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Advancing the discipline of risk management in public education.
In This Issue
Transform Safety
Get Value from Risk Group
Check Meetings & Events
Link Risk Management
Use Online Libraries
Note People & Achievements
Move Bus Safety
Connect and Learn
Optimize Claims Managment
Check Pulse in Congress
Quick Links
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Corporate Partners 

CBIZ

Genesis Underwriting Mgt.


Willis

Company Nurse

Target Safety

Norman Peterson & Assoc.

Selective Insurance

MediCor
 

Core Management Resources Group
 
 

Alternative Service Concepts

School Bus Safety Company

Pittman & Company

MicroAssist, Inc.


 Bickmore Risk Services

York

SafeSchools.com


to learn more 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, GA
 
City of Chicago, IL
  
Clark County, NV

City of Cleveland, OH 

Dekalb County, GA
 
Fairfax County, VA

 Francis Howell, MO
 
Fulton County, GA
 
Miami-Dade, FL
 
Rockdale County,GA
 
San Francisco USD, CA

Wake County, NC 



Other districts that are direct or associate members now number more than 1,400.

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

I
f you are a member of PSRI,
remember to use the Institute's


 for access to top risk management professionals. Reports are compiled, distributed and archived to save time and money.

 February 2010                                                         Issue 13                  

Risk management is... a vital business process.
 Transforming Safety Programs

Research in the field of safety points to the need for organizations to make safety an enduring value, not just a priority.  Pursuing this objective in school districts takes courage and commitment.  The stakes are higher than ever because employees are working under increased pressure.     


School leaders and risk management professionals can improve the safety performance of their districts even with other pressing priorities.  It's possible to make a difference, in some cases with no additional expenditure of district funds. 

 

It is widely accepted that safety performance can be raised to superior levels by effectively addressing both human behaviors and attitudes.  Researchers in psychology and organizational development have validated the benefits of  behavior-based safety.  More recently, programs for people based safety™ and culture based safety have emerged. 

Here are some ideas to consider if you want to start a new safety program or make changes to an existing program... read full article

Getting Added Value Services from Risk Groups
Variety and Flexibility Are Key Benefits

In addition to helping schools with their overall safety program development, some of the resources available from insurance trusts, JPAs, self-insurance pools, and school insurance reciprocals include the following:

  • Appraisals and property valuation
  • Assessments of traffic safety plans and emergency procedures
  • Assistance from certified playground inspectors on playground safety training and inspections
  • Bulletins on various risk management issues
  • Comprehensive facility surveys focused on safety and liability exposure
  • Guidelines for developing and maintaining emergency procedures, safety committees, and loss control committees
  • Incident tip lines and anonymous crime hot lines
  • Instructional videos on topics from A-Z, including accident prevention, employee safety, building and grounds safety, driving safety and hazard-related communication, among others
  • MVR review and driver monitoring services
  • Regional and local safety training for administrative staff
  • Reviews of specific operations, activities, or facilities
  • Special training for transportation staff

Risk group staff and contract service providers often form alliances that help match qualified personnel to fit the needs of districts. Most risk groups are flexible and easily adapt to each member's special characteristics.
Checking Into Meetings and Events
SchoolDude University: Myrtle Beach, SC, March 20-24
AGRIP Spring Meeting:  Irvine, CA,  March 22-24
Learning Solutions Conference: Orlando, FL, March 24-26

Can't get to one of these meeting but want to know what went on?  The Institute will bring back reports and insights from other attendees. 

Please check Risk Central for announcements and details about upcoming telephone and web conferences for interest groups.  There is no charge to register and use Risk Central. This interactive knowledge base can be accessed by clicking on the Risk Central box found on the Institute home page at www.schoolrisk.org.
Linking Strategic Risk Management to the Balanced Scorecard
The Institute and its board of directors continue to make efforts to link new risk management standards and benchmarks with the balanced scorecard used by many school boards for overall performance review.   Board members Michael Florio and Dorothy Gjerdrum teamed up on the first phase of research.   Examples of district initiatives are needed to help the Institute design and refine models that can be coupled effectively with balanced scorecard tools.   The Institute Executive Director welcomes any ideas or suggestions for this important project. 
Using and Contributing to Online Libraries
School leaders need the best information about risk management solutions in the best form at the right time.  Many risk groups have created extensive online archives for their materials and publications.   Search engines and listserve emails are easy and often helpful.

