SchoolRisk News |
|
Corporate Partners |
Munich RE
Arthur J. Gallagher
SchoolDude
CBIZ
JDI Data Corp.
Markel Underwriting Managers
PublicSchoolWORKS
Holborn
Genesis Underwriting Mgt.
Willis
Company Nurse
Target Safety
Norman Peterson & Assoc.
Selective Insurance
MediCor
Core Management Resources Group
AssetWORKS
to learn more about our sponsors and links to their webpage or to find information about the corporate partner program please visit
|
Founding
School Risk Groups |
Florida School Boards Insurance Trust
Minnesota School Boards Insurance Trust
New York Schools Insurance Reciprocal
Schools of Ohio Risk Sharing Authority
Pennsylvania School Boards Association Insurance Trust
|
Founding
School Districts |
City of Atlanta City of Chicago Clark County
City of Cleveland
Dekalb County Fairfax County
Francis Howell Fulton County Miami-Dade Rockdale County San Francisco USD
Wake County
Other districts that are direct or associate members now number more than 350 and the total number represented by school risk groups is nearly 1,000.
To find out how to join, click here!
SchoolRisk.org
School leaders who are members can search the directory and find districts with similar risk management interests
If you are a member of PSRI, remember to use the Institute's
Fast Answer
for access to top risk management professionals. Reports are compiled, distributed and archived to save time and money.
| |
|
Risk management is... a vital business process. |
|
|
School Risk Management Represented At
PRIMA Conference |
|
Staff from school districts and risk groups, along with a handful of risk group trustees joined with representatives of other governmental agencies in Dallas, May 31-June 3 for the 30th Annual Conference of the Public Risk Management Association. The Conference offered 60 different educational sessions, featuring more than 100 speakers and moderators.
A pre-registration list showed approximately 31 districts represented and 16 school controlled risk groups. Nationwide there are about 500 school districts with enrollment greater than 15,000 and almost 100 risk groups.
Despite being in the minority, school district representatives made important contributions and many played key roles as session presenters and moderators. Ron Hayes, risk manager for Calcasieu Parish Schools (LA) was installed as PRIMA's president for 2009-2010 and Dan Hurley, senior director, Risk Management and Safety, Norfolk Public Schools (VA), joined the board of directors.
Mr. Hayes was also a co-presenter for a session on "Security and Emergency Management Grants for Schools: Finding Your Pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow." He moderated "Disaster 101: Been There Done That!" which featured his colleague Karl Bruchhaus, CFO for Calcasieu Parish Schools, as a co-presenter.
Donna Abersman, deputy CEO/COO for Alliance of Schools for Cooperative Insurance Programs moderated the session titled, "Rounding Up Pool Members Drug-Free Workplace Programs."
Jon Dahlander, director, News and Information, for Dallas ISD (TX), was a co-presenter for the session "Meet the Press: Build Media Relationships Before the Disaster Strikes."
James Huckaby, risk manager for Mesquite ISD (TX), was a co-presenter on the session on "Reporting Risk Management to Decision Makers." Mr. Huckaby also moderated the session titled, "It's All Fun and Games Until Somebody Loses and Eye" and "Insurance Market Cycles: Why Does it Have to be So Crazy?"
Mary Sue Linville, a PRIMA board member, and director of Risk Management and Operations for the Washington Schools Risk Management Pool, facilitated the education professionals roundtable this year. Ms. Linville co-presented a session on "Developing a Successful Loss Control Incentive Program with Measurable Results." She also moderated a session on "Management of Sexual Abuse of Minors Claims" that featured her colleague, Deborah Callahan, director of Claims and Litigation.
John Magoon, risk management officer for Maryland Association of Board of Education moderated the sessions titled, "Health Benefit Cost Containment: Controlling the Uncontrollable" and "Security and Emergency Management Grants for Schools."
John Palm, safety officer for Mesquite ISD (TX), was the moderator for "Why Things Go Right - Why Things Go Wrong in Public Safety Operations."
