Charter Board
Charter School Governing Boards: A charter school is required by law to be governed by a governing board that is a party to the contract with the authorizing entity. No more than a minority of the governing board's members may be employees of the charter school or employees or officers of the school district in which the charter school is located. Subject to the terms of its contract, a charter school governing board has all the powers necessary to carry out the terms of its contract, including the following:
- To receive and disburse funds for school purposes.
- To secure appropriate insurance.
- To enter into contracts, including contracts with a University of Wisconsin institution or college campus, technical college district board, or private college or university, for technical or financial assistance, academic support, curriculum review, or other services.
- To incur debt in reasonable anticipation of the receipt of funds.
- To pledge, assign, or encumber its assets to be used as collateral for loans or extensions of credit.
- To solicit and accept gifts or grants for school purposes.
- To acquire real property for its use.
- To sue and be sued in its own name.
A charter school governing board may not charge tuition, with an exception for out-of-state pupils enrolled in virtual charter schools, which is described below.
A charter school governing board is prohibited from discriminating in admission or denying participation in any program or activity on the basis of a person's sex, race, religion, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability, with an exception for single-sex schools or classes previously described.
A charter school governing board must be nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies, employment practices, and all other operations. If a charter school replaces a public school, in whole or in part, the charter school governing board must give preference in admission to any pupil residing within the current or former attendance area of that public school.
Please watch this video for an explanation on "What is a Charter School!"
- ADA Compliant Baker Tilly Audit 7-2021
- ADA Compliant Baker Tilly Audit 6-2022
- ADA Compliant Audited Financial Statements June 2022
ADA Compliant Baker Tilly Audit 7-2021
July 25, 2021
Dear Mr. McCrea:
Thank you for using Baker Tilly US, LLP ("Baker Tilly" or "we" or "our") as your auditors.
The purpose of this letter (the "Engagement Letter") is to confirm our understanding of the terms and objectives of our engagement and the nature of the services we will provide as independent accountants of the Rock University High School, a component unit of the School District of Janesville ("you" or "your").
Service and Related Report
We will audit the basic financial statements of the Rock University High School as of and for the year ended June 30, 2021, and the related notes to the financial statements. Upon completion of our audit, we will provide the Rock University High School with our audit report on the financial statements referred to below. If, for any reasons caused by or relating to the affairs or management of the Rock University High School, we are unable to complete the audit or are unable to or have not formed an opinion, or if we determine in our professional judgment the circumstances necessitate, we may withdraw and decline to issue a report as a result of this engagement.
In order to perform the professional services outlined in this Engagement Letter, Baker Tilly US, LLP requires access to information subject to Title II of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 ("HIPAA"). Federal law requires Baker Tilly US, LLP to execute a Business Associate Agreement ("BA Agreement") prior to being granted this information. For your convenience, we have attached our firm standard BA Agreement for your review and signature as Addendum A. Please execute and return a copy with this Engagement Letter, keeping the original BA Agreement on file with your HIPAA compliance records.
Our Responsibilities and Limitations
The objective of a financial statement audit is the expression of an opinion on the financial statements. The objective also includes reporting on:
- Internal control related to the financial statements and compliance with laws, regulations, and the provisions of contracts or grant agreements, noncompliance with which could have a direct and material effect on the financial statements in accordance with Government Auditing Standards.
- Internal control related to major federal and state programs and an opinion (or disclaimer of opinion) on compliance with laws, regulations, and the provisions of contracts or grant agreements that could have a direct and material effect on each major program in accordance with the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 and 0MB Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards ("Uniform Guidance") and the State Single Audit Guidelines.
The Government Auditing Standards report on internal control over financial reporting and on compliance and other matters will include a paragraph that states (i) that the purpose of the report is solely to describe the scope of testing of internal control and compliance, and the results of that testing, and not to provide an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity's internal control or on compliance, and (ii) that the report is an integral part of an audit performed in accordance with Government Auditing Standards in considering the entity's internal control and compliance. The Uniform Guidance report on internal control over compliance will include a paragraph that states that the purpose of the report on internal control over compliance is solely to describe the scope of testing of internal control over compliance and the results of that testing based on the requirements of the Uniform Guidance. Both reports will state that the report is not suitable for any other purpose.
We will be responsible for performing the audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America ("GMS"); the standards for financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General of the United States; the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996; the Uniform Guidance and the State Single Audit Guidelines, and will include tests of accounting records, a determination of major program(s) in accordance with the Uniform Guidance and the State Single Audit Guidelines, and other procedures we consider necessary to enable us to express such opinions and to render the required reports.
These standards require that we plan and perform our audit to obtain reasonable, rather than absolute, assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether from (i) errors, (ii) fraudulent financial reporting, (iii) misappropriation of assets, or (iv) violations of laws or governmental regulations that are attributable to the Rock University High School or to acts by management or employees acting on behalf of the Rock University High School. Because the determination of abuse is subjective, Government Auditing Standards do not expect auditors to provide reasonable assurance of detecting abuse.
Our audit will include examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit does not relieve management and the audit committee or equivalent group charged with governance of their responsibilities.
The audit will include obtaining an understanding of the Rock University High School and its environment, including internal controls, sufficient to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and to determine the nature, timing and extent offurther audit procedures. An audit is not designed to provide assurance on internal control or to identify deficiencies in internal control. However, during the audit, we will communicate to management and the audit committee or equivalent group charged with governance internal control matters that are required to be communicated under professional standards. We will also inform you of any other matters involving internal control, if any, as required by Government Auditing Standards, the Uniform Guidance and the State Single Audit Guidelines.
As required by the Uniform Guidance and the State Single Audit Guidelines, we will perform tests of controls over compliance to evaluate the effectiveness of the design and operation of controls that we consider relevant to preventing or detecting material noncompliance with compliance requirements applicable to each major federal and major state award program. However, our tests will be less in scope than would be necessary to render an opinion on those controls and, accordingly, no opinion will be expressed in our report on internal control over compliance issued pursuant to the Uniform Guidance and the State Single Audit Guidelines.
We will design our audit to obtain reasonable, but not absolute, assurance of detecting misstatements due to errors or fraud that would have a material effect on the financial statements as well as other illegal acts having a direct and material effect on financial statement amounts. An audit is not designed to detect error or fraud that is immaterial to the financial statements. Our audit will not include a detailed audit of transactions, such as would be necessary to disclose errors or fraud that did not cause a material misstatement of the financial statements. II is important to recognize that there are inherent limitations in the auditing process. Audits are based on the concept of selective testing of the data underlying the financial statements, which involves judgment regarding the areas to be tested and the nature, timing, extent and results of the tests to be performed. Our audit is not a guarantee of the accuracy of the financial statements and, therefore, is subject to the limitation that material errors or fraud or other illegal acts having a direct and material financial statement impact or a direct and material effect on major federal and state programs, if they exist, may not be detected.
Because of the characteristics of fraud, particularly those involving concealment through collusion, falsified documentation and management's ability to override controls, an audit designed and executed in accordance with GAAS and Government Auditing Standards, may not detect a material fraud. Further, while effective internal control reduces the likelihood that errors, fraud or other illegal acts will occur and remain undetected, it does not eliminate that possibility. For these reasons, we cannot ensure that errors, fraud or other illegal acts or noncompliance, if present, will be detected. However, we will communicate to you, as appropriate, any such matters that we identify during our audit. Also, if required by Government Auditing Standards, we will report known or likely fraud, illegal acts, violations of provisions of contracts or grant agreements, or abuse directly to parties outside of the Rock University High School.
As part of obtaining reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, we will perform tests of the Rock University High School's compliance with the provisions of applicable laws, regulations, contracts, and agreements, including grant agreements. However, the objective of those procedures will not be to provide an opinion on overall compliance and we will not express such an opinion in our report on compliance issued pursuant to Government Auditing Standards.
The Uniform Guidance and the State Single Audit Guidelines require that we also plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether you have complied with applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of contracts and grant agreements applicable to major programs. Our procedures will consist of test of transactions and other applicable procedures described in the 0MB Compliance Supplement and the State Single Audit Guidelines for the types of compliance requirements that could have a direct and material effect on each of the Rock University High School's major programs. The purpose of those procedures will be to express an opinion on your compliance with requirements applicable to each of your major programs in our report on compliance issued pursuant to the Uniform Guidance and the State Single Audit Guidelines.
We are also responsible for determining that the audit committee or equivalent group charged with governance is informed about certain other matters related to the conduct of the audit, including (i) our responsibility under GAAS, (ii) an overview of the planned scope and timing of the audit, and (iii) significant findings from the audit, which include (a) our views about the qualitative aspects of your significant accounting practices, accounting estimates, and financial statement disclosures; (b) difficulties encountered in performing the audit; (c) uncorrected misstatements and material corrected misstatements that were brought to the attention of management as a result of auditing procedures; and (d) other significant and relevant findings or issues (e.g., any disagreements with management about matters that could be significant to your financial statements or our report thereon, consultations with other independent accountants, issues discussed prior to our retention as independent auditors, fraud and illegal acts, and all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses identified during the audit). Lastly, we are responsible for ensuring that the audit committee or equivalent group charged with governance receives copies of certain written communications between us and management including written communications on accounting, auditing, internal controls or operational matters and representations that we are requesting from management.
The audit will not be planned or conducted in contemplation of reliance of any specific third party or with respect to any specific transaction. Therefore, items of possible interest to a third party will not be specifically addressed and matters may exist that would be addressed differently by a third party, possibly in connection with a specific transaction.
Management's Responsibilities
The Rock University High School's management is responsible for the financial statements referred to above. Management is also responsible for identifying government award programs and understanding and complying with the compliance requirements, and for preparation of the schedule of expenditures of federal and state awards (including notes and noncash assistance received) in accordance with the requirements of the Uniform Guidance and the State Single Audit Guidelines. In this regard, management is responsible for establishing policies and procedures that pertain to the maintenance of adequate accounting records and effective internal controls, including internal controls over compliance, and for evaluating and monitoring ongoing activities; to help ensure that appropriate goals and objectives are met; following laws and regulations; and ensuring that there is reasonable assurance that government programs are administered in compliance with applicable requirements; and ensuring that management is reliable and financial information is reliable and properly reported. Management is also responsible for implementing systems designed to achieve compliance with applicable laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements. Your responsibilities also include identifying significant vendor relationships in which the vendor has responsibility for program compliance and for the accuracy and completeness of that information. You are also responsible for the selection and application of accounting principles, the authorization of receipts and disbursements, the safeguarding of assets, the proper recording of transactions in the accounting records, for reporting financial information in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GMP"), and for compliance with applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of contracts and grant agreements.
Management is also responsible for the design and implementation of programs and controls to prevent and detect fraud, and for informing us in the management representation letter (I) about all known or suspected fraud affecting the Rock University High School involving: (a) management, (b) employees who have significant roles in internal control over financial reporting, and (c) others where the fraud or illegal acts could have a material effect on the financial statements; and (ii) of its knowledge of any allegations of fraud or suspected fraud affecting the Rock University High School received in communications from employees, former employees, analysts, granlors, regulators, or others. In addition, you are responsible for identifying and ensuring that the entity complies with applicable laws, regulations, contracts, agreements, and grants and for taking timely and appropriate steps lo remedy fraud and noncompliance with provisions of laws, regulations, contracts or grant agreements, or abuse that we report. Additionally, as required by the Uniform Guidance and the State Single Audit Guidelines, it is management's responsibility to follow up and take corrective action on reported audit findings and to prepare a summary schedule of prior audit findings and a corrective action plan. The summary schedule of prior audit findings should be available for our review before we begin fieldwork.
