FCC says Clover Park need not repay Emergency Connectivity Fund costs after review

The Clover Park School District told the board Jan. 13 that the Federal Communications Commission has closed an audit finding related to the district’s Emergency Connectivity Fund purchases and determined repayment is not required.

The district’s superintendent read an FCC management decision letter at the meeting saying the commission reviewed the district’s single-audit report for fiscal year ending Aug. 31, 2022, the district’s corrective action plan and supporting documentation. The FCC “determines recovery is not required for this finding and considers the matter resolved,” the letter states.

Why it matters: the federal finding had questioned $4,505 in costs tied to laptop purchases, and an unresolved finding could hamper the district’s ability to receive future federal funding or require corrective steps. District leaders said they had disagreed with the state auditor’s finding and provided documentation showing how they calculated unmet need at the time of purchases.

At the meeting the superintendent described the audit as “frustrating,” noting state and federal rules changed during the pandemic and that the district had followed the guidance it relied on when purchasing devices for students. Board members and the superintendent said they may ask the state auditor’s office to rescind or amend the original audit entry, though no specific state-auditor action was announced at the meeting.

The FCC letter as read at the meeting cites audit finding number 2022-002 and notes that, based on the materials supplied by the district and section 54.1710 of the commission’s rules, recovery is not required. The superintendent said the letter resolved the district’s outstanding issue with the Emergency Connectivity Fund program.

The board did not take further formal action on the matter during the meeting.