Waiting for Superman?

How About a Super Manager Instead?

Whether you love or hate the movie by the title Waiting for Superman, one thing is certain: it has sparked a lot of conversation and interest in the state of U.S. Schools, including charter schools like your own.

There is a lot to be said about Charter and Private Schools: the benefits they have, the future of the system… and , of course, the unique protection challenges they face.

The truth is, Charter Schools ARE unique to state-funded schools in many, many ways. For one thing, they often take up residence in abandoned state or local centers, or are forced to find or build suitable facilities on their own. They also often offer before and after school care, extra activities, and may even cater to the needs of special groups or challenged students. While these may be good things for communities, they can also pose potential risks to the school and to its board members and directors.

Because of the special needs of Charter Schools, the Certified School Risk Manager (CSRM) designation is the ONLY designation that your school should accept from your insurance agent. If your current agent does not have this designation after their name--- and not many do--- no matter how well-intentioned, well-meaning, or pleasant the agent is to work with, the fact is they just do not have the training and expertise necessary to properly insure your school.

While I can’t leap tall buildings in a single bound, I AM a great protection man. I can see that your school is properly insured for what can go wrong. We will develop strategies to keep accidents from becoming disastrous and manage your day-to-day risks so that claims are unlikely to arise at all. Perhaps even more important, your staff, and your board of directors will be properly protected from lawsuits and claims, too.

Right now is the time to look at your school’s protection, and plan for the 2011/2012 school year ahead.

Please feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss your school’s protection. Please also feel free to pass this email or my information along to your board, your sponsors, and other colleagues who should be informed on our “super” protection program for Charter Schools as well.

Time MARCHes on

NOW is the time!

Most school insurance contracts renew in June or July. To get your very best pricing, underwriters need time to evaluate and get comfortable with your school’s operations. So NOW is the time to get started on this very important issue!

Let’s face it: We all would love to manage our time a little bit better, and take care of all those nagging duties we put off to the last minute. Usually, the items most painful are put on the back burner. Time marches forward, and so follows your school’s never-ending and ever-changing protection needs. The insurance market and the insurance contracts that protect you, your students, and your board change year-to-year. Not reviewing these contracts each year may find you without needed (and often required) protection. Your school could be dangerously close to facing litigation, liability, or even complete financial devastation.

We have the solution! Our review of your school’s insurance needs is painless because we’ve simplified the process. Our Charter School Insurance Center team has a quick, easy, and efficient plan to learn if your school is receiving the best protection at the best possible cost. We’ve removed all of the anxiety and the pain… and shortened the time it takes to get your school’s insurance protection on track with our exclusive 2-page application.

Trust me, if you are involved in a large claim, the last thing you’ll want to hear is, “Sorry, but that’s not covered” from your insurer. It is worth the time to review your policy.

There should be nothing holding you back now from getting started on your school’s protection.

Now is the time! Take action to properly protect your school.

What Are Your Resources?

When your students need an answer to a problem, or help with their homework, what do you tell them to do? My guess would be either to consult a book, ask a tutor, or even to come to you with any questions. In other words, you suggest they find the right resource to help them.

If you have a math problem, you can likely find your answer in a math book. Easy, right? But, sometimes in business, locating a trusted, reliable resource isn’t as easy as it sounds. What if you have concerns about your school’s protection and safety? Who would you trust to answer your issues?

- A principal, school manager, or another colleague?
They might have the answer… or, perhaps not. (More importantly, can you be certain that it is the correct answer?)

- Your current insurance agent or your insurance company?
Not all insurance agencies or companies are equipped to handle risk management for the unique needs of schools. Sure, they’re probably doing the best they can… but is that really good enough? Can you be sure the advice they give is really in YOUR best interest and not theirs? Unless your insurance company has a specific program for schools and has a CSRM (Certified School Risk Manager) on staff, it is unlikely they can answer all the tough protection questions you have.

- A Certified School Risk Manager, with the strength and support of the Safety Advantage Network?
This is the absolute BEST option to voice all of your safety and protection concerns. A CSRM has taken the time to learn all there is to know about protecting schools and their assets. They are committed to providing schools with the information that they need to make their schools safer places. A CSRM can offer:

· Focused, individualized risk assessment for your unique school.