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining a process for tracking the status of audit findings and recommendations. Management is also responsible for identifying for us previous financial audits, attestation engagements, performance audits or other studies related to the objectives discussed above. This responsibility includes relaying to us corrective actions taken to address significant findings and recommendations resulting from those audits, attestation engagements, performance audits or studies. You are also responsible for providing management's views on our current findings, conclusions, and recommendations, as well as your planned corrective actions for the report, and for the timing and format for providing that information.
Management is responsible for (i) adjusting the basic financial statements to correct material misstatements and for affirming to us in a management representation letter that the effects of any uncorrected misstatements aggregated by us during the current engagement and pertaining to the latest period under audit are immaterial, both individually and in the aggregate, to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, and (ii) notifying us of all material weaknesses, including other significant deficiencies, in the design or operation of your internal control over financial reporting that are reasonably likely to adversely affect your ability to record, process, summarize and report external financial data reliably in accordance with GMP. Management is also responsible for identifying and ensuring that the Rock University High School complies with the laws and regulations applicable to its activities.
As part of management's responsibility for the financial statements and the effectiveness of its system of internal control over financial reporting, management is responsible for making available to us, on a timely basis, all of your original accounting records and related information and for the completeness and accuracy of that information and your personnel to whom we may direct inquiries. As required by GAAS, we will make specific inquiries of management and others about the representations embodied in the financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. GAAS also requires that we obtain written representations covering audited schedule of expenditures of federal and state awards, federal and state award programs, and compliance with laws, regulations, contracts and grant agreements from certain members of management. The results of our audit tests, the responses to our inquiries, and the written representations, comprise the evidential matter we intend to rely upon in forming our opinion on the financial statements.
Baker Tilly US, LLP is not a municipal advisor as defined in Section 975 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or under Section 158 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act"). Baker Tilly US, LLP is not recommending an action to the Rock University High School; is not acting as an advisor to you and does not owe a fiduciary duty pursuant to Section 158 of the Act to you with respect to the information and material contained in the deliverables issued under this engagement. Any municipal advisory services would only be performed by Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors LLC ("BTMA") pursuant to a separate engagement letter between you and BTMA. You should discuss any information and material contained in the deliverables with any and all internal and external advisors and experts that you deem appropriate before acting on this information or material.
Nonattest Services
Prior to or as part of our audit engagement, it may be necessary for us to perform certain nonattest services. For purposes of this letter, nonattest services include services that Government Auditing Standards refers to as nonaudit services.
Nonattest services that we will be providing are as follows:
- Financial statement preparation
- Adjusting journal entries
- Schedule of federal and state awards preparation
None of these nonattest services constitute an audit under generally accepted auditing standards including Government Auditing Standards.
We will not perform any management functions or make management decisions on your behalf with respect to any nonattest services we provide.
In connection with our performance of any nonattest services, you agree that you will:
- Continue to make all management decisions and perform all management functions, including approving all journal entries and general ledger classifications when they are submitted to you.
- Designate an employee with suitable skill, knowledge, and/or experience, preferably within senior management, to oversee the services we perform.
- Evaluate the adequacy and results of the nonattest services we perform.
- Accept responsibility for the results of our nonattest services.
- Establish and maintain internal controls, including monitoring ongoing activities related to the nonattest function.
On a periodic basis, as needed, we will meet with you to discuss your accounting records and the management implications of your financial statements. We will notify you, in writing, of any matters that we believe you should be aware of and will meet with you upon request.
Other Documents
If you intend to reproduce or publish the financial statements in an annual report or other information (excluding official statements), and make reference to our firm name in connection therewith, you agree to publish the financial statements in their entirety. In addition, you agree to provide us, for our approval and consent, proofs before printing and final materials before distribution.
The Rock University High School may wish to include our report on these financial statements in an official statement or some other securities offering. You agree that the aforementioned audit report or reference to Baker Tilly US, LLP will not be included in such offering without our prior written permission or consent. Upon notification, auditing standards will require our involvement with the official statement, and any procedures related to this involvement will be a separate agreement.
With regard to the electronic dissemination of audited financial statements, including financial statements published electronically on your Internet website, you understand that electronic sites are a means to distribute information and, therefore, we are not required to read the information contained in these sites or to consider the consistency of other information in the electronic site with the original document.
At the conclusion of our engagement, we will complete the appropriate auditor sections of the Data Collection Form that summarizes our audit findings. It is management's responsibility to complete the auditee sections and to submit the reporting package (including financial statements, schedule of expenditures of federal and state awards, summary schedule of prior year audit findings, auditors' reports, and corrective action plan) along with the Data Collection Form to the federal audit clearinghouse. We will coordinate with you the electronic submission and certification. If applicable, we will provide copies of our report for you to include within the reporting package you will submit to pass-through entities. The Data Collection Form and the reporting package must be submitted within the earlier of thirty (30) days after receipt of the auditors' reports or nine (9) months after the end of the audit period.
We will provide copies of our reports to the Rock University High School, however, management is responsible for distribution of the reports and the financial statements. Copies of our reports are to be made available for public inspection unless restricted by law or regulation or if they contain privileged and confidential information.
The documentation for this engagement, including the workpapers, is the property of Baker Tilly US, LLP and constitutes confidential information. However, pursuant to authority given by law or regulation, we may be requested to make certain audit documentation available to federal or state agencies for purposes of a quality review of the audit, to resolve audit findings, or to carry out oversight responsibilities. We will notify you of any such request. If requested, access to such audit documentation will be provided under the supervision of Baker Tilly US, LLP personnel. Furthermore, upon request, we may provide copies of selected audit documentation to the aforementioned parties. These parties may intend, or decide, to distribute the copies or information contained therein to others, including other governmental agencies.
We may have a responsibility to retain the documentation for a period of time sufficient to satisfy any applicable legal or regulatory requirements for records retention. If we are required by law, regulation or professional standards to make certain documentation available to regulators, the Rock University High School hereby authorizes us to do so.
Government Auditing Standards require that we provide you with a copy of our most recent external peer review report and any subsequent peer review reports received during the period of the contract. Our most recent peer review report accompanies this letter.
Timing and Fees
Completion of our work is subject to, among other things, (i) appropriate cooperation from the Rock University High School's personnel, including timely preparation of necessary schedules, (ii) timely responses to our inquiries, and (iii) timely communication of all significant accounting and financial reporting matters. When and if for any reason the Rock University High School is unable to provide such schedules, information, and assistance, Baker Tilly US, LLP and you will mutually revise the fee to reflect additional services, if any, required of us to complete the audit. Delays in the issuance of our audit report beyond the date that was originally contemplated may require us to perform additional auditing procedures which will likely result in additional fees.
Revisions to the scope of our work will be communicated to you and may be set forth in the form of an "Amendment to Existing Engagement Letter." In addition, if we discover compliance issues that require us to perform additional procedures and/or provide assistance with these matters, fees at our standard hourly rates apply.
The fee for the audit for the year ended June 30, 2021, will be 1lled per hour as incurred at our standard hourly rates of the individual performing the work. Invoices for these will be read each month as work progresses and are payable on presentation. A charge of 1.5 percent per month shall be imposed on accounts not paid within thirty (30) days of receipt of our statement for services provided. In accordance with our firm policies, work may be suspended if your account becomes thirty (30) days or more overdue and will not be resumed until your account is paid in full. If we elect to terminate our services for nonpayment, our engagement will be deemed to have been completed upon written notice of termination, even if we have not completed our report. You will be obligated to compensate us for all time expended and to reimburse us for all out-of-pocket expenditures through the date of termination.
In addition to our professional fees, out-of-pocket expenses for direct engagement support including travel and/ subsistence, production of reports, and other direct engagement expenses will be billed separately at our cost and stated separately on our invoices.
We may use temporary contract staff to perform certain tasks on your engagement and will bill for that time at the rate that corresponds to Baker Tilly US, LLP staff providing a similar level of service. Upon request, we will be happy to provide details on training, supervision, and billing arrangements we use in connection with these professionals.
Additionally, we may from time to time, and depending on the circumstances, use service providers (e.g., to act as a specialist or audit an element of the financial statements) in serving your account. We may share confidential information about you with these service providers, but are committed to maintaining the confidentiality and security of your information.
Any additional services that may be requested, and we agree to provide, may be the subject of a separate engagement letter.
We may be required to disclose confidential information to federal, state and international regulatory bodies or a court in criminal or other civil litigation. In the event that we receive a request from a third party (including a subpoena, summons or discovery demand in litigation) calling for the production of information, we will promptly notify the Rock University High School, unless otherwise prohibited. In the event we are requested by the Rock University High School or required by government regulation, subpoena or other legal process to produce our engagement working papers or our personnel as witnesses with respect to services rendered to the Rock University High School, so long as we are not a party to the proceeding in which the information is sought, we may seek reimbursement for our professional time and expenses, as well as the fees and legal expenses, incurred in responding to such a request
Our fees are based on known circumstances at the time of this Engagement Letter. Should circumstances change significantly during the course of this engagement, we will discuss with you the need for any revised audit fees. This can result from changes at the Rock University High School, such as the turnover of key accounting staff, the addition of new funds or significant federal or state programs or changes that affect the amount of audit effort from external sources, such as new accounting and auditing standards that become effective that increase the scope of our audit procedures. This Engagement Letter currently includes all auditing and accounting standards and the current single audit guidance in effect as of the date of this letter.
We would expect to continue to perform our services under the arrangements discussed above from year to year, unless for some reason you or we find that some change is necessary. We will, of course, be happy to provide the Rock University High School with any other services you may find necessary or desirable.
Resolution of Disagreements
In the unlikely event that differences concerning services or fees should arise that are not resolved by mutual agreement, both parties agree to attempt in good faith to settle the dispute by mediation administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") under its mediation rules for professional accounting and related services disputes before resorting to litigation or any other dispute-resolution procedure. Each party shall bear their own expenses from mediation.
If mediation does not settle the dispute or claim, then the parties agree that the dispute or claim shall be settled by binding arbitration. The arbitration proceeding shall take place in the city in which the Baker Tilly US, LLP office providing the relevant services is located, unless the parties mutually agree to a different location. The proceeding shall be governed by the provisions of the Federal Arbitration Act ("FAA") and will proceed in accordance with the then current Arbitration Rules for Professional Accounting and Related Disputes of the AAA, except that no pre hearing discovery shall be permitted unless specifically authorized by the arbitrator.
The arbitrator will be selected from AAA, Judicial Arbitration & Mediation Services ("JAMS"), the Center for Public Resources or any other internationally or nationally recognized organization mutually agreed upon by the parties. Potential arbitrator names will be exchanged within fifteen (15) days of the parties' agreement to settle the dispute or claim by binding arbitration, and arbitration will thereafter proceed expeditiously. The arbitration will be conducted before a single arbitrator, experienced in accounting and auditing matters. The arbitrator shall have no authority to award non monetary or equitable relief and will not have the right to award punitive damages. The award of the arbitration shall be in writing and shall be accompanied by a well reasoned opinion. The award issued by the arbitrator may be confirmed in a judgment by any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction. Each party shall be responsible for their own costs associated with the arbitration, except that the costs of the arbitrator shall be equally divided by the parties. The arbitration proceeding and all information disclosed during the arbitration shall be maintained as confidential, except as may be required for disclosure to professional or regulatory bodies or in a related confidential arbitration. In no event shall a demand for arbitration be made after the date when institution of legal or equitable proceedings based on such claim would be barred under the applicable statute of limitations.
