school expenditures were appropriately identified and reported. The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 22611-046-PN01, 22611-046-ARP, and 22619- 046-ARP grant awards could not be verified for the individual member schools. Total grant expenditures were posted as expended. The non-public proportionate share expenditures were determined by applying a percentage to the non-public school budgeted expenditures. As such, we were unable to identify if the minimum amount per each applicable member schools’ grant award was expended and properly reported to IDOE, as required. The lack of internal controls was isolated to the 22611-046-PN01, 22611-046-ARP, and 22619-046-ARP grant awards which were fully expended during fiscal year 2024. These three grant awards had minimum earmarking requirements for the Non-Public Proportionate Share of $39,016, $9,471, and $533, respectively. Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable: No. Recommendation: We recommended that management of the School Corporation establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to monitor the Cooperative and ensure non-public proportionate share funds are appropriately allocated to the member school based on expenditures charged directly on behalf of the member school. Supporting documentation for these expenditures should be retained for audit. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.

Information on the federal program: Subject: Education Stabilization Fund – Special Tests and Provisions - Wage Rate Requirements Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listing Number: 84.425D Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions - Wage Rate Requirements Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Noncompliance Criteria: 2 CFR section 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over 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). . . ." 29 CFR 5.5 states in part: a.The Agency head shall cause or require the contracting officer to insert in full in any contract in excess of $2,000 which is entered into for the actual construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting and decorating, of a public building or public work, or building or work financed in whole or in part from Federal funds or in accordance with guarantees of a Federal agency or financed from funds obtained by pledge of any contract of a Federal agency to make a loan, grant or annual contribution (except where a different meaning is expressly indicated), and which is subject to the labor standards provisions of any of the acts listed in §5.1, the following clauses… (1) Minimum wages. (i) All laborers and mechanics employed or working upon the site of the work (or under the United States Housing Act of 1937 or under the Housing Act of 1949 in the construction or development of the project), will be paid unconditionally and not less often than once a week, and without subsequent deduction or rebate on any account (except such payroll deductions as are permitted by regulations issued by the Secretary of Labor under the Copeland Act (29 CFR part 3)), the full amount of wages and bona fide fringe benefits (or cash equivalents thereof) due at time of payment computed at rates not less than those contained in the wage determination of the Secretary of Labor which is attached hereto and made a part hereof, regardless of any contractual relationship which may be alleged to exist between the contractor and such laborers and mechanics… (3)(ii)(A) The contractor shall submit weekly for each week in which any contract work is performed a copy of all payrolls to the (write in name of appropriate federal agency) if the agency is a party to the contract, but if the agency is not such a party, the contractor will submit the payrolls to the applicant, sponsor, or owner, as the case may be, for transmission to the (write in name of agency) 2 CFR 200 Appendix II states in part: In addition to other provisions required by the Federal agency or non-Federal entity; all contracts made by the non-Federal entity under the Federal award must contain provisions covering the following, as applicable. . . . (D) Davis-Bacon Act, as amended (40 U.S.C. 3141-3148). When required by Federal program legislation, all prime construction contracts in excess of $2,000 awarded by non-Federal entities must include a provision for compliance with the Davis-Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. 3141-3144, and 3146-3148) as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR Part 5, “Labor Standards Provisions Applicable to Contracts Covering Federally Financed and Assisted Construction”). In accordance with the statute, contractors must be required to pay wages to laborers and mechanics at a rate not less than the prevailing wages specified in a wage determination made by the Secretary of Labor. In addition, contractors must be required to pay wages not less than once a week.. . .” Condition: An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Special Tests and Provisions – Wage Rate Requirements compliance requirements. The School Corporation did not obtain the weekly payroll reports certifications from a construction company and its subcontractors for a building project. Cause: The School Corporation's management had not developed a system of internal controls to ensure compliance with the compliance requirements listed above. Effect: The failure to design and implement an effective internal control system enabled material noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the Special Tests and Provisions – Wage Rate Requirements compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation did not have an internal controls/procedure in place to ensure compliance with the Davis-Bacon requirement. For the 1 sample item selected for testing, the School Corporation did not include the wage-rate requirements in the contract or receive the weekly payroll reports as required. The sample item cost $32,029 to replace a drinking fountain. Identification as a repeat finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend the School Corporation include Davis-Bacon wage requirements in vendor contracts which are federally funded and implement a formal process to ensure the required weekly payroll report certifications are collected and reviewed by management to ensure compliance with the federal wage rate requirements. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan. None noted.