· On-going consultation, loss analysis, and a wide range of training and other tools to assist you in implementing an effective loss-prevention program and to manage your school’s risks wisely.

· Access to The Safety Advantage Network: a team of industry professionals providing access to quality products, advice, and school safety solutions available. This includes resources for Sexual Molestation Awareness and Prevention; Background Checks; Violence Prevention; Workplace Safety Training; School Safety Enhancements; and Unique Safety Products.

The best advice I can give you?
It’s the same advice you give your students: find the right resource to help you. In the case of your school’s protection, that means finding a CSRM.

Please feel free to contact me at any time with any questions or concerns you may have about your school’s risk management and insurance programs. As a CSRM, you can trust that I’ll do my best to see that you’re protected.

Keep Your Resolution to Your School

The start of a New Year has always been the time to reflect on the past year, and more importantly, look forward to the coming year. It's a time to consider the changes we want or need to make our lives better and, of course, make our schools better.

Reflecting on the past: Pick ONE item to improve the safety of your school.
If everything has gone smoothly for you so far during this school year, congratulations! You’re one of the lucky schools that have avoided legal issues, property troubles, playground equipment failures, lunchroom catastrophes, or a whole host of other issues that are unique to schools.

Even if you’ve avoided claims and accidents, it doesn’t mean they can’t occur in the future. Most likely, there is room for improvement somewhere in your current protection plan.


Looking ahead: Is there a way to better protect your school; its teachers, board and staff members; its financial stability and future income?
If you experienced an unpaid claim in 2010, then you already know the answer is “yes.” Even if you haven’t yet experienced an unpaid claim, it may only be a matter of time before you do… especially if you do not make sure your school is properly insured. An unpaid claim of any size can not only harm your school’s finances now, but also hurt its future growth and even its reputation as an educational establishment.

Avoid experiencing an unpaid claim or a coverage gap in your school protection program. Have a highly qualified risk manager assess your operations and insurance contracts.

Make it your New Year’s Resolution to take advantage of a FREE EVALUATION of your current insurance and of your school’s protection needs.
Our Free Evaluation offers you peace-of-mind, and it can be done with little effort on your part. In fact, our team prides itself on making the entire process as easy as possible. Our easy-to-fill two page form can get you started on your better-protected-tomorrow, today.

Simply click here to get started.

Have a happy and safe New Year!

Seasonal Safety and Risk Management for Your Classrooms

It’s that time of year again. Students in your classrooms are getting anxious and excited for the upcoming break and holiday season. They might be riled up from being stuck indoors due to snowy or icy weather, or just overly excited about all of the holiday parties to attend.


It may come as no surprise that with the season should come some safety concerns for your school. In particular, holiday decorations - although festive and fun - pose real risks. These need to be properly managed by all of the teachers and staff in your school. This will avoid possible accidents or disasters.


If you plan on stringing holiday lights or placing them on an artificial tree in your school, be sure to:

· Look at each string of lights carefully. If any are cracked or damaged, discard them and buy new ones.
· Purchase lights safety rated as ETL or UL.
· Follow the directions on the box. It will tell you how many strings to use together. As a rule, UL recommends using no more than three standard-size sets of lights together.
· Do not plug in too many things at one time.
· Use a surge protector.
· Keep electrical cords out of aisles and hallways as well as out of the path of children to prevent them from becoming tripping hazards.
· Don’t place electrical cords underneath rugs or runners.
· Unplug all holiday lights when you leave school for the day.



Holiday trees can also pose dangers. To make sure your tree doesn’t become the cause of an accident or mishap, be sure to:

· Use an artificial tree that is marked “fire-resistant.”
· Do not block exits or pathways with your tree.
· Be sure to use a VERY SECURE BASE, or secure the tree to sturdy wall to avoid tipping. Children may try to touch the tree or ornaments, and without a sturdy base, the tree could topple on a student.
· Use plastic or shatter-proof ornaments instead of glass which can easily shatter. Better yet, use hand-made paper ornaments prepared by your students.

Parties, pageants, choir rehearsals, or sporting events will likely be a part of your school’s holiday season. Make sure everyone is safe by decorating wisely.


Have a safe holiday season, and a safe and prosperous New Year!

What Can We Learn From "Mentors" In Our Country?

Imagine a school that received a score of 9 out of 10 from parents on www.greatschools.org.