Katherine Peeling, risk management specialist for Anne Arundel County Public Schools (MD), was a co-presenter for " Eeny-Meeny-Miny-Moe: Catch a Standard by the Toe!" and the moderator for "ERM Boot Camp."
Michele Roemer, Thomas Grossi and Richard Kaz, school business administrators representing three districts in NJ, were panelists along with William Ryan, deputy executive director of School Pool Excess Legal Liability Joint Insurance Fund for a session about risk group membership titled, "Keeping the Herd Headed in the Right Direction."
Alan Smith, risk manager for Garland ISD (TX), was the speaker for "How to Embed Risk Management Ideas in Your Culture."
Dawn Watkins, director, Integrated Disability Management for Los Angeles Unified School District was a co-presenter for the session titled, "Absence Management: Where Are You?"
|
Careful Study Needed When Downsizing Risk Management
|
|
Shrinking risk management departments are another sign of the difficult economic conditions. The cost saving squeeze on risk management programs is happening in school districts, governmental entities and in the corporate sector.
In an interview with Business Insurance Magazine published on June 1, Ron Hayes, risk manager for Calcasieu Parish Schools called attention to the challenge of job security for public risk managers and the possible merger of roles and elimination of risk management positions.
Aon Risk Services recently issued a report based on its 2008 Global Risk Management Survey. In the following statements, the survey report stresses the value of careful analysis of risk management programs:
"Perhaps the most difficult risk management issue we face amidst this turmoil is ensuring that organizations remain committed to established, effective risk management strategies. Seeking short term gains may restrict or reduce the long term success of risk management programs. Risk control efforts, for example, should not be ignored for the sake of immediate expense cutting as they are essential to long-term cost mitigation. A comprehensive and successful response to this global economic downturn requires the consistent application of excellence in all facets of risk management."
|
Risk Priorities are Reflected
in Educational Sessions |
|
Asking school business officials
to name their highest risk management priorities can produce a wide
range of responses. A scan of educational sessions at recent state conferences of ASBO chapter affiliates revealed about 70 sessions with
specific risk management purpose or content. Analysis of
theses educational sessions suggested that the following seven items
were the most common concerns:
Employment Law Issues
Compliance with
403 (b) regulations
Occupational Disability
Management
Pandemic Flu Preparation
Bullying Prevention
School Violence
Prevention
Fraud Prevention
and Investigation
Some district business officials
and school attorneys have stated that the biggest current challenge
facing school districts are the requirements of the new amendment to
the Americans with Disabilities Act. Others have cited the new
mandatory reporting requirements under Section 111 of the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension
Act of 2007 (MMSEA) as their chief concern. While it may not be clear which is the greater
of the two challenges, it's certain that both of these federal regulations
have raised the stakes and created new compliance risks for school districts.
Automobile/pupil transportation
received attention in a few of the business official education sessions.
However, athletic risks and the ADA - Americans with Disability Act
were not mentioned or featured in any of the sessions.
A school risk manager responding
to a request to name his top priorities suggested school districts need
help "initiating an enterprise risk management process to evaluate
some of the operational vulnerabilities of the district; developing
a methodology to conduct the various assessments, risk analysis and
mitigation efforts."
With so many issues and uncertainty
about loss exposures, a thorough risk assessment process is important.
Risk mapping techniques and risk management blueprints have been suggested,
and some school districts are already using these tools.
|
Insurance Market Changes
on Hold - For Now
|
|
What has the insurance market
been doing lately? How can our school district or risk group get the
most from the current market and what is likely to happen in the near
term? These are questions that seem to keep coming up as speculation
continues about the possibility of significant upward movement in property
and casualty insurance rates. Speaking to public risk managers
on June 3 at the PRIMA Conference, Scott Wightman of Arthur J. Gallagher
offered a detailed analysis of insurance market conditions.
His comments tracked closely with those of John Hayden of Willis HRH
Pooling Practice, who was interviewed recently by Business Insurance.