Our services shall be evaluated solely on our substantial conformance with the terms expressly set forth herein, including all applicable professional standards. Any claim of nonconformance must be clearly and convincingly shown.
Limitation on Damages and Indemnification
The liability (including attorney's fees and all other costs) of Baker Tilly US, LLP and its present or former partners, principals, agents or employees related to any claim for damages relating to the services performed under this Engagement Letter shall not exceed the fees paid to Baker Tilly US, LLP for the portion of the work to which the claim relates, except to the extent finally determined to have resulted from the willful misconduct or fraudulent behavior of Baker Tilly US, LLP relating to such services. This limitation of liability is intended to apply to the full extent allowed by law, regardless of the grounds or nature of any claim asserted, including the negligence of either party. Additionally, in no event shall either party be liable for any lost profits, lost business opportunity, lost data, consequential, special, incidental, exemplary or punitive damages, delays or interruptions arising out of or related to this Engagement Letter even if the other party has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
As Baker Tilly US, LLP is performing the services solely for your benefit, you will indemnify Baker Tilly US, LLP, its subsidiaries and their present or former partners, principals, employees, officers and agents against all costs, fees, expenses, damages and liabilities (including attorney's fees and all defense costs) associated with any third-party claim, relating to or arising as a result of the services, or this Engagement Letter.
Because of the importance of the information that you provide to Baker Tilly US, LLP with respect to Baker Tilly's ability to perform the services, you hereby release Baker Tilly US, LLP and its present and former partners, principals, agents and employees from any liability, damages, fees, expenses and costs, including attorney's fees, relating to the services, that arise from or relate to any information, including representations by management, provided by you, its personnel or agents, that is not complete, accurate or current.
Each party recognizes and agrees that the warranty disclaimers and liability and remedy limitations in this Engagement Letter are material bargained for bases of this Engagement Letter and that they have been taken into account and reflected in determining the consideration to be given by each party under this Engagement Letter and in the decision by each party to enter into this Engagement Letter.
The terms of this section shall apply regardless of the nature of any claim asserted (including, but not limited to, contract, tort or any form of negligence, whether of you, Baker Tilly US, LLP or others), but these terms shall not apply to the extent finally determined to be contrary to the applicable law or regulation. These terms shall also continue to apply after any termination of this Engagement Letter.
You accept and acknowledge that any legal proceedings arising from or in conjunction with the services provided under this Engagement Letter must be commenced within twelve (12) months after the performance of the services for which the action is brought, without consideration as to the time of discovery of any claim.
Other Matters
Neither this Engagement Letter, any claim, nor any rights or licenses granted hereunder may be assigned, delegated, or subcontracted by either party without the written consent of the other party. Either party may assign and transfer this Engagement Letter to any successor that acquires all or substantially all of the business or assets of such party by way of merger, consolidation, other business reorganization, or the sale of interest or assets, provided that the party notifies the other party in writing of such assignment and the successor agrees in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Engagement Letter.
Our dedication to client service is carried out through our employees who are integral in meeting this objective. In recognition of the importance of our employees, it is hereby agreed that the Rock University High School will not solicit our employees for employment or enter into an independent contractor arrangement with any individual who is or was an employee of Baker Tilly US, LLP for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of the conclusion of this engagement. If the Rock University High School violates this non-solicitation clause, the Rock University High School agrees to pay to Baker Tilly US, LLP a fee equal to the hired person's annual salary at the time of the violation so as to reimburse Baker Tilly US, LLP for the costs of hiring and training a replacement.
Baker Tilly US, LLP, trading as Baker Tilly, is an independent member of Baker Tilly International. Baker Tilly International Limited is an English company. Baker Tilly International provides no professional services to clients. Each member firm is a separate and independent legal entity and each describes itself as such. Baker Tilly US, LLP is not Baker Tilly lnternational's agent and does not have the authority to bind Baker Tilly International or act on Baker Tilly lnternational's behalf. None of Baker Tilly International, Baker Tilly US, LLP, nor any of the other member firms of Baker Tilly International has any liability for each other's acts or omissions. The name Baker Tilly US, LLP and its associated logo is used under license from Baker Tilly International Limited.
This Engagement Letter constitutes the entire agreement between the Rock University High School and Baker Tilly US, LLP regarding the services described in this Engagement Letter and supersedes and incorporates all prior or contemporaneous representations, understandings or agreements, and may not be modified or amended except by an agreement in writing signed between the parties hereto.
The provisions of this Engagement Letter, which expressly or by implication are intended to survive its termination or expiration, will survive and continue to bind both parties. If any provision of this Engagement Letter is declared or found to be illegal, unenforceable or void, then both parties shall be relieved of all obligations arising under such provision, but if the remainder of this Engagement Letter shall not be affected by such declaration or finding and is capable of substantial performance, then each provision not so affected shall be enforced to the extent permitted by law or applicable professional standards.
If because of a change in the Rock University High School's status or due to any other reason, any provision in this Engagement Letter would be prohibited by, or would impair our independence under laws, regulations or published interpretations by governmental bodies, commissions or other regulatory agencies, such provision shall, to that extent, be of no further force and effect and this agreement shall consist of the remaining portions.
This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Wisconsin, without giving effect to the provisions relating to conflict of laws.
We appreciate the opportunity to be of service to you.
If there are any questions regarding this Engagement Letter, please contact Wendi M. Unger, the engagement partner on this engagement who is responsible for the overall supervision and review of the engagement and determining that the engagement has been completed in accordance with professional standards. Wendi M. Unger is available at 414 777 5423, or at wendi.unger@bakertilly.com.
Sincerely,
BAKER TILLY US, LLP
@MoSS6DAMS
Report on the Firm's System of Quality Control
September 26, 2018
To the Partners of Baker Tilly Vlrchow Krause, LLP and the AICPA National Peer Review Committee We have reviewed the system of quality control for the accounting and auditing practice of Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP (the firm) applicable to engagements not subject to PCAOB permanent inspection In effect for the year ended March 31, 2018. Our peerrevlew was conducted In accordance with the Standards for Performing and Reporting on Peer Reviews established by the Peer Review Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (Standards).
A summary of the nature, objectives, scope, limitations of, and the procedures perfonmed in a System Review as described in the Standards may be found at www.aicpa.org/prsummary. The summary also Includes an explanation of how engagements identified as not performed or reported in conformity with applicable professional standards, if any, are evaluated by a peer reviewer to determine a peer review rating.
Peer Reviewer's Responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the design of the system of quality control and the firm's
compliance therewith based on our review.
Required Selections and Considerations
Engagements selected for review included engagements performed under Government Auditing Standaids, including compliance audits under the Single Audit Act, audits of employee benefit plans, audits perfonmed under FDICIA, an audit of a broker-dealer, and examinations of service organizations [SOC 1 and SOC 2 engagements].
As a part of our peer review, we considered reviews by regulatory entities as communicated by then firm, if applicable, in determining the nature and extent of our procedures.
Opinion
In our opinion, the system of quality control for the accounting and auditing practice of Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP applicable to engagements not subject to PCAOB permanent inspection in effect for the year ended March 31, 2018, has been suitably designed and complied with to provide the firm with reasonable assurance of performing and reporting in confonmity with applicable professional standards in all material respects. Firms can receive a rating of pass, pass with deficiency(ies) or fail. Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP has received a peer review rating of pass.
1 fl.da.vu) LL{)
Firm's Responsibility
The firm is responsible for designing a system of quality control and complying with it to provide the firm with reasonable assurance of performing and reporting in conformity with applicable professional standards 1n all material respects. The finm Is also responsible for evaluating actions to promptly remediate engagements deemed as not performed or reported in conformity with professional standards, when appropriate, and for remediating weaknesses in its system of quality control, if any.
BUSINESS ASSOCIATE AGREEMENT BETWEEN ROCK UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL and BAKER TILLY US, LLP
THIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATE AGREEMENT ("BA Agreement") replaces previous business associate agreements between Baker Tilly US, LLP ("Business Associate") and Rock University High School ("Covered Entity") (each a "Party" and collectively the "Parties") and is effective on July 25, 2021 ("Effective Date").
PREAMBLE
Covered Entity and Business Associate enter into this BA Agreement to comply with the requirements of: (i) the implementing regulations at 45 C.F.R Parts 160, 162 and 164 for the Administrative Simplification provisions of Title II, Subtitle F of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 ("HIPM") (i.e., the HIPM Privacy, Security, Electronic Transaction, Breach Notification and Enforcement Rules the (Implementing Regulations)), (ii) the requirements of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, as incorporated in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 the ("HITECH Act") that are applicable to business associates and (iii) the requirements of the final modifications to the HIPAA Privacy, Security, Enforcement and Breach Notification Rules as issued on January 25, 2013, and effective March 26, 2013, (75 Fed. Reg. 5566 (Jan. 25, 2013)) the (Final Regulations). The Implementing Regulations, the HITECH Act and the Final Regulations are collectively referred to in this BA Agreement as the "HIPM Requirements."
Covered Entity and Business Associate agree to incorporate into this BA Agreement any regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ("DHHS") with respect to the HIPM Requirements that relate to the obligations of business associates and that are required to be (or should be) reflected in a business associate agreement. Business Associate recognizes and agrees that it is obligated by law to meet the applicable provisions of the HIPM Requirements and that it has direct liability for any violations of the HIPM Requirements.
DEFINITIONS
- "Breach" shall mean, as defined in 45 C.F.R. § 164.402, the acquisition, access, use or disclosure of Unsecured Protected Health Information in a manner not permitted by the HIPM Requirements that compromises the security or privacy of that Protected Health Information.
- "Business Associate Subcontractor" shall mean, as defined in 45 C.F.R. § 160.103, any entity (including an agent) that creates, receives, maintains or transmits Protected Health Information on behalf of Business Associate.
- "Electronic PHI" shall mean, as defined in 45 C.F.R. § 160.103, Protected Health Information that is transmitted or maintained in any Electronic Media.
- "Limited Data Set" shall mean, as defined in 45 C.F.R. § 164.514(e), Protected Health Information that excludes the following direct identifiers of the individual or of relatives, employers or household members of the individual:
(i) Names;
(ii) Postal address information, other than town or city, State and zip code;
(iii) Telephone numbers;
(iv) Fax numbers;
(v) Electronic mail addresses;
(vi) Social security numbers;
(vii) Medical record numbers;
(viii) Health plan beneficiary numbers;
(ix) Account numbers;
(x) Certificate/license numbers;
(xi) Vehicle identifiers and serial numbers, including license plate numbers;
(xii) Device identifiers and serial numbers;
(xiii) Web Universal Resource Locators ("URLs");
(xiv) Internet Protocol ("IP") address numbers;
(xv) Biometric identifiers, including finger and voice prints; and
(xvi) Full face photographic images and any comparable images.
