WI school administrators’ & teachers’ safety & liability concerns involve carrying the responsibility of ensuring students, faculty and community are covered – especially in high risk environments like laboratory science. Schools are faced with unique risks in regard to keeping their environments a safe place for students to learn and grow. Providing the best education and classroom experience should be an educator’s #1 priority and there are resources that allow you to make that the primary focus. Here are 4 qualities that you should look for when evaluating and choosing a safety & liability coverage consultant for your district, school, group or project.
Experience
School district risk and claims management requires a specialized expertise in all areas of a school’s operations function. Finding the right consultant for your group should include a representative with experience in education coverages as well as provide you with access to valuable resources that will help you make knowledgeable decisions. Your provider representative should have familiarity with your school setting, faculty and educators that are working in situations that may be considered high risk. Are you in a situation where you see your consultant only once a year or at renewal time? If so, it’s likely they do not have a strong understanding of the risks that are facing your individual students, faculty and property on a daily basis. Choose a consultant that has experience working in the same type of district, school or group setting as you will be working in together. They should also come with strong recommendations and be known for their solid relationships with the administrators, teachers and students they serve.
Knowledge
With experience, comes knowledge. Look for a consultant that has the breadth of knowledge to give expert advice, recommendations and lead you to resources that will provide value to the entire administration and staff. Safety and insurance coverages can be intimidating and complex at times. Having a reliable consultant that acts as an approachable extension of your team could save your district, school or group time and money. Working with a provider that goes above and beyond to create educational opportunities for you and your team will be an invaluable addition to the partnership.
Compassion
Look for a provider with a mission that aligns with your district or school’s focus on providing the most successful educational experience for your students and the community. Your partner should be someone you trust to put the lives of the people who fall under your policy first as well as do the right things – even when no one is looking. Here’s an example of how Jeff Gross, Director of Business Services with the school district of Menomonee Falls is working with his insurance provider to put the students and community first.
Extensive Options
Your district, school or group faces special needs and issues day-to-day and you want to align with a provider that has a strong understanding of the risk management needs of academic institutions. These coverage needs are constantly evolving. Consultants should offer flexible and comprehensive coverages that protect your assets so your primary focus can be on education. Competitive pricing is of course, is also a factor along with specifically designed school enhancement coverages.
As an administrator or educator, the safety and security of your students, faculty and school environment are at the forefront of responsibilities faced everyday. Finding a safety and liability consultant you can trust will allow you to focus on what’s most important – education. What risks are of biggest concern for your district or classroom and how are you working with your consultant to minimize these risks?