Loss Prevention Grant Ready for 2009, Are You?
by Charles Hueter
The TASB Risk Management Fund Board approved the next Loss Prevention Grant Program, so it’s time to get ready. We awarded Fund members $3.4 million over the last eleven years to help address loss prevention concerns. Don't let this opportunity pass you by!
We are all painfully aware of the budget issues public schools face. Sometimes important issues must be pushed aside to fix more critical problems. Maybe one of your issues is gym lighting that requires a tall ladder to reach, increasing your maintenance staff's exposure to falls. Maybe the fire suppression system in the high school cafeteria isn't up to code and is in danger of getting red-tagged. Maybe the only people who know CPR are stationed far away from the administrative building.
Each of these is an example of a situation that boosts your chances for a loss. Every loss is wasted time, effort, and attention. Unfortunately, many losses also involve injuries or death. This is why we focus on prevention.
Applying for a Loss Prevention Grant is easy. Head over to the TASB Risk Management Fund Web site in January 2009 and look for the grant link. Once there, you can select your organization from the drop-down list. This list is pre-screened for eligibility criteria based on your enrollment in Workers' Compensation and Property/Casualty, so if you think there is an error, please contact us immediately. If you apply for a grant that seeks to manage Workers' Compensation issues, you must be a current member of the WC pool. If you apply for a grant that seeks to manage Property/Casualty issues, you must be a current member of the P/C pool. Of course, we encourage you to apply for both if you are a member of both!
The next step is filling in some basic information and agreeing to the grant's terms. You need to remain a member in the applicable program for the duration of the fiscal year. It is also important that you send us proof of your purchases before the next grant cycle begins.
Once these tasks are out of the way, the real work begins. Within the "grant shell" you've created, you can now organize and describe the types of equipment, services, training, or other things you wish to purchase. Your grant application will remain open for editing until the closing date in March, giving you several months to refine your proposal.
It is important to clearly identify what your loss prevention concerns are and how you think your purchases can alleviate them. We also recommend you include supporting documentation, such as vendor quotes, item descriptions, diagrams, and other ways of explaining your proposal beyond what is entered into the application as text. The most important part of the grant that we evaluate is your justification.
We want to help you tackle those issues that seem to get looked over each budget year. If you have questions about the Loss Prevention Grant Program, please contact Clem Zabalza, assistant director of Loss Prevention Services, at 800.482.7276, extension 4325. If you have questions regarding technical aspects of the grant, please call Charles Hueter at 800.482.7276, extension 6305.
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