FINDING 2021-001 Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster ? Earmarking Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listing Numbers: 84.027, 84.173 Federal Award Numbers and Years: 20611-046-PN01 and 20619-046-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirements: Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking Audit Findings: Significant Deficiency Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over 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 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards:? (g) Be adequately documented.... " 2 CFR 200.208(b) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may adjust specific Federal award conditions as needed . . ." 511 IAC 7-34-7(b) states: "The public agency, in providing special education and related services to students in nonpublic schools must expend at least an amount that is the same proportion of the public agency total subgrant under 20 U.S.C. 1411(f) as the number of nonpublic school students with disabilities, who are enrolled by their parents in nonpublic schools within its boundaries, is to the total number of students with disabilities of the same age range." Condition: The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the earmarking requirements. The Cooperative did not have adequate procedures in place to ensure that the required level of expenditures for non-public school students with disabilities was met for each member school. The Cooperative did not have effective internal controls to ensure non-public school expenditures were appropriately identified and reported. Cause: The School Corporation's management had not developed an effective system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the earmarking requirements of the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Effect: The failure to establish an effective internal control system, as well as adequately document costs of federal awards, prevented the determination of the School Corporation?s compliance with the earmarking requirements of the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The School Corporation is a member of the Porter County Education Interlocal (Cooperative). During fiscal year 2020-2021, the Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of all its members. As the grant agreements were between the Indianan Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. However, there was inadequate oversight performed by the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. The School Corporation did not have internal controls in place to ensure that the Cooperative complied with the earmarking requirements. The Cooperative did not have adequate procedures in place to ensure that the required level of expenditures for non-public school students with disabilities was met for each member school. The Cooperative did not have effective internal controls to ensure non-public school expenditures were appropriately identified and reported. The Non-Public Proportionate Share expenditures for the 20611-046-PN01 and 20619-046-ON01 grant awards could not be verified for the individual member schools. The non-public school share funds for all member schools were comingled and the aggregate amount of expenditures was then allocated to the member schools on a percentage basis. These allocations were the amounts reported to IDOE. As such, we were unable to identify which expenditures were for each school in order to verify the minimum amount per the grant award was expended and properly reported to IDOE as required. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance was isolated to the 20611-46-ON01 and 20619-046-PN01 grant awards. The School Corporation?s Non-Public Proportionate Share minimum requirements for these two grant awards totaled $37,879. Identification as a repeat finding: No. Recommendation: We recommended that the School Corporation?s management establish an effective system of internal controls, as well as appropriately document and identify federal award expenditures to ensure compliance with the Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.

Finding 2021-002 Information on the federal program: Subject: Education Stabilization Fund ? Timely Report of Annual Data Report Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: COVID-19 ? Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listing Number: 84.425D Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Finding: Significant Deficiency Criteria: 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 Financial reporting . . . ." 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: The School Corporation did not have a review control in place to ensure the annual data report was reviewed by someone other than the preparer and that the report was submitted timely. Cause: There were not sufficient internal controls in place to ensure the Annual Data Report was submitted by the Indiana Department of Education?s deadline. Effect: The Annual Data Report required to be submitted during fiscal year 2021 was not submitted in a timely manner. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: The Annual Data Report for the period of March 13, 2020 to September 30, 2020 was due to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) by January 21, 2021. The School Corporation submitted the report on January 27, 2021. In addition, there was no documented review by someone other than the preparer of the report to ensure the information submitted was complete and accurate. Identification as a repeat finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend management review internal controls around the preparation, review and submission of the Annual Data Reports to verify reports are submitted timely. We recommend someone other than the preparer of the report perform a documented review prior to submission to validate the accuracy and completeness of the data submitted. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.

