School committee backs two-year renewal for excess workers’ compensation insurance

The St. Bernard Parish School Board insurance committee recommended sending a two-year renewal of the district’s excess workers’ compensation insurance to the full board for approval.

The district’s insurance presenter said the committee received three proposals and recommended “Option A,” which would retain the district’s $500,000 self‑insured retention and “guarantee the renewal rate for 2 years” at a premium of $88,007.37 per year. The presenter described Option B as raising the retention to $600,000 for a slightly lower premium and said a Safety National proposal had a higher rate despite the same $600,000 retention.

The recommendation was presented as part of the routine annual renewal cycle for the district’s excess coverage; the presenter explained this coverage is required by the state as a condition for operating a self‑insured workers’ compensation program. “This is the time of year that we renew our excess insurance on workers' compensation,” the presenter said.

Board member Mister Warner moved to forward Option A to the full board; Miss Creason seconded the motion. Committee discussion included clarification that the retention applies “over the life of the claim,” not per year, and that the district currently has roughly 10 employees receiving workers’ compensation benefits, “maybe 2 or 3 that are on indemnity,” with the remainder medical only.

The committee voted to advance the recommendation to the full board. The committee meeting record does not specify a roll‑call tally for that item; the matter will be scheduled for a vote by the full board.