Both Wightman and Hayden have considerable experience with public school
insurance placements. The basic message seems to be: no one is
in a panic at this time, even though recent operating results have been
deteriorating rapidly; conditions are still favorable for most school
buyers, however, the situation will likely reverse in 2010, especially
if catastrophe losses mount in 2009 as they did in 2008.
Hayden made the point that
insurance companies would like to have more cash but none seem to be
willing to take the lead in seeking rate increases at this time. He
also said he is not seeing a rush to self-insurance.
Figures presented by Wightman
showed that the only time in the past 25 years that the industry had
overall negative net income was 2001. The combined net earnings
of insurers as a group averaged about $40 billion annually from 2002-2007.
However, the combined net income for the property and casualty insurance
industry in the US was down in 2008 about $60 billion from the
prior year, with just a slight margin of profitability.
Wightman's analysis also included
data showing the difference between what insurers initially reported
and what actually developed. From 1981-2006, the industry's actual
results were worse than originally projected in 15 out of 26 years.
There were two periods, 1981-1985 and 1997-2002, when the results turned out to be better than projected. The analysis
seems to underscore the difficulty that insurers have estimating their
ultimate costs. School districts with self-insured workers' compensation
programs may face similar challenges.
Many experienced professionals
have studied and written about the factors that influence market cycles. Brokers like Hayden and Wightman help school districts interpret the
market conditions to achieve optimum coverage placement in an uncertain
environment.
|
Risk Managers Advised to "Teach What You Expect"
|
|
"You can get started by asking questions." This was the advice offered by Dr. Steven Dranoff in response to a question about the role of the risk manager in changing risky behavior of middle-schoolers. Dr. Dranoff delivered a presentation on prevention of student aggression during the PRIMA Conference in Dallas on June 1. While risk managers and business officers may seldom be consulted about strategies to reduce student aggression and violence, Dr. Dranoff doesn't believe it has to be that way. He shared his experience working with schools all across the country and reminded the audience, "Educating yourself about the underlying principles will help you gain credibility with academic leaders and counselors. You can bring about change by offering to help and teaching what you expect." Risk managers often serve as catalysts for inter-departmental dialogue and resource sharing. Draoff believes that colleagues who feel the risk manager is sincere in trying to help will reciprocate and invite further discussion.
|
Effective Pushback Encourages
Risk Debate
|
|
In its June 1 back page opinion
article titled, "Power of Pushback," BusinessWeek, offers a reminder
of an important value that risk management brings to an organization.
The writers state: "Everyone knows ideas get better when they're
energetically inspected, batted around by skeptics, and poked and probed
from all angles. Everyone has been in a meeting where a
solution was improved not just by discussion, but also by dissension.
Everyone has seen a project exceed expectations because somewhere along
the way a naysayer interjected: "Hold on a minute. Is this the
best we can do?" Make heroes of the people who put forth unpopular
views. Their opposition to the status quo is often a form
of passion and caring for the company. Create an inclusive culture
that encourages real debate."
|
Webinar Recording Available for Nurse First Call Service |
|
The audio recording and power point slides can be downloaded for anyone who missed the May 13 webinar that discussed how schools could use triage nurses to intervene immediately at the time of injury and reduce workers' compensation costs. This webinar was presented by Company Nurse, along with Martin Brady of Schools Insurance Authority.
The set up to hear this recording only takes about 3 minutes The actual webinar is about 55 minutes long.
Click here for the web link.
For more information please contact the executive director or Dennis Chandler at [email protected] |
Bus Driver Course Receives NAPT Recognition |
|
The National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) issued an announcement May 26 that included the following statements:
"As part of the NAPT Recommended Products Program, we're pleased to announce another great value for NAPT members. The School Bus Safety Company Driver Training Course is our newest offering. To learn more about the product and offer details go to www.napt.org and click on the Recommended Products Logo.