"Protected Health Information" or "PHI" shall mean, as defined in 45 C.F.R. § 160.103, information created or received by a Health Care Provider, Health Plan, employer or Health Care Clearinghouse, that (i) relates to the past, present or future physical or mental health or condition of an individual, provision of health care to the individual or the past, present or future payment for provision of health care to the individual, (ii) identifies the individual, or with respect to which there is a reasonable basis to believe the information can be used to identify the individual and (iii) is transmitted or maintained in an electronic medium, or in any other form or medium. The use of the term "Protected Health Information" or "PHI" in this BA Agreement shall mean both Electronic PHI and non-Electronic PHI, unless another meaning is clearly specified.
- "Security Incident" shall mean, as defined in 45 C.F.R. § 164.304, the attempted or successful unauthorized access, use, disclosure, modification or destruction of information or interference with system operations in an information system.
- "Unsecured Protected Health Information" shall mean, as defined in 45 C.F.R. § 164.402, Protected Health Information that is not rendered unusable, unreadable or indecipherable to unauthorized persons through the use of a technology or methodology specified by DHHS.
- All other capitalized terms used in this BA Agreement shall have the meanings set forth in the applicable definitions under the HIPAA Requirements.
GENERAL TERMS
- In the event of an inconsistency between the provisions of this BA Agreement and a mandatory term of the HIPAA Requirements (as these terms may be expressly amended from time to time by the DHHS or as a result of interpretations by DHHS, a court or another regulatory agency with authority over the Parties), the interpretation of DHHS, such court or regulatory agency shall prevail. In the event of a conflict among the interpretations of these entities, the conflict shall be resolved in accordance with rules of precedence.
- Where provisions of this BA Agreement are different from those mandated by the HIPAA Requirements, but are nonetheless permitted by the HIPAA Requirements, the provisions of this BA Agreement shall control.
- Except as expressly provided in the HIPAA Requirements or this BA Agreement, this BA Agreement does not create any rights in third parties.
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
- Flow-Down of Obligations to Business Associate Subcontractors. Business Associate agrees that as required by the HIPAA Requirements, Business Associate will enter into a written agreement with all Business Associate Subcontractors that: (i) requires them to comply with the Privacy and Security Rule provisions of this BA Agreement in the same manner as required of Business Associate and (ii) notifies such Business Associate Subcontractors that they will incur liability under the HIPAA Requirements for non-compliance with such provisions. Accordingly, Business Associate shall ensure that all Business Associate Subcontractors agree in writing to the same privacy and security restrictions, conditions and requirements that apply to Business Associate with respect to PHI.
- Privacy of Protected Health Information
Permitted Uses and Disclosures of PHI. Business Associate agrees to create, receive, use, disclose, maintain or transmit PHI only in a manner that Is consistent with this BA Agreement or the HIPM Requirements and only in connection with providing the services to Covered Entity identified in the Engagement Letter and this BA Agreement. Accordingly, in providing services to or for the Covered Entity, Business Associate, for example, will be permitted to use and disclose PHI for "Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations," as those terms are defined in the HIPM Requirements. Business Associate further agrees that to the extent it is carrying out one or more of the Covered Entity's obligations under the Privacy Rule (Subpart E of 45 C.F.R. Part 164), it shall comply with the requirements of the Privacy Rule that apply to the Covered Entity in the performance of such obligations.
- Business Associate shall report to Covered Entity any use or disclosure of PHI that is not provided for in this BA Agreement, including reporting Breaches of Unsecured Protected Health Information as required by 45 C.F.R. § 164.410 and required by Section 4(d)(ii) below.
- Business Associate shall establish, implement and maintain appropriate safeguards and comply with the Security Standards (Subpart C of 45 C.F.R. Part 164) with respect to Electronic PHI, as necessary to prevent any use or disclosure of PHI other than as provided for by this BA Agreement.
(ii) Business Associate Obligations. As permitted by the HIPAA Requirements, Business Associate also may use or disclose PHI received by the Business Associate in its capacity as a Business Associate to the Covered Entity for Business Associate's own operations if:
- the use relates to: (1) the proper management and administration of the Business Associate or to carry out legal responsibilities of the Business Associate or (2) data aggregation services relating to the health care operations of the Covered Entity or
- the disclosure of information received in such capacity will be made in connection with a function, responsibility or services to be performed by the Business Associate, and such disclosure is required by law or the Business Associate obtains reasonable assurances from the person to whom the information is disclosed that ii will be held confidential and the person agrees to notify the Business Associate of any Breaches of confidentiality.
- Minimum Necessary Standard and Creation of Limited Data Set. Business Associate's use, disclosure or request of PHI shall utilize a Limited Data Set if practicable. Otherwise, in performing the functions and activities as specified in the Engagement Letter and this BA Agreement, Business Associate agrees to use, disclose or request only the minimum necessary PHI to accomplish the intended
· purpose of the use, disclosure or request.
Access. In accordance with 45 C.F.R. § 164.524 of the HIPM Requirements, Business Associate will make available to the Covered Entity (or as directed by the Covered Entity, to those individuals who are the subject of the PHI (or their designees)), their PHI in the Designated Record Set. Business Associate shall make such information available in an electronic format where directed by the Covered Entity.
Disclosure Accounting. Business Associate shall make available the information necessary to provide an accounting of disclosures of PHI as provided for in 45 C.F.R. § 164.528 of the HIPM Requirements by making such information available to the Covered Entity or (at the direction of the Covered Entity) making such information available directly to the individual.
(vi) Amendment. Business Associate shall make PHI in a Designated Record Set available for amendment and, as directed by the Covered Entity, incorporate any amendment to PHI in accordance with 45 C.F.R. § 164.526 of the HIPM Requirements.
(vii) Right to Request Restrictions on the Disclosure of PHI and Confidential Communications. If an individual submits a Request for Restriction or Request for Confidential Communications to the Business Associate, Business Associate and Covered Entity agree that Business Associate, on behalf of Covered Entity, will evaluate and respond to these requests according to Business Associate's own procedures for such requests.
(viii) Return or Destruction of PHI. Upon the termination or expiration of the Engagement Letter or this BA Agreement, Business Associate agrees to return the PHI to Covered Entity, destroy the PHI (and retain no copies) or if Business Associate determines that return or destruction of the PHI is not feasible, (a) continue to extend the protections of this BA Agreement and of the HIPM Requirements to the PHI and (b) limit any further uses and disclosures of the PHI to the purpose making return or destruction infeasible.
(ix) Availability of Books and Records. Business Associate shall make available to DHHS or its agents the Business Associate's internal practices, books and records relating to the use and disclosure of PHI in connection with this BA Agreement.
(x) Termination for Breach.
(1) Business Associate agrees that Covered Entity shall have the right to terminate this BA Agreement or seek other remedies if Business Associate violates a material term of this BA Agreement.
(2) Covered Entity agrees that Business Associate shall have the right to terminate this BA Agreement or seek other remedies if Covered Entity violates a material term of this BA Agreement.
(c) Information and Security Standards
(i) Business Associate will develop, document, implement, maintain and use appropriate Administrative, Technical and Physical Safeguards to preserve the Integrity, Confidentiality and Availability of, and to prevent non-permitted use or disclosure of, Electronic PHI created or received for or from the Covered Entity.
(ii) Business Associate agrees that with respect to Electronic PHI, these Safeguards, at a minimum, shall meet the requirements of the HIPAA Security Standards applicable to Business Associate.
(iii) More specifically, to comply with the HIPM Security Standards for Electronic PHI, Business Associate agrees that it shall:
(1) Implement Administrative, Physical and Technical Safeguards consistent with (and as required by) the HIPM Security Standards that reasonably protect the Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability of Electronic PHI that Business Associate creates, receives, maintains or transmits on behalf of Covered Entity. Business Associate shall develop and implement policies and procedures that meet the documentation requirements as required by the HIPM Requirements;
(2) As also provided for in Section 4(a) above, ensure that any Business Associate Subcontractor agrees to implement reasonable and appropriate safeguards to protect the Electronic PHI;
(3) Report to Covered Entity any unauthorized access, use, disclosure, modification or destruction of PHI (including Electronic PHI) not permitted by this BA Agreement, applicable law or permitted by Covered Entity in writing ("Successful Security Incidents" or Breaches) of which Business Associate becomes aware. Business Associate shall report such Successful Security Incidents or Breaches to Covered Entity as specified in Section 4(d)(iii)(1);
(4) For Security Incidents that do not result in unauthorized access, use, disclosure, modification or destruction of PHI (including, for purposes of example and not for purposes of limitation, pings on Business Associate's firewall, port scans, attempts to log onto a system or enter a database with an invalid password or username, denial-of-service attacks that do not result in the system being taken off-line or malware such as worms or viruses) ("Unsuccessful Security Incidents"), aggregate the data and, upon the Covered Entity's written request, report to the Covered Entity in accordance with the reporting requirements identified in Section 4(d)(iii)(2);
(5) Take all commercially reasonable steps to mitigate, to the extent practicable, any harmful effect that is known to Business Associate resulting from any unauthorized access, use, disclosure, modification or destruction of PHI;
(6) Permit termination of this BA Agreement if the Covered Entity determines that Business Associate has violated a material term of this BA Agreement with respect to Business Associate's security obligations and Business Associate is unable to cure the violation; and
(7) Upon Covered Entity's request, provide Covered Entity with access to and copies of documentation regarding Business Associate's safeguards for PHI and Electronic PHI.
Notice and Reporting Obligations of Business Associate
(i) Notice of Non-Compliance with the BA Agreement. Business Associate will notify Covered Entity within 30 calendar days after discovery, any unauthorized access, use, disclosure, modification or destruction of PHI (including any successful Security Incident) that is not permitted by this BA Agreement, by applicable law or permitted in writing by Covered Entity, whether such non-compliance is by (or at) Business Associate or by (or at) a Business Associate Subcontractor.
(ii) Notice of Breach. Business Associate will notify Covered Entity following discovery and without unreasonable delay but in no event later than 30 calendar days following discovery, any Breach of Unsecured Protected Health Information, whether such Breach is by Business Associate or by Business Associate Subcontractor.
(1) As provided for in 45 C.F.R. § 164.402, Business Associate recognizes and agrees that any acquisition, access, use or disclosure of PHI in a manner not permitted under the HIPM Privacy Rule (Subpart E of45 C.F.R. Part 164) is presumed to be a Breach. As such, Business Associate shall (i) notify Covered Entity of any non-permitted acquisition, access, use or disclosure of PHI and (ii) assist Covered Entity in performing (or at Covered Entity's direction, perform) a risk assessment to determine if there is a low probability that the PHI has been compromised.
(2) Business Associate shall cooperate with Covered Entity in meeting the Covered Entity's obligations under the HIPM Requirements and any other security breach notification laws. Business Associate shall follow its notification to the Covered Entity with a report that meets the requirements outlined immediately below.
(iii) Reporting Obligations.
(1) For Successful Security Incidents and Breaches, Business Associate - without unreasonable delay and in no event later than 30 calendar days after Business Associate learns of such non-permitted use or disclosure (whether at Business Associate or at Business Associate Subcontractor) - shall provide Covered Entity a report that will:
a. Identify (if known) each individual whose Unsecured Protected Health Information has been or is reasonably believed by Business Associate to have been accessed, acquired or disclosed;
b. Identify the nature of the non-permitted access, use or disclosure including the date of the incident and the date of discovery;
c. Identify the PHI accessed, used or disclosed (e.g., name; social security number; date of birth);
d. Identify what corrective action Business Associate (or Business Associate Subcontractor) took or will take to prevent further non-permitted accesses, uses or disclosures;
e. Identify what Business Associate (or Business Associate Subcontractor) did or will do to mitigate any deleterious effect of the non-permitted access, use or disclosure; and
f. Provide such other information, including a written report, as the Covered Entity may reasonably request.
