NCJ Number
250830
Date Published
June 2017
Length
23 pages
Annotation
The findings and methodology are reported for the U.S. Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General's audit of the Office of Justice Program's (OJP's) grant to the Pharr San Juan Alamo Independent School District (PSJA ISD) of Pharr, TX, under the grant program entitled "Developing Knowledge About What Works To Make Schools Safe."
Abstract
The PSJA ISD was awarded $4,137,035 under Grant Number 2014-CX-BX-0015 for the purpose of learning more about how personnel, programs, and activities contribute to school safety. As of October, 2016, PSJA ISD had drawn down $1,729,424 of the grant funds awarded. The audit's objectives were to determine whether costs claimed under the grant were allowable, supported, and in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, guidelines, and terms and conditions of the award, as well as to determine whether the grantee demonstrated adequate progress toward program goals and objectives. Performance was assessed in the areas of program achievements, financial management, expenditures, budget management and control, drawdowns, and Federal financial reports. The audit determined that PSJA ISD did not comply with essential award conditions related to the use of award funds and sub-recipient monitoring. Unallowable consultant and travel costs were awarded, and there were no written policies and procedures for acquiring and monitoring sub-recipients. A total of $52,200 in unallowable costs were identified. This report offers two recommendations to OJP regarding the handling of these costs. The responses of PSJA ISD to the draft audit report are appended, along with an analysis of these responses and a summary of the actions necessary to close the recommendations.