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?"