(2) For Unsuccessful Security Incidents, Business Associate shall provide Covered Entity, upon its written request, a report that:
a. identifies the categories of Unsuccessful Security Incidents as described in Section 4(c)(iii)(4),
b. indicates whether Business Associate believes its (or its Business Associate Subcontractor's) current defensive security measures are adequate to address all Unsuccessful Security Incidents, given the scope and nature of such attempts and
c. if the security measures are not adequate, the measures Business Associate (or Business Associate Subcontractor) will implement to address the security inadequacies.
(iv) Termination.
(1) Covered Entity and Business Associate each will have the right to terminate this BA Agreement if the other Party has engaged in a pattern of activity or practice that constitutes a material breach or violation of Business Associate's or the Covered Entity's respective obligations regarding PHI under this BA Agreement and, on notice of such material breach or violation from the Covered Entity or Business Associate, fails to take reasonable steps to cure the material breach or end the violation.
(2) If Business Associate or Covered Entity fail to cure the material breach or end the violation after the other Party's notice, Covered Entity or Business Associate (as applicable) may terminate this BA Agreement by providing Business Associate or Covered Entity written notice of termination, stating the uncured material breach or violation that provides the basis for the termination and specifying the effective date of the termination. Such termination shall be effective 60 days from this termination notice.
(v) Continuing Privacy and Security Obligations. Business Associate's and Covered Entity's obligation to protect the privacy and security of the PHI it created, received, maintained or transmitted in connection with services to be provided under the Engagement Letter and this BA Agreement will be continuous and survive termination, cancellation, expiration or other conclusion of this BA Agreement or the Engagement Letter. Business Associate's other obligations and rights, and Covered Entity's obligations and rights upon termination, cancellation, expiration or other conclusion of this BA Agreement, are those set forth in this BA Agreement and/or the Engagement Letter.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have signed this BA Agreement on the dates indicated below. BAKER TILLY US, LLP Rock University High School
ADA Compliant Baker Tilly Audit 6-2022
Executive summary
December 15, 2021
To the Governance Council: We have completed our audit of the financial statements of Rock University High School Charter School (the "School”) for the year ended June 30, 2021 and have issued our report thereon dated December 15, 2021. This letter presents communications required by our professional standards.
Your audit should provide you with confidence in your financial statements. The audit was performed based on information obtained from meetings with management, data from your systems, knowledge of your School’s operating environment and our risk assessment procedures. We strive to provide you clear, concise communication throughout the audit process and of the final results of our audit.
Additionally, we have included information on key risk areas Rock University High School Charter School should be aware of in your strategic planning. We are available to discuss these risks as they relate to your organization’s financial stability and future planning.
If you have questions at any point, please connect with us: - Wendi Unger, Partner: Wendi.Unger@bakertilly.com or +1 (414) 777 5423 Sincerely, Baker Tilly US, LLP Wendi M. Unger, CPA, Partner
Responsibilities
Our responsibilities As your independent auditor, our responsibilities include:
- - Planning and performing the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance.
- - Assessing the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. Included in that assessment is a consideration of the School’s internal control over financial reporting.
- - Performing appropriate procedures based upon our risk assessment.
- - Evaluating the appropriateness of the accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management.
- - Forming and expressing an opinion based on our audit about whether the financial statements prepared by management, with the oversight of the governance council:
- - Are free from material misstatement
- - Present fairly, in all material respects and in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America
- - Performing tests related to compliance with certain provisions of laws, regulations, contracts and grants, as required by Government Auditing Standards
We are also required to communicate significant matters related to our audit that are relevant to the responsibilities of the governance council, including:
- - Qualitative aspects of the School’s accounting practice including policies, accounting estimates and financial statement disclosures
- - Significant difficulties encountered
- - Disagreements with management
- - Corrected and uncorrected misstatements
- - Internal control matters
- - Significant estimates
- - Other findings or issues arising from the audit
Management | Auditor |
---|---|
Prepare and fairly present the financial statements | our audit does not relieve management or the governance council of their responsibilities |
Establish and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and compliance with laws, regulations, contracts and grants | An audit includes consideration of internal control over financial reporting, but not an expression of an opinion on those controls |
Provide us with written representations at the conclusion of the audi | See Appendix for a copy of management's representations |
Audit status
Significant changes to the audit plan
There were no significant changes made to either our planned audit strategy or to the significant risks and other areas of emphasis identified during the performance of our risk assessment procedures.
Audit approach and results
Planned scope and timing
Audit focus
Based on our understanding of the School and environment in which you operate, we focused our audit on the following key areas:
- - Key transaction cycles
- - Areas with significant estimates
Our areas of audit focus were informed by, among other things, our assessment of materiality. Materiality in the context of our audit was determined based on specific qualitative and quantitative factors combined with our expectations about the School’s current year results.
Key areas of focus and significant findings
Significant risks of material misstatement
A significant risk is an identified and assessed risk of material misstatement that, in the auditor’s professional judgment, requires special audit consideration. Within our audit, we focused on the following areas below.
Significant risk areas | Testing approach | Conclusion |
---|---|---|
Management override of controls | Incorporate unpredictability into audit procedures, emphasize professional skepticism and utilize audit team with industry expertise | Procedures identified provided sufficient evidence for our audit opinion |
Improper revenue recognition due to fraud | Confirmation or validation of certain revenues supplemented with detailed predictive analytics based on non-financial data and substantive testing of related receivables | Procedures identified provided sufficient evidence for our audit opinion |
Other key areas of emphasis
We also focused on other areas that did not meet the definition of a significant risk, but were determined to require specific awareness and a unique audit response. Other key areas of emphasis Testing approach Cash and investments Revenues and receivables General disbursements Payroll Net position calculations Financial reporting and required disclosures Capital assets Internal control matters We considered the School’s internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing our audit procedures for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the financial statements. We are not expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the School’s internal control.
Our consideration of internal control was for the limited purpose described in the preceding paragraph and was not designed to identify all deficiencies in internal control that might be material weaknesses or significant deficiencies and, therefore, material weaknesses or significant deficiencies may exist that were not identified.
A deficiency in internal control exists when the design or operation of a control does not allow management or employees, in the normal course of performing their assigned functions, to prevent, or detect and correct misstatements on a timely basis.
A material weakness is a deficiency or combination of deficiencies in internal control such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the entity’s financial statements will not be prevented, or detected and corrected, on a timely basis. We identified the following deficiency as a material weakness.
- Financial statement close process
Properly designed systems of internal control provide your organization with the ability to process and record accurate monthly and year-end transactions and annual financial reports.
Our audit includes a review and evaluation of the internal controls relating to financial reporting. Common attributes of a properly designed system of internal control for financial reporting are as follows:
- There is adequate staffing to prepare financial reports throughout the year and at year-end.
- Material misstatements are identified and corrected during the normal course of duties.
- Complete and accurate financial statements, including footnotes, are prepared.
- Financial reports are independently reviewed for completeness and accuracy.
Our evaluation of the internal controls over financial reporting has identified control deficiencies that are considered material weakness surrounding the preparation of financial statements and footnotes, adjusting journal entries identified by the auditors, and an independent review of financial reports. Management has not prepared financial statements that are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
Required communications
Qualitative aspect of accounting practices
- Accounting policies: Management is responsible for the selection and use of appropriate accounting policies. In accordance with the terms of our engagement letter, we have advised management about the appropriateness of accounting policies and their application. The significant accounting policies used by the School are described in Note 1 to the financial statements. No new accounting policies were adopted and the application of existing accounting policies was not changed during the 2021 fiscal year. We noted no transactions entered into by the School during the year for which accounting policies are controversial or for which there is a lack of authoritative guidance or consensus or diversity in practice.
- Accounting estimates: Accounting estimates, including fair value estimates, are an integral part of the financial statements prepared by management and are based on management's knowledge and experience about past and current events and assumptions about future events. Certain accounting estimates are particularly sensitive because of their significance to the financial statements, the degree of subjectivity involved in their development and because of the possibility that future events affecting them may differ significantly from those expected. The following estimates are of most significance to the financial statements:
Estimate | Management’s process to determine | Baker Tilly’s conclusions regarding reasonableness |
---|---|---|
Depreciation | Evaluate estimated useful life of the asset and original acquisition value | Reasonable in relation to the financial statements as a whole |
There have been no significant changes made by management to either the processes used to develop the particularly sensitive accounting estimates, or to the significant assumptions used to develop the estimates, noted above.
- Financial statement disclosures: The disclosures in the financial statements are neutral, consistent and clear.
Significant difficulties encountered during the audit
We encountered no significant difficulties in dealing with management and completing our audit.
Other audit findings or issues
We encountered no other audit findings or issues that require communication at this time.
We generally discuss a variety of matters, including the application of accounting principles and auditing standards, with management each year prior to retention as the School’s auditors. However, these discussions occurred in the normal course of our professional relationship and our responses were not a condition to our retention
Disagreements with management
Professional standards define a disagreement with management as a matter, whether or not resolved to our satisfaction, concerning a financial accounting, reporting, or auditing matter that could be significant to the financial statements or the auditors' report. We are pleased to report that no such disagreements arose during the course of our audit.
Uncorrected misstatements and corrected misstatements
Professional standards require us to accumulate all known and likely misstatements identified during the audit, other than those that are trivial, and communicate them to the appropriate level of management. There were no misstatements identified.
Significant unusual transactions
There have been no significant transactions that are outside the normal course of business for the School or that otherwise appear to be unusual due to their timing, size or nature.
Management’s consultations with other accountants
In some cases, management may decide to consult with other accountants about auditing and accounting matters. Management informed us that, and to our knowledge, there were no consultations with other accountants regarding auditing or accounting matters.
Written communications between management and Baker Tilly
The Appendix includes copies of other material written communications, including a copy of the management representation letter.
Compliance with laws and regulations
We did not identify any non-compliance with laws and regulations during our audit.
Fraud
We did not identify any known or suspected fraud during our audit.
Going concern
Pursuant to professional standards, we are required to communicate to you, when applicable, certain matters relating to our evaluation of the School’s ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time but no less than 12 months from the date the financial statements are issued or available to be issued, including the effects on the financial statements and the adequacy of the related disclosures, and the effects on the auditor's report. No such matters or conditions have come to our attention during our engagement.
Independence
We are not aware of any relationships between Baker Tilly and the School that, in our professional judgment, may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence.
Related parties
We did not have any significant findings or issues arise during the audit in connection with the School’s related parties.
Nonattest services
The following nonattest services were provided by Baker Tilly:
- Financial statement preparation
- Trial balance formatting from general ledger data
In addition, we prepared GASB No. 34 conversion entries which are summarized in the “Reconciliation of the Balance Sheet of Governmental Funds to the Statement of Net Position” and the “Reconciliation of the Statement of Revenues, Expenditures, and Changes in Fund Balances of Governmental Funds to the Statement of Activities” in the financial statements.
