Board hears safety, mandatory-reporting and insurance findings; schedules policy reviews

Board members and administrators reported results from an external risk review and discussed staff training, mandatory-reporting procedures and insurance losses. A board member said the district's eight-year average loss ratio is 147%, far above an often-cited acceptable rate near 60%. "Our 8 year loss ratio average is a 147%. So we need to do better," the board member said. Reported high-cost claims included a gym-floor water damage claim and other property losses.

The review team recommended universal annual training for staff and volunteers on mandatory-reporting and harassment recognition, and suggested documenting training completion as part of employee evaluations. "They recommended that everybody who's in contact with the kids receive annual training," a board member said, and administrators confirmed training videos are available for employees through the district's membership with a vendor (iClip).

Board members also discussed operational inspections and documentation (for example, routine roof checks) as measures to reduce property damage. The board asked staff to add training completeness and prevention measures to the safety committee's agenda and to require prompt reporting of incidents to the insurer for triage. Administrators said claims are not always "black and white" and urged early notification to the insurer.

Separately, the board scheduled reviews of two personnel policies: Policy 33-20 and Policy 33-30 (substance- and alcohol-related policies) for the September meeting, and confirmed Policy 41-20 (nondiscrimination coordinator) remains approved in its current form unless formally changed. The board did not take any immediate policy revisions at this meeting.