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    Title: Letter from Senators Chamberlain, Kiffmeyer, Benson, Koran to Judy Randall, OLA Concerning Feeding Our Future and the Minnesota Department of Education's (MDE) Management of Federal Funds
    Article Date: 1/27/2022
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    Type: Other
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    File: SenatorChamberlain_Letter_To_JudyRandall.pdf 

    Text: Senator Roger Chamberlain
    Senate District 38
    3225 Minnesota Senate Building
    95 University Avenue West
    St. Paul, MN 55155-1206
    Phone: (651) 296-1253
    sen.roger.chamberlain@senate.mn


    January 27, 2022

    Judy Randall
    Office of Legislative Auditor
    658 Cedar St Suite 140
    St. Paul, MN 55155

    Ms. Randall,

    The recent news stories about the FBI investigation of the nonprofit, Feeding Our Future, has us deeply
    concerned about the Minnesota Department of Education's (MDE) management of federal funds.
    According to the reports, Feeding Our Future has defrauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture of
    millions of dollars through a grant that was administered by our state's Department of Education. Very
    little of the money that flowed through MDE was used to feed children.

    We are writing to request two things of the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA). First, we are
    requesting that the OLA conduct an audit of MDE and their management of the U.S. Department of
    Agriculture's Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program as it relates to
    agreements with the nonprofit Feeding Our Future (and any affiliated organizations). Were state funds or
    other resources misused by MDE?

    Second, we are requesting that the OLA prepare an estimate of the full-time equivalent and money needed
    to conduct a complete audit of all the federal COVID-19 funds that flow through MDE. Over $2.8 billion
    of federal money has flowed through MDE since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to support our
    school communities through disruptions and programming changes. What resources are needed to
    conduct a thorough audit of those COVID-19-related federal funds that are flowing through the
    department?

    Thank you.

    Sincerely,


    Senator Roger Chamberlain
    Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer
    Sen. Michelle Benson
    Sen. Mark Koran

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