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Advancing the discipline of risk management in public education.
In This Issue
Risk Aware Culture
Meetings & Events
People & Achievements
Danger Zone Safety
Prevent Slips, Trips & Falls
Insurance Market Watch
Silent Risk Control
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 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.

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School leaders who are members can search the directory and find districts with similar risk management interests

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March  2010                                                         Issue 14                  

Risk management is... a vital business process.
Building Risk-Aware Culture and Comprehensive Risk Oversight
Fiscal pressures and rising threats from a wide range of hazards and perils are prompting some districts to designate a chief risk officer (CRO) or formally recognize an enterprise risk management (ERM) team. A deputy superintendent, chief finance officer, treasurer, controller, chief operating officer or staff general counsel might perform some parts of the CRO function. An enterprise risk management team would bring all these positions together with other key leaders. The primary benefit is development of a risk-aware culture throughout the district.
 
The CRO or ERM team can also identify cost savings where the district's current risk management function is focused on insurance and a few other activities and where the internal audit director may only have time to occasionally assess enterprise risk. Careful, periodic review may bring to light new economies in crisis management, public safety, environmental health and safety, risk financing and insurance, internal audit and contracts.
 
The functions of the chief risk officer are broader than those of the traditional school district risk manager; however, the risk manager provides valuable operational support and may be an ideal candidate for the CRO role. This is how the role of the CRO is typically described:
 
"The CRO, above all else, is a leader, project manager, synthesizer and communicator. He or she must be able to build strong partnerships with business and corporate staffs, communicate to a wide variety of audiences in clear, understandable language, and be a skilled facilitator of group action more than simply a technical manager of risk. From the moment that the CRO and his or her team embark upon the formal risk assessment process, all the way through risk measurement, mitigation, optimization and monitoring, the effectiveness of communication will dictate how successful the overall process will be. But in addition to that, the CRO must be an integrative thinker with a thorough knowledge of all aspects of the business." - Charles R. Lee and Prakash Shimpi, Towers Perrin

A school district CRO or ERM team should examine every part of the district, including the instructional side of the house and all support departments. The CRO or ERM team should tap into two valuable resource processes: internal audit and strategic planning. The audit function provides important information from hindsight and compliance activities. The planning function provides opportunities to strengthen the risk assessment process for all future strategies the district develops. Building a risk-aware culture lays the foundation for an actively caring community that is proactive in facing asset protection challenges and continually improves the level of safety and health for students and employees.

Note:  The Institute gratefully acknowledges the editorial assistance on this article from a number of school risk managers, a school finance officer and a risk group leader. 
Checking Into Meetings and Events
The California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) meets April 16-19 in Sacramento and  Michigan School Business Officials (MSBO) meets April 26-28 in Grand Rapids.  Numerous risk management sessions are included in the conference programs. 

Spring is a busy time for school risk leaders and several other states will be holding conferences in the coming months. Can't get to one of these meeting but want to know the latest information about risk management issues?   The Institute is reaching out to as many sources as possible to obtain reports, insights and speaker presentation materials for archiving and easy access.

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.
Taking Note of People and Achievements
Roy Jacobs is the new Executive Director of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association Insurance Trust, and in that capacity he also serves as CEO of School Boards Insurance Company of Pennsylvania.  Roy succeeded Wayne Smith who retired February 3 after many years of distinguished service with PSBA and the Insurance Trust.

Featured Contributors to Risk Central during the past month were Christine Lueders, Steve Haynes, Linda Fabre, Dennis Chandler, Dr. Karla Rhay, Dr. Herb Appenzeller and Paul Binsfield.  Risk Central is an an interactive knowledge center created by the Institute and Target Safety. 
"No Cost" DVD Available for Danger Zone Safety

National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT), 247 Security, Inc. and Public School Risk Institute issued a press release to call attention to the sharp increase in the number of "danger zone" fatalities that occurred in 2009.   School Bus Safety Company is currently offering their Danger Zone Safety DVD at no cost to anyone who makes a request.The DVD will support a 40-45 minute classroom session, and can be obtained upon request to School Bus Safety Company by going to their website at  www.schoolbussafetyco.com  
Wide Ranging Efforts to Prevent Employee Slips, Trips & Falls 
It seems that school safety officers and risk group leaders everywhere are making efforts to eliminate what most reports show is the leading source of school employee injury - bodily contact with the ground or solid objects after losing balance or movement/collapse of a device to help reach overhead.  Standing on an unstable or wheeled chair is regularly cited as an unsafe behavior. 