None of these nonattest services constitute an audit under generally accepted auditing standards, including Government Auditing Standards
Accounting changes relevant to the School
Future accounting standards update
GASB Statement Number | Description | Potentially Impacts you | Effective Date |
---|---|---|---|
87 | Leases | 6/30/22* | |
89 | Accounting for Interest Incurred before the End of a Construction Period | 6/30/22* | |
91 | Conduit Debt | 6/30/23* | |
92 | Omnibus 2020 | 6/30/22* | |
93 | Replacement of Interfund Bank Offered Rates | 6/30/22* | |
94 | Public-Private and Public-Public Partnerships and Availability Payment Arrangements | 6/30/23 | |
96 | Subscription-Based Information Technology Arrangements | 6/30/23 | |
97 | Certain Component Unit Criteria, and Accounting and Financial Reporting for Internal Revenue Code Section 457 Deferred Compensation Plans | 6/30/22 |
*The statements listed above through Statement No. 93 had their required effective dates postponed by one year with the issuance of Statement No. 95, Postponement of Effective Dates of Certain Authoritative Guidance, with the exception of Statement No. 87 which was postponed by one and a half years. The effective date reflected above is the required revised implementation date.
Further information on upcoming GASB pronouncements
Preparing for the new lease standard
GASB’s new single model for lease accounting will be effective soon. This standard will require governments to identify and evaluate contracts that convey control of the right to use another entity’s nonfinancial asset as specified in the contract for a period of time in an exchange or exchange-like transaction. Contracts meeting the criteria for control, term and other items within the standard will result in recognizing a right to use asset and lease liability or a receivable and deferred inflow of resources.
We recommend the School review this standard and start planning now as to how this will affect your financial reporting. We recommend that you begin by completing an inventory of all contracts that might meet the definition of a lease. The contract listing should include key terms of the contracts such as:
- - Description of contract
- - Underlying asset
- - Contract term
- - Options for extensions and terminations
- - Service components, if any
- - Dollar amount of lease
In addition, the School should begin to establish a lease policy to address the treatment of common lease types, including a dollar threshold for each lease. We are available to discuss this further and help you develop an action plan. Learn more about GASB 87
Trending challenges and opportunities for organizations
Management and governing bodies must keep the future in mind as they evaluate strategies to achieve future growth. Keeping a balance between risk and sustainability is key, and organizations need to think beyond their immediate needs to their long-term goals. Economic uncertainty, coupled with key risk areas and fast-paced technology change, make strategic planning complex. Begin the discussion with your management team to find your path to your future
Turning toward recovery and growth
Many organizations are focusing on the strategic restart and ramp up of their operations. With great uncertainty about what recovery will look like–or how long it will take–it is essential for your organization to understand the scenarios you may face and plan your path back to growth. We can help you chart a way forward that will enhance and maximize your value, minimize further disruption and keep your workforce safe. Recommendation Follow our road map to reopen, recover and reset
Compliance with federal awards
Challenge
The COVID-19 crisis has had a significant effect on the nation, including recipients of federal awards resulting from various congressional acts. Federal funding adds an increased level of scrutiny and brings new challenges around compliance, reporting and administration.
Finance and spending departments are operating in unprecedented times as they manage and administer these funds while also remaining economically viable, maintaining operations and adapting to the “new normal.”
Recommendation
Learn more about compliance for federal funds obtained for pandemic response efforts
Recession proofing measures
Challenge
Ever aware of the need to balance the needs of diverse constituents against constrained revenue streams and conflicting priorities, public leaders strive to effectively deploy scarce resources while maintaining the highest levels of accountability and transparency.
In times of crisis, additional challenges emerge to maintain essential services, ensure citizen safety, protect their workforce and jumpstart programs to mitigate negative local economic impacts–all while focusing on planning for long-term effects of revenue shortages and the subsequent recovery.
Developing strategic clarity, aligning resources with priorities, strengthening performance, optimizing processes and leveraging technology are imperative.
Recommendation
Learn about proactive measures to insulate your organization from financial hardship and to optimize your organization’s performance.
Recruiting and hiring
Challenge
Public sector entities in need of key workforce personnel, such as city or county managers and administrators, city or county attorneys, fire chiefs, police chiefs and other departmental directors, may find themselves in an unenviable position during a pandemic.
Organizations need the talent, but a pandemic can disrupt essential business processes and cause apprehension about access to desirable candidates.
Hiring leaders should proactively discuss what-if scenarios, evaluate short-term and long-term hiring priorities, and plan for situations where immediate recruitment is imperative.
Recommendation
Learn the key considerations and actions for recruiting and hiring in a crisis.
Risk assessment
Challenge
Organizations today manage ever-expanding priorities in a constantly evolving, disruptive risk environment. Undetected risks, insufficient internal controls and inefficient business processes may negatively impact not only the entity but also its workforce and the community at large. Risk assessment and internal audit prove essential to identifying top risks and the appropriateness of response in order to:
– Manage risk and compliance
– Enhance governance and strategy
– Optimize operations
– Gain assurance around key functions and processes that contribute toward meeting organizational goals
Recommendation
Learn about the key considerations for the risk assessment process and internal audit planning.
Information technology and cybersecurity
Challenge
While return-to-work scenarios are being developed, it is likely that remote workforces will remain a reality for many organizations in the short- to mid-term. Though many organizations have been able to adapt on a short-term basis, some will not be prepared for long-term operation on a remote and virtual basis. Organizations should increase monitoring of invasive cyber events, given the likely increase in hackers sending out fake emails, website links and ransomware attacks – and also consider:
- ― Adequacy of IT controls and security
- ― Performance of remote infrastructure supporting operations
- ― Improvements to remote applications for communication, collaboration and workflow
- ― Alternatives for data entry, work and information flow
Recommendation
Learn more about information technology and cybersecurity, including System & Organization Controls reporting
December 15, 2021
Baker Tilly US, LLP 777 E.
Wisconsin Avenue, 32nd Floor
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
Dear Baker Tilly US, LLP:
We are providing this letter in connection with your audit of the financial statements of Rock University High School, a charter school and component unit of the School District of Janesville, Wisconsin, as of June 30, 2021 and for the year then ended for the purpose of expressing opinions as to whether the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the respective financial position of the governmental activities and the general fund of Rock University High School and the respective changes in financial position, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. We confirm that we are responsible for the fair presentation of the previously mentioned financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. We are also responsible for adopting sound accounting policies, establishing and maintaining internal control over financial reporting, and preventing and detecting fraud.
Certain representations in this letter are described as being limited to matters that are material. Items are considered material, regardless of size, if they involve an omission or misstatement of accounting information that, in the light of surrounding circumstances, makes it probable that the judgment of a reasonable person relying on the information would be changed or influenced by the omission or misstatement. An omission or misstatement that is monetarily small in amount could be considered material as a result of qualitative factors.
We confirm, to the best of our knowledge and belief, the following representations made to you during your audit.
Financial Statements
We have fulfilled our responsibilities, as set out in the terms of the audit engagement letter.
2) The financial statements referred to above are fairly presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. We have engaged you to advise us in fulfilling that responsibility. The financial statements include all properly classified funds of the primary government and all component units required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America to be included in the financial reporting entity.
3) We acknowledge our responsibility for the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatements, whether due to fraud or error.
4) We acknowledge our responsibility for the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control to prevent and detect fraud.
5) All events subsequent to the date of the financial statements and for which accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America require adjustment or disclosure have been adjusted or disclosed. No other events,including instances of non-compliance,have occurred subsequent to the financial statement date and through the date of this letter that would require adjustment to or disclosure in the aforementioned financial statements.
6) All material transactions have been recorded in the accounting records and are reflected in the financial statements.
7) All known audit and bookkeeping adjustments have been included in our financial statements, and we are in agreement with those adjustments.
8) There are no known or possible litigation, claims, and assessments whose effects should be considered when preparing the financial statements. There are no unasserted claims or assessments that our lawyer has advised us are probable of assertion and must be disclosed in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
9) Guarantees, whether written or oral, under which the School is contingently liable, if any, have been properly recorded or disclosed. Information Provided We have provided you with:
- a) Access to all information, of which we are aware, that is relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements, such as financial records and related data, documentation, and other matters.
- b) Additional information that you have requested from us for the purpose of the audit.
- c) Unrestricted access to persons within the entity from whom you determined it necessary to obtain audit evidence.
- d) Minutes of the meetings of the governance council or summaries of actions of recent meetings for which minutes have not yet been prepared.
11) We have not completed an assessment of the risk that the financial statements may be materially misstated as a result of fraud.
12) We have no knowledge of any fraud or suspected fraud that affects the entity and involves:
- a) Management,
- b) Employees who have significant roles in internal control, or
- c) Others where the fraud could have a material effect on the financial statements.
13) We have no knowledge of any allegations of fraud or suspected fraud affecting the entity received in communications from employees, former employees, regulators, or others.
14) We have no knowledge of known instances of noncompliance or suspected noncompliance with provisions of laws, regulations, contracts, or grant agreements, or abuse, whose effects should be considered when preparing financial statements.
15) There are no known related parties or related party relationships and transactions of which we are aware. Other
16) There have been no communications from regulatory agencies concerning noncompliance with, or deficiencies in, financial reporting practices.
17) We have a process to track the status of audit findings and recommendations.
18) We have identified to you any previous financial audits, attestation engagements, and other studies related to the audit objectives and whether related recommendations have been implemented.
19) The School has no plans or intentions that may materially affect the carrying value or classification of assets,liabilities,or equity.
20) We are responsible for compliance with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and provisions of contracts and grant agreements applicable to us, including tax or debt limits, debt contracts, and IRS arbitrage regulations; and we have identified and disclosed to you all federal, state, and local laws, regulations and provisions of contracts and grant agreements that we believe have a direct and material effect on the determination of financial statement amounts or other financial data significant to the audit objectives, including legal and contractual provisions for reporting specific activities in separate funds.
21) There are no:
- a) Violations or possible violations of budget ordinances, federal, state, and local laws or regulations (including those pertaining to adopting, approving and amending budgets), provisions of contracts and grant agreements, tax or debt limits, and any related debt covenants whose effects should be considered for disclosure in the financial statements or as a basis for recording a loss contingency, or for reporting on noncompliance, except those already disclosed in the financial statement, if any.
- b) Other liabilities or gain or loss contingencies that are required to be accrued or disclosed by accountingprinciplesgenerallyacceptedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica.
- c ) Nonspendable, restricted, committed, or assigned fund balances that were not properly authorized and approved.
- d) Rates being charged to customers other than the rates as authorized by the applicable authoritative body.
- e) Violations of restrictions placed on revenues as a result of bond resolution covenants such as revenue distribution or debt service funding.
22) In regards to the nonattest services performed by you listed below, we have
- accepted all management responsibility;
- designated an individual with suitable skill, knowledge, or experience to oversee the services;
- evaluated the adequacy and results of the services performed, and
- accepted responsibility for the results of the services.
a) Financial statement preparation
b) Trial balance formatting from general ledger data None of these nonattest services constitute an audit under generally accepted auditing standards, including Government Auditing Standards.
23) Rock University High School has satisfactory title to all owned assets, and there are no liens or encumbrances on such assets nor has any asset been pledged as collateral.
24) Rock University High School has complied with all aspects of contractual agreements that would have a material effect on the financial statement in the event of noncompliance.
25) The financial statements properly classify all funds and activities.
