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!