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.

A NEW PRECEDENT IS SET for SCHOOL DISCRIMINATION CASES

Does your school have an extra $35,000 to hand out to a single student who sues your school?

That’s what the Itawamba County School District in Mississippi has to pay out… setting a precedent for other litigation against schools who allow discrimination or sexual harassment based on a student’s sexual orientation.

The lawsuit started in March, 2010, when Constance McMillen challenged the Itawamba School District's rule banning same gender “dating” at the prom, and allowing only male students to wear tuxedos. The district responded by canceling its prom, prompting the ACLU to file suit claiming the teen's rights had been violated and demanding the prom be reinstated.

Constance McMillen's lawyers filed litigation in the U.S. District Court to accept a judgment offer from the Itawamba County School District that will pay her $35,000 plus attorney fees. As part of the agreement, the school district also said it would follow a policy not to discriminate based on sexual orientation in any educational or extracurricular activities or allow harassment based on one’s sexual orientation.

The school board attorney, Michele Floyd, said the district's insurance company will pay McMillen. Are you 100% positive that if this happened to YOUR school that your insurance would cover a judgment like this?

With discrimination cases like these on the rise, is your school managing its risks appropriately? Does it have the proper insurance in place to pay for such a lawsuit, the attorney fees, court costs, and the award if you are found liable?

Even if you have policies in place and rules to avoid conflicts, discrimination, or harassment charges, that doesn’t necessarily ensure that you won’t be brought up on charges at some point. Christine P. Sun, an ACLU lawyer, said that this case has "inspired countless other people around the world to stand up for what's right." Sun also said the ACLU has represented other students in similar cases around the country, but none had garnered as much attention as McMillen’s.

The only way to be sure that your school’s financial stability will remain intact, and that your school will not suffer financial strain or even face bankruptcy after legal issues arise is to have your insurance program reviewed annually by a Certified School Risk Manager, such as Thomas Van Auker of The O’Neill Group’s Charter School Division.

A CSRM (Certified School Risk Manager) can assess your risks and put the correct programs in place that will cover your school for discrimination and harassment cases. They can also make sure that it is the Insurance Company that ultimately pays for damages, and not your school.


Quote References: SHELIA BYRD, Associated Press Writer Shelia Byrd, Associated Press– Tue Jul 20

The O’Neill Group Nominated for Corporate Citizen of The Year

Wadsworth, September 1, 2010: The O’Neill Group, an independent insurance agency located in Wadsworth, Ohio, has been nominated for the Medina County Corporate Citizen of the Year for 2010.

The nomination came earlier this week from the offices of the Medina County Economic Development Corporation. Michelle Masica, CEO of the Wadsworth Chamber of Commerce, posed the nomination of the agency, citing their support of the local community, outstanding customer service, and their core values as reasons for the nomination nod. The honor also follows The O’Neill Group’s announcement to once again sponsor the Siffrin, Inc. Golf Outing, and the creation of a new community page on their website: www.oneillinsurance.com.

Awards will be delivered on October 28, 2010 at the Blair Center in Westfield Center, Ohio. The award will ultimately be presented to the Medina County company that best exhibits the criteria of providing civic contributions to the community, makes charitable efforts, and encourages community involvement.

The O’Neill Group offers custom-designed Personal and Commercial insurance programs as well as Life and Health insurance for individuals and groups from top-rated companies. To contact Patrick O’Neill, President and CEO, please call The O’Neill Group at 330-334-1561 or toll-free 800-334-1561. You can also visit them online at www.oneillinsurance.com.

The O’Neill Group to Sponsor Non-Profit Golf Outing

Wadsworth, August 9, 2010: The O’Neill Group has committed to being the title sponsor for the 5th Annual Siffrin, Inc. Golf Outing held on October 4, 2010. This is the second year that the independent insurance agency located in Wadsworth, Ohio will be sponsoring the event.

“The 2009 event was such a great success, we could not pass up the opportunity to help Siffrin raise money again this year. The entire event is first-class and the outing is a lot of fun, too,” said Patrick O’Neill, President and CEO of The O’Neill Group. “This year, The O’Neill Group hopes to help Siffrin raise even more money for their worthy cause.”

