General

More than 600 pedestrians are struck and killed by vehicles in Texas every year. The victims are more than nameless, faceless statistics filed away in some regulatory agency database. They are spouses, relatives, friends, co-workers, and even children.

Sometimes, we make our best decisions when options are limited and stakes are high. Flash back 45 years to the creation of the TASB Risk Management Fund (Fund), for example. In 1973, the Texas Legislature passed a law requiring school districts and other political subdivisions to provide workers’ compensation coverage to their employees. Organizations that failed to comply were subject to fines.

When you join the TASB Risk Management Fund (Fund), you gain access to the knowledge of professionals dedicated to helping you achieve excellence in education. The Fund is supported by approximately 200 TASB staff members. We have teams who help keep your schools safe, make data-driven decisions, prevent property and vehicle damage, secure quality care for injured employees, reduce costs and claims, address emerging risks, and more.

Workplace safety programs have the power to increase productivity and cut costs. But at Fort Bend ISD, leaders don’t embrace safe work practices just because the budget says they should.

We are pleased to welcome new members and current members who have added at least one new program (Auto, Liability, Property, Workers’ Compensation, and/or Unemployment Compensation).

On approximately 180 mornings every year, nearly six million students report to Texas public schools with the expectation that they will arrive safely home after the last bell rings. Considering the stakes, it is comforting to know that administrators, staff, and trained professionals are ready to take charge during an emergency. But what if an adult is not immediately on the scene?

Editor’s note: This year, the TASB Risk Management Fund celebrates 45 years of providing risk solutions to the school districts of Texas. Texas Lone Star Managing Editor Roger White sat down with Dubravka Romano, TASB associate executive director for Risk Management Services, to talk about the Fund’s beginnings, its history, and what the future holds with regard to the risk management landscape for Texas school districts.

Comprehensive is not a word we take lightly. Because the TASB Risk Management Fund is a self-insurance risk pool, its primary stakeholders are its members. Coverages and service are tailored to fit members’ needs, and they adapt to address new needs or environmental circumstances.

We are pleased to recognize the 2019 Excellence Award recipients for their risk management initiatives. 

The TASB Risk Management Fund has been serving public education entities in Texas since 1974. As the Fund has evolved over 45 years, one element that has stayed constant is responsiveness to emerging risks and member needs. Just like we’ve updated coverage and services in the past, we’re now updating the Fund logo.

The new year is a time to focus on the future. For the TASB Risk Management Fund (Fund), it is also a time to honor the past. The Fund is 45 years strong as of January 4, 2019, and there are 45 TASB members that have been with us since the beginning. All Fund members work hard each day to provide a better tomorrow for Texas students, and the Fund is here to support them with risk solutions.

For more than a decade, this award program has honored members for their success. Recipients receive a plaque and monetary award at Members' Conference each year. 

What do you think of when you hear the term claims adjuster? At TASB, adjusters have always been equally focused on the mission of excellence in education and on member service. 

What laws passed in the Legislative Session will impact risk management in public education? TASB Legal Services and the TASB Risk Management Fund (Fund) helped answer this question during a Fund webinar. Senate Bills and House Bills were passed relating to risk management hot topics such as cyberbullying, the use of cameras in special education classrooms, coverage for Career and Technology Education (CTE) students, cybersecurity, and more.

When processing claims, the Fund’s goal is to ensure that any party responsible for a member’s loss ultimately covers the cost. This process is called subrogation.

Discover the innovative ideas that led to these projects being selected for the newly renamed Excellence Awards.

An improved homepage that links to Fund resources and relevant news and training is just one step TASB is taking toward providing a superior member experience. The most exciting feature of myTASB is the re-imagined renewal process.

Since 1998, the Fund’s Loss Prevention Grant program has distributed 3,044 total grants of more than $8.11 million to Fund members in the Workers’ Compensation, Auto, and Property programs.

The Fund is pleased to recognize 11 school districts and community colleges that have successfully turned common risk management challenges into successful solutions by honoring them with the 2016 Innovation Awards.

During the 84th Texas Legislative Session, lawmakers passed a bill requiring certain parties to provide disclosure before contracting with Texas public entities.

When approving a contract for your district, it is important to carefully review the document, especially the small print. If any elements of a contract are unclear, we would highly encourage you to inquire with the vendor and your local counsel. If you have any questions relating to your Fund coverage, call 800.482.7276 or e-mail tasbrmf@tasbrmf.org. Before the contract is final, here is a checklist to refer to as you go through the document:

Innovation doesn’t go unnoticed by the Fund. Each year, we recognize members for innovation and success in risk management. Congratulations to this year’s winners: Alief ISD, Blum ISD, Damon ISD, Eanes ISD, Floydada ISD, Garland ISD, Lamar CISD, Longview ISD, Marion ISD, Rogers ISD, and Wharton Junior College.

For the past 40 years, the Fund has been providing exemplary coverage and outstanding service to its members and we plan on expanding on this great history for many years to come.

When making coverage decisions, texas school districts should consider whether the proposed purchase would be an authorized expenditure of public funds consistent with Texas Attorney General Opinion No. H-70 (1973).

Each year, the Fund recognizes the accomplishments of our members’ risk management initiatives based on the cost effectiveness, creativity and excellence, applicability, and the impact it has on their risk management practices.

Running a school is difficult. Since members cannot economically provide all necessary services, vendors must be found to assist with a variety of functions and events. This means administrators deal with third-party contracts and confusing legal language.

June is a month that signifies not only the end of school and the impending heat of another Texas summer, but also a time when school districts and educational entities begin making risk management decisions for the upcoming school year.