26) All funds that meet the quantitative criteria in GASB Statement No. 34 and No. 37 for presentation as major are identified and presented as such and all other funds that are presented as major are particularly important to financial statement users.
27) Components of net position (net investment in capital assets; restricted; and unrestricted) and components of fund balance (nonspendable, restricted, committed, assigned and unassigned) are properly classified and, if applicable, approved.
28) Provisions for uncollectible receivables, if any, have been properly identified and recorded.
29) Expenses have been appropriately classified in or allocated to functions and programs in the statement of activities,and allocations have been made on a reasonable basis.
30) Revenues are appropriately classified in the statement of activities within program revenues and general revenues.
31) Interfund, internal, and intra entity activity and balances have been appropriately classified and reported.
32) Deposits and investments are properly classified, valued, and disclosed (including risk disclosures, collateralization agreements, valuation methods, and key inputs, as applicable).
33) We have appropriately disclosed Rock University High School's policy regarding whether to first apply restricted or unrestricted resources when an expense is incurred for purposes for which both restricted and unrestricted net position are available and have determined that net position were properly recognized under the policy. We have also disclosed our policy regarding which resources (that is, restricted, committed, assigned or unassigned) are considered to be spent first for expenditures for which more than one resource classification is available.
ADA Compliant Audited Financial Statements June 2022
ROCK UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL
A Charter School & Component Unit of the School District of Janesville Janesville, Wisconsin
AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Year Ended June 30, 2022
Independent Auditors' Report
To the Governance Council of Rock University High School Report on the Audit of the Financial Statements
Opinions
We have audited the accompanying financial statements of the governmental activities and each major fund of the Rock University High School, a component unit of the School District of Janesville, as of and for the year ended June 30, 2022, and the related notes to the financial statements, which collectively comprise the Rock University High School's basic financial statements as listed in the table of contents.
In our opinion, the accompanying financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the respective financial position of the governmental activities and each major fund of the Rock University High School as of June 30, 2022, and the respective changes in financial position for the year then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinions
We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAS) and the standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States (Government Auditing Standards). Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors' Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements section of our report. We are required to be independent of the Rock University High School and to meet our other ethical responsibilities, in accordance with the relevant ethical requirements relating to our audit. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinions.
Emphasis of Matter
As described in Note 1, the accompanying financial statements referred to above present only the financial position of Rock University High School at June 30, 2022 and the respective change in financial position for the year then ended and is not intended to be a complete presentation of the School District of Janesville. These financial statements do not purport to and do not present fairly the financial position of the School District of Janesville as of June 30, 2022 and its changes in financial position for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Responsibilities of Management for the Financial Statements
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; and for the design, implementation and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, management is required to evaluate whether there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Rock University High School's ability to continue as a going concern for twelve months beyond the financial statement date, including any currently known information that may raise substantial doubt shortly thereafter.
Auditors' Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditors' report that includes our opinions. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not absolute assurance and therefore is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with GAAS and Government Auditing Standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations or the override of internal control. Misstatements are considered material if there is a substantial likelihood that, individually or in the aggregate, they would influence the judgment made by a reasonable user based on the financial statements. In performing an audit in accordance with GAAS and Government Auditing Standards, we:
- Exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit.
- Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, and design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks. Such procedures include examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.
- Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of Rock University High School's internal control. Accordingly, no such opinion is expressed.
- Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluate the overall presentation of the financial statements.
- Conclude whether, in our judgment, there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about Rock University High School's ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time.
We are required to communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit, significant audit findings and certain internal control-related matters that we identified during the audit.
Required Supplementary Information Management has omitted management's discussion and analysis that accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America require to be presented to supplement the basic financial statements. Such missing information, although not a part of the basic financial statements, is required by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board who considers it to be an essential part of financial reporting for placing the basic financial statements in an appropriate operational, economic or historical context. Our opinion on the basic financial statements is not affected by this missing information.
Other Reporting Required by Government Auditing Standards
In accordance with Government Auditing Standards, we have also issued our report dated December 12, 2022 on our consideration of the Rock University High School's internal control over financial reporting and on our tests of its compliance with certain provisions of laws, regulations, contracts and grant agreements and other matters. The purpose of that report is solely to describe the scope of our testing of internal control over financial reporting and compliance and the results of that testing, and not to provide an opinion on the effectiveness of the Rock University High School's internal control over financial reporting or on compliance. That report is an integral part of an audit performed in accordance with Government Auditing Standards in considering the Rock University High School's internal control over financial reporting and compliance.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
December 12, 2022
Rock University High School
A Charter School & Component Unit of he School District of Janesville, Wisconsin
Statement of Net Position
June 30, 2022
- Assets
- Current Assets: Due from other governments $70,707
- Capital Assets: Depreciable, net of accumulated depreciation $59,991
- Total Assets: $130,698
- Liabilities
- Current liabilities:
- Accounts payable $8,581
- Accrued wages $64,214
- Fringe Benefits and withholdings $20,627
- Due to scholl district $206,643
- Current liabilities:
- Net Position (Deficit):
- Net investment in capital assets $59,991
- Restricted for other activities $2,054
- Unrestricted ($231,412)
- Total net position ($169,367)
Statements of Activities
Year end June 30, 2022
Governmental Activities | Expenses | charges for service | Operationg Grants and Contributiton | Net (Expenses) Revenues and changes in net position |
Instruction: General | $431,633 | $1,932 | $66,805 | ($362,896) |
Special | 97,231 | - | - | (97,231) |
Cocurricular | 692 | - | 2,31 | 1,618 |
Total instruction | $529,556 | 1,932 | 69,115 | (458,509) |
Support Services: Student support | $33,088 | - | - | (33,088) |
Instructional support | $29,876 | - | 22,513 | (7,364) |
General and school administration | 137,433 | - | 53,913 | (83,520) |
Business and ancillary services | 3,086 | - | 1,429 | (1,657) |
Other support services | 10,821 | - | - |
(10,821) |
Total Support services | 214,304 | - | 77,854 | (136,450) |
Total activities | 743,860 | 1,932 | 146,969 | (594,959) |
General Revenues: Allocation from the school district not restricted to specific functions |
529,010 | |||
Change in net position | (65,040) | |||
Net position - beginning of fiscal year | (103,418) | |||
Net position - End of fiscal year | (169,367) |
Balance sheet Governmental Funds
Assets | General Fund | Gifts Fund | Total Government Funds |
Due from school district | - | 2,054 | 2,054 |
Due from other governments | 70,707 | - | 70,707 |
Total Assets | 72,761 | ||
Liabilities and Fund Balances (Deficit) | |||
Liabilities | |||
Accounts payable | 8,581 | - | 8,581 |
Accured wages | 64,214 | - | 64,214 |
Fringe benefits and withholdings | 20,627 | - | 20,267 |
Due to school district | 208,697 | - | 208,967 |
Total Liabiliteies | 302,119 | 302,119 | |
Fund Balances (Deficit) | |||
Restricted | - | 2,054 | 2,054 |
Unassigned | (231,412) | (231,412 | |
Total fund balances (deficit) | (231,412) | 2,054 | (229,358) |
Total Liabilities and fund balances (deficit) | 70,707 | 2,054 | (72,761 |
Reconcilliation of the Governmental Funds Balance Sheet June 20, 2022
Total fund balances (deficit) - governmental funds $(229,358)
Amounts reported for governmental activities in the statement of net position are differnt because:
Capital assets used in governmental activities are not finacial resources and therefore are not reported as assets in governmental funds:
cost of the assets: | $332,074 |
Accumulated depreciation | ($272,083) |
$59,991 | |
Total net position (Deficit)- governmental activities | $(169,367) |
Statement of Revenues Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balances Governmental Funds
Revenues | General Fund | Gifts Fund | Total Government Funds |
Local | $529,627 | 6,127 | 535,754 |
Federal | 142,157 | -, | 142,157 |
Total Assets | 671,784 | 6,127 | 677,911 |
Expenditures | |||
Instruction: | |||
General | 404,485 | 253 | 404,738 |
Special | 97,231 | - | 97,231 |
Cocurricular | 3 | 689 | 692 |
Total instruction | 501,719 | 942 | 502,661 |
Support services: | |||
Student support | 33,032 | 56 | 33,088 |
Instructional Support | 29,876 | - | 29,876 |
General and school administration | 137,433 | - | 137,433 |
Business and ancillary services | 11 | 3,075 | 3,086 |
Other support services | 831 | - | 831 |
Total support services | 201,183 | 3,131 | 204,314 |
Instructional service payments | 24,968 | - | 24,968 |
Total expenditures | 727,870 | 4,073 | 731,943 |
Net change in fund balances | (56,086) | 2,054 | (54,032) |
Fund Balances (Deficit) - beginning of year | (175,326) | - | (175,326) |
Fund Balances (Deficit) end of year | (231,412) | 2,054 | (229,358) |
Reconcilliation of Governmental Funds
Statement of Revenues, Expenditures, and Changes in Fund Balances to the Statement of Activities Year end June, 30, 2022
Net change in fund balances- governmental funds ($54,032)
Amounts reported for governmental activities in the statement of activities are different because:
Capital outlays are reported in governmental funds as expenditures. However, in the statement of activitiees, the cost of those assets is allocated over their estimated useful lives a deprciation expense.
Depriciation expense: ($11,917)
Change in net position of governmental activities $(65,949)
Notes to Financial Statements June 30, 2022
- Summary of Significant Accountin Policies
Rock University High School (“School”) is a charter school and component unit of the School District of Janesville (“District”). The School’s charter is held by the District and organized pursuant to §118.40(2m)(a), Wis. Stat., which authorizes the District to enter into a contract to operate a charter school within the District. The financial statements of the School have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (“GASB”) is responsible for establishing GAAP for state and local governments through its pronouncements (Statements and Interpretations). The more significant accounting policies used by the School are discussed below.
Reporting Entity
The basic financial statements of the School present only the balances, activity, and disclosures related to the School. They do not, and do not purport to, present fairly the financial position of the District as of June 30, 2022, and its changes in financial position, for the year ended in conformity with GAAP.
This report includes all activity of the School. The reporting entity for the School consists of the primary government and its component units. Component units are legally separate organizations for which the primary government is financially accountable or other organizations for which the nature and significance of their relationship with the primary government are such that their exclusion would cause the reporting entity's financial statements to be misleading. The School has not identified any organizations that meet this criteria.
Government-Wide and Fund Financial Statements
Government-Wide Financial Statements
The statement of net position and statement of activities display information about the reporting government as a whole. They include all funds of the reporting entity. Governmental activities generally are financed through taxes, intergovernmental revenues, and other non-exchange revenues.
The statement of activities demonstrates the degree to which the direct expenses of a given function or segment is offset by program revenues. Direct expenses are those that are clearly identifiable with a specific function or segment. The School does not allocate indirect expenses to functions in the statement of activities. Program revenues include: 1) charges to customers or applicants who purchase, use, or directly benefit from goods, services, or privileges provided by a given function or segment and
2) grants and contributions that are restricted to meeting the operational or capital requirements of a particular function or segment. Taxes and other items not included among program revenues are reported as general revenues. Internally-dedicated resources are reported as general revenues rather than as program revenues.