Finding 2021-003 Information on the federal program: Subject: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies ? Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies Assistance Listing Number: 84.010 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Audit Finding: Significant Deficiency Criteria: "Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses (1) Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. These records must: (i) Be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated; (ii) Be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity; (iii) Reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the non-Federal entity, not exceeding 100% of compensated activities . . . (vii) Support the distribution of the employee's salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award; a Federal award and non-Federal award; an indirect cost activity and a direct cost activity; two or more indirect activities which are allocated using different allocation bases; or an unallowable activity and a direct or indirect cost activity. . . ." Indiana Department of Education Onsite Fiscal Monitoring Document - Monitoring Topic 1-Compliance with compensation for personnel services requirements, page 2 states: "Show evidence that personnel in 'split-funded' positions maintain Program Activity Reports (PAR)/Time and Effort logs and evidence that personnel paid 100% with federal funds complete accurate and timely 'Semi-Annual Certification' forms." Condition: The School Corporation had not established an effective internal control system related to the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. The School Corporation failed to comply with the allowable costs/cost principle requirements that employees who work 100 percent of their time on a federal award maintain semiannual certifications as required by the pass-through agency, and that employees who work on a federal award and a non-federal award have Program Activity Reports or equivalent documentation to support the distribution of their salaries or wages. Cause: The School Corporation's management had not developed an effective system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement.Section III ? Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs (Continued) Finding 2021-003 (Continued) Effect: The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled material noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement or the compliance requirement could have resulted in the loss of federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: Semiannual certifications are required by the pass-through agency. The required supporting documentation (Personnel Activity Reports, Semi-Annual Certifications, or equivalent documentation) for 7 of 40 payroll transactions selected for testing was not maintained properly. The lack of controls was isolated to the 2019-2020 year. The School Corporation implemented semi-annual certifications for the period January 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. Identification as a repeat finding: Yes, Finding 2019-001. Recommendation: We recommended that the School Corporations' management establish controls to ensure compliance and comply with the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement including maintaining Personnel Activity Reports, Semi-Annual Certifications, or equivalent documentation to support payroll charges allocated to federal grants. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.

FINDING 2019-001 Subject: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies - Allowable Cost/Cost Principles Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies CFDA Number: 84.010 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S010A150014, S010A180014 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context The School Corporation had not established an effective internal control system related to the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. The School Corporation failed to comply with the allowable costs/cost principle requirements that employees who work 100 percent of their time on a federal award maintain semiannual certifications as required by the pass-through agency, and that employees who work on a federal award and a non-federal award have Program Activity Reports or equivalent documentation to support the distribution of their salaries or wages. A portion of the Principal/Title I Director's salary was paid from the federal award. Personnel Activity Reports or equivalent documentation were not maintained for fiscal year 2017-2018 for the portion of the director's salary and related costs paid from the grant. Reports or equivalent documentation for 2018-2019 were maintained; however, the documentation did not properly support the amount of payroll and related costs paid from the grant. Due to the lack of adequate documentation, it could not be determined whether $11,033 of payroll and related costs were in accordance with allowable costs requirements. Additionally, there were three full-time Title I teachers who worked 100 percent on Title I cost objectives, whose time was not supported by semiannual certifications. Semiannual certifications were required by the pass-through agency. The lack of controls were systemic issues. The required supporting documentation (Personnel Activity Reports, Semi-Annual Certifications, or equivalent documentation) for 4 of 23 employees tested was not maintained properly. 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 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles. (b) Conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in these principles or in the Federal award as to types or amount of cost items. . . . (g) Be adequately documented. . . ." 2 CFR 200.430(i) states in part: "Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses (1) Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. These records must: (i) Be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated; (ii) Be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity; (iii) Reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the non-Federal entity, not exceeding 100% of compensated activities . . . (vii) Support the distribution of the employee's salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award; a Federal award and non-Federal award; an indirect cost activity and a direct cost activity; two or more indirect activities which are allocated using different allocation bases; or an unallowable activity and a direct or indirect cost activity. . . ." Indiana Department of Education Onsite Fiscal Monitoring Document - Monitoring Topic 1-Compliance with compensation for personnel services requirements, page 2 states: "Show evidence that personnel in 'split-funded' positions maintain Program Activity Reports (PAR)/Time and Effort logs and evidence that personnel paid 100% with federal funds complete accurate and timely 'Semi-Annual Certification' forms." Cause The School Corporation's management had not developed an effective system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled material noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement or the compliance requirement could have resulted in the loss of federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs Known questioned costs of $11,033 were identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporations' management establish controls to ensure compliance and comply with the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.

GSA_MIGRATION

GSA_MIGRATION

GSA_MIGRATION

GSA_MIGRATION

GSA_MIGRATION

GSA_MIGRATION