Techniques frequently cited to prevent slip, trip and fall injuries include online training courses, posters, written & verbal reminders, rules, material  handling training, footwear standards, housekeeping, ice & snow removal, floor care and surface selection standards, mats and runner installation, ladder safety education, scaffolding safety programs and other active & passive fall protection systems, including personal arrest devices .

Most risk groups and safety consultants offer support for a variety of practical approaches.  Some risk groups, like Florida School Boards Insurance Trust, have created their own online courses for preventing slips, trips & falls.  Vermont School Boards Insurance Trust offers a very comprehensive outline of recommendations for its members. 

SafeSchools recently introduced a new online course aimed at preventing slips, trips & falls.  Last September, the American Society of Safety Engineers conducted a 3-day virtual symposium to help companies deal with their slips, trips &  falls challenges.  The Institute is exploring the feasibility of a similar virtual symposium that would be designed exclusively for school districts and school risk groups.  
  

Market Watch - Insurance Forecast

Helpful insurance market forecasts appear several times each year from a variety of sources.  Arthur J. Gallagher is offering a webinar April 19 titled, "The Insurance Market Cycle: Why Does It Have to Be So Crazy."  Scott Wightman will again deliver his insights that are tailored for schools and local governments. 

The Institute is interested in helping member risk groups and individual districts identify trends and track developments that may impact budgets and the cost of risk.
A Silent, But Effective Risk Control Technique
During a recent webinar on Spring Sports Facilities planning, hosted by SchoolDude.com and Roger Young & Associates, participants learned about the value of cardboard coyotes and many other practical ways to protect students and control costs.  

The Institute's research shows that efforts to ward off unwanted Canadian geese from athletic facilities are usually successful, however,  school risk managers may want to first notify local police and check to be sure their cardboard coyotes are covered under the district's property insurance.  Here's why:   According to an actual 2009 news account from Sarnia, Ontario,  City hall staff purchased a pair of the animal cutouts hoping they might help reduce goose droppings in the waterfront park and set them up last summer. But after a few weeks the cutouts vanished.  Vandalism was suspected at first, however, it later turned out that a jogger came across the coyote cutouts and was so startled she ran to a nearby construction site. According to the story, the jogger told a worker a coyote had 'barked' at her and that she feared it would give chase.  The worker called 911,  police were dispatched and  arrived on the scene and quickly surrounded the coyotes. Upon discovering the coyotes were made of cardboard, the police confiscated the cutouts.

Note:  SchoolDude hosts numerous educational webinars throughout the year with valuable information for managing risks.  The April edition of this newsletter will include a report on SchoolDude University, which takes place March 21-24.
Preparations Underway for Institute's Third Year
Recent and upcoming conference calls are helping raise awareness of the Institute's initiatives, current projects and future plans.    A survey will be conducted shortly among districts and risk groups to update the national priorities.  The Institute's executive committee and board of directors will continue their work on evaluation, planning and budget adoption.

 A conference call was held on March 2 for the risk groups members.  The next day a conference call was held with corporate partners.  Individual districts will have opportunities in to participate in a series of conference calls and interest group activities beginning in mid April.   Prospective members will also be invited to hear about the Institute's work and plans.  A task force has been created to evaluate potential benefits for a web portal dedicated to prevention of sexual misconduct.   Another task force is being organized to evaluate risk management communication needs, along with a proposal for a "newsletter help team." Four regional summits are envisioned between April and October.

The Institute's membership base has continued to expand. The addition of two new risk groups raised the total number of districts represented from about 1,400 to over 2,200. 

The Public School Risk Institute launched publicly on July 1, 2008.  It was incorporated March 27, 2008.   was
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