The NAPT Board may from time to time recommend a product or service/s to NAPT members when the NAPT Board believes the type of product or service is essential to personal growth and development, staff development, human resources management, or operational safety and efficiency;"
The NAPT stated three other criteria for products or services to be part of their recommended product program. These deal with supplier and pricing issues. For more information, contact the executive director.
|
New Sexual Abuse Prevention Training Course Available |
|
A new online training course titled, "Preventing Sexual Abuse and Misconduct in Schools," is getting reviews across the country and is available now for district access. Content for the course was developed by Dr. Neil Trautman, PhD, founder and Executive Director of the National Institute of Ethics, Austin, TX. The two hour online course features a full audio voice-over, rich media, interactive learning events and embedded video vignettes to illustrate employee/student scenarios. Schools will also be able to personalize the course with a message from the superintendent, cite specific school policies and recertify employees through an assessment that ensures and documents their understanding. For more information contact the executive director. |
New Timetable and Online Courses Available for Medicare Mandatory Claims Reporting |
|
The registration period have been extended to September 30, 2009 for all liability insurance, no-fault insurance and workers' compensation "responsible reporting entities." (RREs) The latest timetable can be found at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Online training courses are available to assist school district business officials comply with MMSEA Section 111. CMS is offering these online courses at no charge. The courses are designed for RRRes for purposes of mandatory secondary payer reporting.
CMS says, "If you are a Responsible Reporting Entity, this training is for you. Once you have registered, you will be provided with a curriculum allowing you to chose the classes you need. The existing curriculum is available as a download. If your district is a RRE for liability insurance (including self-insurance), no-fault insurance, or workers' compensation, you may register for the NGHP CBT courses by sending an e-mail to [email protected]. Specify that you are requesting the NGHP curriculum and include your district name and the name, phone number and an e-mail address for the individual(s) you would like to register. Once the COBC has processed your district's request, an e-mail notification will be sent to each individual containing the URL for the curriculum. If you do not receive an e-mail notification within 2 business days of your request, you may contact the COBC's EDI Department at 646-458-6740." |
Events and Announcements
|
|
Florida School Board Association Insurance Trust moved into its new Tallahassee offices in late May. New York Schools Insurance Reciprocal held it annual meeting on May 24.
Representatives from twelve companies participated in the first conference call meetings of the Institute's Corporate Partner Council on May 17 and 18. The Institute board of directors accepted an in-kind contribution from Target Safety for technology services that will help accelerate plans for greater interactivity and member collaboration. The Institute hosted a conference call on May 27 for several risk management representatives of school districts in North Carolina.
A special 45 minute meeting was held on June 2 during the PRIMA Conference for school districts and risk group representatives. Billed as "Lagniappe - A Little Something Extra for Schools," the meeting provided an opportunity for introductions and a brief forum on topics of concern. Controlling the cost of workers' compensation turned out to be the focus of discussion. Bickmore Risk Services provided planning assistance and arranged for the meeting room. The Florida Education Risk Management Association will be holding its annual conference near Sarasota, June 16-18. Ted Pafundi, risk manager for Pinellas County Schools serves as president of this organization.
The program for the upcoming Conference for Risk Retention Pools,
hosted by AON Global Risk Consulting includes two presenters from the
school risk management community, Paula Tanquay and Dawn Watkins. Ms.
Tanguay, CEO for Alliance of Schools for Cooperative Insurance Programs
will talk August 3 about "Developing a Marketing Strategy to Keep Your
Pool on the Leader Board." Ms. Watkins, Director, Integrated
Disability Management, Los Angeles Unified School District, will
present later that same day on "Establishing an Award Winning Return to
Work Program."
The Institute appreciates news reports and announcements. The homepage is regularly updated with event announcements and news from across the county concerning risk management in the public school arena.
| |
We hope you find the Institute's newly updated website useful. Please visit regularly and let us know how we can support your efforts to advance risk management. Your input and feedback is greatly desired and appreciated.
Sincerely,
Lee Gaby, Executive Director Public School Risk Institute [email protected] NEW Phone (706) 715-3381
|
|
|