The Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) Finance Committee convened on August 25, 2025, to discuss the results of the recent audit and the management of federal awards. The meeting focused on the district's compliance with federal regulations, particularly regarding the requirement for a single audit for districts that expend over $750,000 in federal funds.

The committee reviewed the audit findings, noting that GRPS has consistently received an unmodified opinion from auditors, indicating that the financial statements are fairly presented in all material respects. This unmodified opinion is the highest level of assurance provided by auditors, and GRPS has maintained this standard for several years.

During the meeting, the committee examined the schedule of findings and questioned costs from the audit. It was highlighted that there were no significant deficiencies or noncompliance issues reported for the fiscal years 2020 and 2021. However, for the fiscal year 2022-2023, a significant deficiency was identified in the food service program. This issue arose from a discrepancy in the processing of free and reduced lunch applications, where one application did not match the required criteria. Despite this finding, the overall audit opinion remained unmodified.

The committee discussed the corrective action plan implemented to address the identified deficiency, which included additional reviews of the lunch applications to prevent future errors. The auditors also conducted follow-up testing on the food service program due to the previous year's finding.

Overall, the meeting underscored GRPS's strong financial management and commitment to compliance, with the audit results reflecting a positive trend in the district's handling of federal funds. The committee expressed satisfaction with the audit outcomes and the proactive measures taken to ensure continued adherence to regulations.