Siffrin, Inc. is a non-profit agency that provides support services to people with disabilities in the Medina, Summit and Wayne County areas. This year’s event will be held at the prestigious Brookside Country Club in Canton, Ohio, and will directly benefit Siffrin’s Bridge Adult Day Services. Golf foursome registrations, individual sponsorships opportunities, and donations are still being accepted for the October outing.

The O’Neill Group offers custom-designed Personal and Commercial insurance programs as well as Life and Health insurance for individuals and groups from top-rated companies. To contact Patrick O’Neill or to learn more about the Siffrin, Inc. Golf Outing, please call The O’Neill Group at 330-334-1561 or toll-free 800-334-1561. You can also visit them online at http://www.oneillinsurance.com/ and http://www.siffrin.com/.

New Website Aimed at Helping Charter Schools

PRESS RELEASE
Wadsworth, Ohio, June 1, 2010.

The O’Neill Group Charter School Division officially announces the launch of their Charter School Insurance website, located at www.charterschoolinsurance.com.

Thomas Van Auker, who heads the agency’s Charter School Insurance Division and holds the prestigious designation of Certified School Risk Manager (CSRM), played a major role in the re-design of the website. In addition to offering information on risk management and insurance protection, web users can request additional information on custom-designed Property, Auto, and Liability insurance packages as well as Group Life and Health for their employees located in Ohio or in any other state across the country. Users can also use the provided link to the new Charter School Insurance Blog to stay up-to-date on charter school news and developments.

Tom’s designation of Certified School Risk Manager confirms his commitment to excel in the area of Charter School Insurance and to provide the highest quality professional insurance programs to Charter Schools. The newly designed website is a reflection of Tom’s dedication to protecting school employees, school boards and management companies that oversee them, and the students who attend them.

The O’Neill Group is an independent insurance agency located in Downtown Wadsworth, Ohio. To contact Tom Van Auker, or to receive additional information regarding The O’Neill Group’s insurance protection programs including Charter School Insurance packages, please call the office at 330-334-1561 or 800-334-1561, or visit the company websites at www.charterschoolinsurance.com and www.oneillinsurance.com.

Upfront Costs Pay Off Big Time

Often the “upfront” cost, or premium, of a charter school’s insurance policy are of major concern to the board, its financial officers and investors. However, cutting corners or choosing less-than-adequate insurance protection for your school can really end up costing more in the long run!

“The true cost of your insurance is the premium you pay
PLUS any uncovered claims.”

Consider the following real cases:
• A child was pushed into a bookcase’s sharp corner. The wound required numerous stitches, and the child also was at risk for tetanus because of rust on the bookcase. This cost the school district more than $200,000 in a settlement.

• A high school student lost several fingers when he cut a piece of wood on a table saw. The teacher had replaced a bolt in the mechanism and the accident happened when the bolt loosened. This cost the school district nearly $1 million in a court settlement.

• Two students return a television cart to the library. When one student lost his grip, the television toppled off and landed on the other child’s head, causing permanent brain damage. The jury awarded the student’s family $1.7 million.

The scary part is that you MAY NOT be covered for these accidents…possibly putting your school into debt or even facing bankruptcy and closure.

If you have never reviewed your protection program by a Certified School Risk Manager, you may be at risk to pay out-of-pocket for certain accidents that occur during school or on your property. You can have your insurance protection evaluated for FREE by a certified professional by simply contacting Tom Van Auker at our office at (800)334-1561.

Invest in Employee Health with Employee Wellness Program

Upfront costs don’t only pay off when it comes to property and casualty insurance - they pay off for employee health insurance, too.

A school's health care insurance costs can be a large part of your budget and can really add up. Your premiums may be going up due to employees suffering from diabetes, asthma, and other chronic illnesses related to poor diet and exercise habits, which is why it may be a wise idea to consider adopting an employee wellness program.

Many businesses are seeing relief from high premiums with employee wellness programs. These programs encourage healthy habits and make it easy for employees to get preventative care. Although there are upfront costs associated with the programs, the out-of-pocket expenses were more than covered by the premium savings obtained by your health insurance company for establishing such a program. Another benefit is the fact that “healthier” employees miss less work days… therefore, reducing expenses for substitutes or temporary aides. If you are interested in learning more about reducing your health care costs, CALL US TODAY at (800)334-1561.