Audit: About $1M in missing funds in Attica school district

ATTICA, Ind. (AP) - A state audit has found nearly $1 million in federal funds unaccounted for from a western Indiana school district's financial books.

According to the Lafayette Journal & Courier (http://on.jconline.com/292u86S ), the State Board of Accounts audit found flaws in Attica Consolidated School Corp.'s ledgers from July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2015.

Eleven errors noted in the audit include a shortage of nearly $96,000 in the School Breakfast Program, more than $414,000 missing in the National School Lunch Program and more than $337,000 deficit of Title I Grants to Local Education Agencies.

The audit cited disbursements exceeding receipts and reimbursements not received by the end of the fiscal year as causes for many of the deficits. According to the audit, the school district has not implemented or designed adequate policies or procedures to ensure compliance with Cash Management and Reporting requirements.

Superintendent Derek Marshall said during a recent board meeting that many problems stemmed from missteps in checks and balances.

School board member Darrin Spragg expressed concern over the audit's findings.

"That is a lot of money," said Spragg. "It scares me to death. What if we lose funding over this? If we can't get this right, who is to say that the SBOA isn't going to come back in two months and say, 'You're done.'"

Attica Consolidated School Corp.'s treasurer, Carrie Brier, said in a corrective action plan that school officials agreed with the findings of the audit, and that solutions included working with the deputy treasurer to better maintain financial transactions and reporting, and reviewing reimbursement forms.

Brier also said she would be involved in the eligibility process and calculations of the free and reduced-price school lunch program applications, as well as the verification process.

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Information from: Journal and Courier, http://www.jconline.com