Fund Members Honored for Innovation

For Release: April 16, 2012
Contact: Allison Kaminsky, 800.482.7276, ext. 2275
http://www.tasbrmf.org/awards/innovation/index.aspx
allison.kaminsky@tasb.org

(Austin) – Winners of the annual Texas Association of School Boards' (TASB) Risk Management Fund Innovation Award recently received a commemorative plaque and $1,000 each to apply toward their risk management programs. Fund members recognized include the following: Atlanta, Barbers Hill, Conroe, Garland, Harts Bluff, Hawkins, and Klein ISDs. Also recognized were Harlingen and San Marcos CISDs and Galveston College. Representatives were presented with their awards and checks at the Fund Members' Conference April 16 in Austin.

"Since its inception in 2004, this award has been a special way of honoring Fund members for initiatives, products, or programs that are inventive, timely, and effective. These award winners truly demonstrate innovative and successful approaches to risk management that we encourage other Fund members to emulate," said Kevin Carbo, chair of the TASB Risk Management Fund Board and president of the Mesquite ISD board of trustees.

Applications are rated on cost effectiveness, originality, transferability for use by other Fund members, and ability to address current needs at the overall member level.

Among winning entries were Atlanta’s free and fun campus fitness challenge; Barbers Hill’s comprehensive online training and compliance program; Conroe’s on-site medical clinic, employee health fair, and fitness competition; Galveston College’s best practices guide for use in natural disasters; and Garland’s creative enhancement of its internal communication about safety.

Other innovative ideas included Harlingen's productive 35-person safety committee, Harts Bluff’s dads’ program to provide role models for students and an extra layer of security, Hawkins’ wild hog trappings to protect school property, Klein’s successful vehicle accident review board, and San Marcos’ monthly safety newsletter focusing on risk and crisis management.

The TASB Risk Management Fund is the premier provider of risk management services for school districts and education entities in Texas. With more than 1,100 members, the Fund is one of the oldest, largest, and financially strongest risk pools in the nation. The Fund provides coverage through its unemployment compensation, workers’ compensation, and property, liability, and auto programs. In addition, it offers a wide range of services and member benefits, such as loss prevention, free member training, online claim forms and resources, and grant programs.

TASB is a voluntary nonprofit association established in 1949 to serve local public school districts. School board members are the largest group of publicly elected officials in the state. The districts they represent serve more than 4.9 million public school students.