A state audit of the Stevenson-Carson School District’s food services found the programs may have worked with vendors who are not allowed to do business with the federal government.
The district received $308,768 in grants from the federal government last school year to participate in the School Breakfast, National School Lunch and Summer Food Service programs. The money goes toward buying food to serve to students who have signed up for free or reduced-price meals.
Under the regulations for each program, school districts are not allowed to contract with any vendors that are barred or suspended from doing business with the federal government. The audit found that the district failed to verify that its vendors were not on the government’s list of excluded parties, and consequently may have broken the rules.
District officials did not dispute the findings. In a written response, administrators said district staff members are willing to undergo more state-sponsored training to ensure full compliance with the law.