Fund Financial Statements
Financial statements of the School are organized into funds, which are considered to be separate accounting entities. Each fund is accounted for by providing a separate set of self-balancing accounts, which constitute its assets, deferred outflows, liabilities, deferred inflows, net position/fund balance, revenues and expenditures. Major individual governmental funds are reported as separate columns in the fund financial statements. Funds are organized as major funds or non-major funds within the governmental statements. An emphasis is placed on major funds within the governmental categories. A fund is considered major if it is the primary operating fund of the School or meets the following criteria:
a) Total assets/deferred outflows, liabilities/deferred inflows, revenues, or expenditures/expenses of that individual governmental or enterprise fund are at least 10 percent of the corresponding total for all funds of that category or type, and
b) The same element of the individual governmental fund or enterprise fund that met the 10 percent test is at least 5 percent of the corresponding total for all governmental funds combined.
c) In addition, any other governmental fund that the School believes is particularly important to financial statement users may be reported as a major fund.
The School reports the following major governmental funds:
General Fund - The General Fund is the operating fund of the School. It is used to account for all financial resources of the School except those required to be accounted for in other funds. This fund includes activities associated with providing education programs to students with disabilities.
Special Revenue Fund - Gifts Fund – This fund is used to account for gifts and donations received by the School restricted for specific activities.
Measurement Focus, Basis of Accounting, and Financial Statement Presentation
Government-Wide Financial Statements
The government-wide statement of net position and statement of activities are reported using the economic resources measurement focus and the accrual basis of accounting. Under the accrual basis of accounting, revenues are recognized when earned and expenses are recorded when the liability is incurred or economic asset used. Revenues, expenses, gains, losses, assets, and liabilities resulting from exchange and exchange-like transactions are recognized when the exchange takes place. Grants and similar items are recognized as revenue as soon as all eligibility requirements imposed by the provider are met. Unbilled receivables are recorded as revenues when services are provided.
Fund Financial Statements
Governmental fund financial statements are reported using the current financial resources measurement focus and the modified accrual basis of accounting. Revenues are recorded when they are both measurable and available. Available means collectible within the current period or soon enough thereafter to be used to pay liabilities of the current period. For this purpose, the School considers revenues to be available if they are collected within 60 days of the end of the current fiscal period. Expenditures are recorded when the related fund liability is incurred, except for unmatured interest on long-term debt, claims, judgments, compensated absences, and pension expenditures, which are recorded as a fund liability when expected to be paid with expendable available financial resources.
All Financial Statements
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, deferred outflows of resources, liabilities and deferred inflows of resources and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenditures/expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Assets, Deferred Outflows of Resources, Liabilities, Deferred Inflows of Resources, and Net Position or Equity
Deposits and Investments
Investment of School funds is restricted by state statutes. Available investments are limited to:
a) Time deposits in any credit union, bank, savings bank, or trust company.
b) Bonds or securities of any county, city, drainage district, technical college district, village, town, or school district of the state. Also, bonds issued by a local exposition district, a local professional baseball park district, a local professional football stadium district, a local cultural arts district or by the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority.
c) Bonds or securities issued or guaranteed by the federal government.
d) The local government investment pool.
e) Any security maturing in seven years or less and having the highest or second highest rating category of a nationally recognized rating agency.
f) Securities of an open-end management investment company or investment trust, subject to various conditions and investment options.
g) Repurchase agreements with public depositories, with certain conditions. The School has not adopted an investment policy.
The School, as part of the District, is covered under an investment policy adopted by the District. Please refer to the District’s financial statements for information regarding the adopted investment policy. This policy does not address custodial credit risk associated with the District’s or the School's deposits or investments.
Investments are stated at fair value, which is the amount at which an investment could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties. No investments are reported at amortized cost. Adjustments necessary to record investments at fair value are recorded in the operating statement as increases or decreases in investment income.
Capital Assets
Government–Wide Statements
Capital assets, which include property, plant, and equipment, are reported in the government-wide financial statements. Capital assets are defined by the government as assets with an initial cost of more than $5,000 for general capital assets and an estimated useful life in excess of one year. All capital assets are valued at historical cost or estimated historical cost if actual amounts are unavailable. Donated capital assets are recorded at their estimated acquisition value at the date of donation.
Depreciation of all exhaustible capital assets is recorded as an allocated expense in the Statement of Activities, with accumulated depreciation reflected in the Statement of Net Position. Depreciation is provided over the assets’ estimated useful lives using the straight-line method of depreciation. The range of estimated useful lives by type of asset is as follows:
Buildings and improvements 20-40 Years
Land improvements 20-30 Years
Equipment 2-25 Years
Fund Financial Statements
In the fund financial statements, capital assets used in governmental fund operations are accounted for as capital outlay expenditures of the governmental fund upon acquisition.
Equity Classifications
Government–Wide Statements
Equity is classified as net position and displayed in three components:
a) Net Investment in capital assets – Consists of capital assets including restricted capital assets, net of accumulated depreciation and reduced by the outstanding balances (excluding unspent debt proceeds) of any bonds, mortgages, notes, or other borrowings that are attributable to the acquisition, construction, or improvement of those assets.
b) Restricted net position – Consists of net position with constraints placed on the use either by 1) external groups such as creditors, grantors, contributors, or laws or regulations of other governments or 2) law through constitutional provisions or enabling legislation.
c) Unrestricted net position – All other net position that do not meet the definitions of restricted or net investment in capital assets. When both restricted and unrestricted resources are available for use, it is the School’s policy to use restricted resources first, then unrestricted resources as they are needed.
Fund Statements
Governmental fund balances are as follows:
a) Nonspendable – Includes fund balance amounts that cannot be spent either because they are not in spendable form or because legal or contractual requirements require them to be maintained intact.
b) Restricted – Consists of fund balances with constraints placed on their use either by
- external groups such as creditors, grantors, contributors, or laws or regulations of other governments or
- law through constitutional provisions or enabling legislation.
c) Committed – Includes fund balance amounts that are constrained for specific purposes that are internally imposed by the government through formal action of the highest level of decision-making authority. Fund
balance amounts are committed through a formal action (resolution or motion) of the Board. This formal action must occur prior to the end of the reporting period, but the amount of the commitment, which will be subject to the constraints, may be determined in the subsequent period. Any changes to the constraints imposed require the same formal action of the Board that originally created the commitment.
d) Assigned – Includes spendable fund balance amounts that are intended to be used for specific purposes that do not meet the criteria to be classified as restricted or committed. Fund balance may be assigned through the following:
- The School has adopted a financial policy authorizing the School director to assign amounts for a specific purpose and
- all remaining positive spendable amounts in governmental funds, other than the general fund, that are neither restricted nor committed. Assignments may take place after the end of the reporting period.
e) Unassigned – Includes residual positive fund balance within the general fund which has not been classified within the other above-mentioned categories. Unassigned fund balance may also include negative balances for any governmental fund if expenditures exceed amounts restricted, committed, or assigned for those purposes. The School considers restricted amounts to be spent first when both restricted and unrestricted fund balance is available unless there are legal documents / contracts that prohibit doing this, such as in grant agreements requiring dollar for dollar spending. Additionally, the School would first use committed, then assigned and lastly unassigned amounts of unrestricted fund balance when expenditures are made.
2. Stewardship, Compliance, and Accountability
Deficit Fund Balance Generally accepted accounting principles require disclosure of individual funds that have deficit fund balances at year-end.
The general fund had a deficit of $231,412. This deficit is anticipated to be funded by future District allocations.
3. Detailed Notes on All Funds Receivables All receivables on the balance sheet are expected to be collected within one year. Capital Assets Capital asset activity for the year ended June 30, 2022, was as follows:
Beginning Balance | Additions | Deletions | Ending Balance | |
Capital Assets being | ||||
Depreciated equipment | $332,074 | - | - | $332,074 |
Less accumulated depreciation | 206,166 | 11,917 | - | 272,083 |
Depriciation expense was charged to functionas as follows: | ||||
Governmental Activities Instruction Regular |
1,927 | |||
Support Servies Other support |
9,990 | |||
Total governmental activities depreciation expense | $11,917 |
4. Other Information
Risk Management
The School is exposed to various risks of loss related to torts theft of, damage to, or destruction of assets; errors or omissions; workers compensation; and health care of its employees. All of these risks are covered through the purchase of commercial insurance, with minimal deductibles. Settled claims have not exceeded the commercial coverage in any of the past three years. There were no significant reductions in coverage compared to the prior year. The School is covered under the District’s commercial insurance.
Commitments and Contingencies
Claims and judgments are recorded as liabilities if all the conditions of Governmental Accounting Standards Board pronouncements are met. The liability and expenditure for claims and judgments are only reported in governmental funds if it has matured. Claims and judgments are recorded in the government-wide statements as expenses when the related liabilities are incurred.
Effect of New Accounting Standards on Financial Statements
GASB has approved the following statements:
- Statement No. 91, Conduit debt obligations
- Statement No. 94, Public-Private and Public-Public Partnerships and Availability Arrangements
- Statement No. 96, Subscription Based Information Technology Arrangements
- Statement No. 99, Omnibus 2022
- Statement No. 100, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections—an amendment of GASB Statement No. 62
- Statement No. 101, Compensated Absences
When they become effective, application of these standards may restate portions of these financial statements.
Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting and on Compliance and Other Matters Based on an Audit of Financial Statements Performed in Accordance With Government Auditing Standards
Independent Auditors' Report
To the Governance Council of Rock University High School
We have audited, in accordance with the auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America and the standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States (Government Auditing Standards), the financial statements of the governmental activities and the major funds of Rock University High School (the School), a Charter School and Component Unit of the School District of Janesville, Wisconsin, as of and for the year ended June 30, 2022, and the related notes to the financial statements, which collectively comprise the School's basic financial statements, and have issued our report thereon dated December 12, 2022.
Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
In planning and performing our audit of the financial statements, we considered the School's internal control over financial reporting (internal control) as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances for the purpose of expressing our opinions on the financial statements, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the School's internal control. Accordingly, we do not express an opinion on the effectiveness of the School's internal control.
A deficiency in internal control exists when the design or operation of a control does not allow management or employees, in the normal course of performing their assigned functions, to prevent, or detect and correct, misstatements on a timely basis. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the entity's financial statements will not be prevented, or detected and corrected, on a timely basis. A significant deficiency is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control that is less severe than a material weakness, yet important enough to merit attention by those charged with governance.
Our consideration of internal control was for the limited purpose described in the first paragraph of this section and was not designed to identify all deficiencies in internal control that might be material weaknesses or significant deficiencies. Given these limitations, during our audit we did not identify any deficiencies in internal control that we consider to be material weaknesses. However, material weaknesses or significant deficiencies may exist that were not identified.
Report on Compliance and Other Matters
As part of obtaining reasonable assurance about whether the School's financial statements are free from material misstatement, we performed tests of its compliance with certain provisions of laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements, noncompliance with which could have a direct and material effect on the financial statements. However, providing an opinion on compliance with those provisions was not an objective of our audit, and accordingly, we do not express such an opinion. The results of our tests disclosed no instances of noncompliance or other matters that are required to be reported under Government Auditing Standards.
Purpose of This Report
The purpose of this report is solely to describe the scope of our testing of internal control and compliance and the results of that testing, and not to provide an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity's internal control or on compliance. This report is an integral part of an audit performed in accordance with Government Auditing Standards in considering the entity's internal control and compliance. Accordingly, this communication is not suitable for any other purpose.