While Buzz Lightyear was famous for "to infinity and beyond,"  the purpose of using an online resource library is not to search the universe for a tiny speck of information.  A really useful resource library works more like Tarzan and Jane.  One part of the resource is dedicated to gathering ideas from the best places in the information jungle, while the other part works to organize and properly store good things for everyday use.  In other words, like Tarzan and Jane, an online resource library should have people and programs that work together to provide assistance whenever someone comes looking for information... read full article
Taking Note of People and Achievements
Earlier this school year, Meir Zupovitz of Fairfax Public Schools (FPS) was promoted from risk manager to assistant controller for the 166,000-student district with an annual budget of $2.3 billion.    Zupovitz is a 20+ year veteran of the district, with a background in fund accounting.  Until his successor is appointed, he continues to perform many risk manager duties in addition to his new role. A three-person professional team handles the risk financing program and all property/liability claims activities for the district.  Workers' Compensation claims administration is handled in HR. The FPS risk management office assists site administrators at more than 240 locations with contract reviews.  Risk management resources are available on the district's website, including a comprehensive, easy-to-follow slide presentation... read full article
Moving Bus Safety to  a Higher Level

Testimonials and accolades continue to roll in for the new 15 part classroom course developed by the School Bus Safety Company.  More than 200 sets of the course have been delivered across the US.  The course can be used with new drivers as well as veterans.  Instructor materials are provided, along with workbooks for all drivers. The excellent quality of the DVDs and on-target instructional design set the course apart and make it a high value means for increasing safe behaviors.  The School Bus Safety Company wants to help districts elevate their training and the course is "built on more than 200 years of experience with more than 30,000 drivers in hundreds of school districts across North America."   The course is a "recommended product" of the National Association for Pupil Transportation.  (NAPT) and the Public School Risk Institute.    

Some risk groups may be interested in bulk purchasing to reduce the cost of the course for their members. The Institute Executive Director can provide more information about such options and current efforts.  Discounts are available to any district that is a member of NAPT or the Institute.  Jeff Cassell at the School Bus Safety Company can be reached at (800) 728-2827.
Connecting and Learning From Peers
Reaching across long distances to greet one of your peers in another state can produce new insights and fresh perspectives.  Relationships often flourish in between meetings and sometimes lead to reciprocal exchanges and mutual support.

Recently, two top leaders of established school risk groups separated by more than 1,000 miles spent about an hour in a facilitated discussion, hosted by the Institute.  The focus of the initial meeting was on risk communication and risk improvement services to members.  A background report helped each executive reach a starting point for conversation.  Dialogue led them to identify several common values and approaches.   Differences also emerged.  The Institute found that one group operated in an environment with numerous self-insurance pools seeking the attention of school finance officers, while the other was accustomed to its members looking at a single insurance company as a comparative measure of cost and service.  Both groups share a commitment to financial transparency and offer a wide range of risk improvement service.
     
The Institute can help school risk managers and staff of school risk groups connect and learn through peer interchange.  These experiences foster new techniques and programs to broaden school districts' understanding and application of the risk management discipline. 

Optimizing Claims Management  

Among the challenges facing school finance directors and risk managers is sustaining an optimal claims management structure for total cost control.  When school employees are injured, when buses are involved in collisions, and when students suffer harm at school,  it's possible that both internal staff and third party claims services will be involved at various points in the damage control and recovery process.  Some benchmarks and standards can be used to gauge the appropriateness of claims management expenditures.  A basic review of operations might begin with the following three activities and related questions... read full article
Checking the Pulse of Activity in Congress

The report on national legislative initiatives planned for this edition has been rescheduled for the March issue.  The Institute is monitoring activity on several national initiatives that may create the need for new risk management measures and training.
Keeping Watch on Natural Hazard Trends
Television and news reports brought us mudslides  in California, snow storms across much of the nation, earthquakes in Haiti, and even the warm weather in Vancouver.  Munich Reinsurance issued a press release at the start of 2010 which included the following statements:  ... read full article Article Subheading
Public School Risk Institute
 
Please call or send us a note with your comments and suggestions about this newsletter and any projects you would like to see us undertake. We also want to receive school contact names, contacts with organizations you believe may want to be involved, and material for the new website resources. 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 Ext. 701