For the second year in a row, the Tacoma Public Schools could save more than $100,000 in annual insurance premium contributions due to its earning a perfect score on the 2008 Review Risk Assessment Survey by the Washington Schools Risk Management Pool (WSRMP).
The district’s perfect score equates to a minimum of a three percent reduction in the insurance premium contribution for the 2009–10 school year and a possible additional reduction if approved by the risk management pool’s Board of Directors. Last year, the district received a perfect score on the 2007 Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Students Risk Assessment Survey. The loss control incentive was a savings of $110,902 on the 2008–09 premium contribution.
The WSRMP is a self-funded group of more than 75 school districts, educational service districts and school district interlocals in Washington that have joined together to prevent, control and pay for liability and property risks. The WSRMP considers insurance coverage as only part of the solution and places more emphasis on risk control measures, such as training in liability prone areas and on-site review of facilities, policies and procedures.
The annual surveys check to ensure that members are using practices that meet the WSRMP’s emphasis on risk control measures. The 2008 survey focused on reviewing four areas: property preservation, safety practices related to Career and Technical Education, transportation and science. The survey topic for 2008–09 is athletic liability.
Jeff Pence, claims manager, is the district’s representative to the WSRMP. He is under the direction of Susan Schreurs, the district’s General Counsel. Pence coordinates the district’s efforts in meeting the survey requirements.