Imagine a school that ranks in the mid 90th percentile nationwide for reading and math, boasts a 95% attendance rate, runs a successful athletic program, and has a wide variety of curriculum including specific study programs from art and music to technology and world language.


Imagine this school in a city of just over 50,000 people – a city that was named “One of the Best 100 Places to Live” by CNN and MONEY magazine.


A school like that surely can’t get sued… or can it?


The school is Mentor High School, in Mentor, Ohio, where things may not be exactly as they appear. In fact, since 2007, four students have committed suicide as a result of being bullied.


The high school is being sued by two families who accuse administrators of doing nothing to stop the torment, harassment and bullying that lead their children to kill themselves. The Vidovic family started a lawsuit with the school over the bullying of their daughter, Jana, in 2007. When the family asked for the bullying reports of their daughter, school officials told them the records were destroyed during a switch to new computers. Unfortunately, the story did not end there. Jana committed suicide in 2008, and the family opened another case in August 2010. Eric Mohat shot himself in March 2007 after being relentlessly bullied in math class, as told by other teens. In April 2009, the Mohats sued the school district, the principal, the superintendent and Eric’s math teacher. The federal lawsuit is on hold while the Ohio Supreme Court considers a question of state law regarding the case.



So, what can we learn from schools like Mentor High School?

· No school is “exempt” from being sued --- even those with outstanding results.

· School records should be kept safe and all cases of bullying should be recorded.

· The district, school, administrators, teachers and staff can all be sued separately on a single case.

· The cases can drag on for years and years, and can be subject to trials in State Supreme Courts AND in Federal Court. The time, emotional stress, and financial impact (primarily legal fees) can be devastating to a school and its staff.

· Bullying is a real threat. Proper anti-bullying procedures and discipline plans are necessary for any school in operation today.



While these cases are still being considered in a court of law, isn’t it time to consider your own school’s risks and behaviors on bullying, too? Tom Van Auker, President of The Charter School Resource Center is a Certified School Risk Manager (CSRM). He is the perfect person to assess whether or not your school is doing all it can to protect the school, the students and the staff.


Take a lesson from the “Mentors” of this country.
Call The O’Neill Group today at 1-800-334-1561.

Where Have All The Swing Sets Gone?

There’s a little song from Joni Mitchell that states, “They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot… don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you got ‘til it’s gone…”

This is the way I feel about a West Virginia school district. They announced their decision to take down their school playground equipment. Unfortunately, they won’t ‘know what they had going for them until it’s gone.’ There are a lot of added benefits to allowing children to have fun outdoors at recess. In fact, a study showed children were more attentive and creative in the classroom when allowed “free play” time including outdoor recess.*

The swings are being removed from Cabell County schools in southern West Virginia in part because of a lawsuit. They claim the lawsuit this past year was too costly. The incident involved a youngster who broke his arm jumping off a swing (like he was a superhero). A report states the school district settled for $20,000… of their OWN money.

I’m definitely not siding with the suit-happy parents. “Little Johnny” was probably just being a regular energetic little boy… and a little personal responsibility and character should have come into play here. But he is a child.

With that in mind, though, how many other “little Johnny’s” are out there? How many can you identify in YOUR classrooms? Unfortunately, this case illustrates today’s parents won’t hesitate to sue. When their “little Johnny” or “little Jill” fall from the swing sets in your school yard, someone in authority is certainly to blame.

So, what should be the correct response? By removing the swings, you now punish all of your students. Is that overreaction or a prudent risk management strategy? The fact will remain that some children are just daredevils or aggressive in their play, and it’s not an option to completely stop children from running during recess.

What SHOULD you be doing?
You should be protecting yourself with the proper insurance from a highly-ranked company and have an experienced Charter School Risk Manager oversee your coverage.

That way, if Johnny’s parents sue you and your school, you’ll be covered. Your school won’t have to pay from its own pockets, like Cabell County did.

Don’t remove your swings.
Protect them…protect your school.
(And let the kids play!)

*In 1993, Pelligrini & Davis published the results of a study on the effects of recess on classroom behavior. The results showed that many students build up excess energy and may become fidgety and unable to concentrate during class when denied the opportunity to exercise during recess. Additionally, the California Department of Education conducted a study that showed that children who are physically active score higher on the Stanford Achievement Test.