Irving ISD Breaks Down Silos to Build Up Safety

Irving ISD earned a 2026 Fund Excellence Award for its Loss Control Committee initiative.

There is no template for managing risk in schools. Custodial staff face different hazards than teachers. The same goes for maintenance teams and grounds crews. The Irving ISD loss control committee was created to leverage employees' different perspectives and drive continuous improvement in the safety program across departments.

The revamped committee includes representatives from HR, special education, maintenance, athletics, technology, wellness, and more. With an influx of new members, meeting attendance jumped 200% and workers' compensation claims costs dropped about 50% over the previous year.

Behind the Curtain

The committee meets for two hours once per quarter. Members review the district's loss data, discuss trends among departments, share ideas, and zero in on initiatives that promote safer workplaces.

Among the most impactful of those initiatives was 24/7 electronic injury reporting in English and Spanish, said Ashly Witek, director of benefits, risk management, and HRIS operations. The form includes automation that generates prescription cards and state-mandated claim forms.

From ensuring employees get care quickly to addressing hazards, electronic reporting drives efficient claims processing.

"A custodial employee submitted a form at two in the morning after receiving an electrical shock while turning off the lights," recalled Ashly. "By the next morning, we had identified and corrected the issue district-wide. Previously, that would have taken days."

The team leverages the Fund Data Center to access detailed Irving ISD claims history reports. The reports break down claims by type, job classification, and cost, providing a powerful benchmarking tool for committee members.

“We can compare our accident numbers with other departments and learn from what others are doing well,” said Transportation Director Marco Hinojosa. “When we see the graphs and our numbers going down, it shows our work is making a difference.”

Parents, Caregivers, Community Members

The committee's collaborative structure, open forums, and cross-departmental discussions provide insight into the unique safety challenges faced across Irving ISD. Serving on the loss control committee has given Director of Safety and Security Kevin Dodge a big-picture perspective on managing risk.

"Departments are interconnected, and gaps can be quickly identified and addressed when everyone's in the room together," noted Kevin. "Whether you’re planning for graduation or responding to an incident, aligning transportation, facilities, nursing, and security makes all the difference."

For Olga Rosenberger, executive director of student nutrition and extended school programs, the loss control committee's cross-departmental representation drives home the principle that safety is a shared responsibility. Committee members bring diverse perspectives to the discussion, but everyone's working toward a goal that cannot be quantified.

 "What motivates us is caring for our employees," said Olga. "They're parents, community members, and caregivers to our students. Their safety and wellbeing matter."