FILE:  EG

INSURANCE MANAGEMENT

The Washington Parish School Board recognizes its responsibility for properly managing the resources of the school system.  This responsibility includes concern for the safety of students, employees and the public as well as concern for protecting the system's property from loss.  No new policy or procedure shall be adopted or approved by the Board without first giving careful consideration to the school district's risk exposure.

The Superintendent or his/her designee shall be responsible for establishing a risk management and insurance program governing all property and program risks related to the performance of the educational and service missions of the system.  The risk management and insurance program shall include means for identifying, eliminating, reducing, retaining or transferring risk exposures.  Only when a particular risk cannot be eliminated or feasibly retained by the district shall it be transferred by the purchase of insurance.

The Board realizes that the assumption of some predictable risk is the most economically feasible method of treating certain exposures.  When in the apparent best interest of the school system, the Board may budget for, and retain, limited and predictable risks of financial loss.

When the purchase of insurance is deemed necessary, such purchase shall be made on the basis of service offered by the insurer, the reliability and financial stability of the insurer, and the price of the insurance as competitively determined.

The Board does not recognize any obligation to purchase insurance from a particular agent(s), broker(s) or insurer representative(s) or State Insurance Fund other than an obligation based on the above stated considerations.

The Superintendent shall have the responsibility for preparing an annual risk management report for review by the Board.  The report shall include a description of the district's current risk management program and a summary of the existing insurance coverages.

The Board authorizes the Superintendent to seek professional risk management advice, if necessary, in order to develop, implement and maintain an effective risk management and insurance program for the district.

COMPETITIVE QUOTES

It shall be the policy of the Board that whenever competitive quotes are taken on behalf of the School Board for property and/or casualty insurance, recommendations relating to those quotes shall be presented and discussed in committee at least two (2) working days prior to being brought before the Board for official Board action.

Revised:  January, 2002

Ref:     La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:159.2, 17:169, 32:601

Board minutes, 11-08-01

Washington Parish School Board