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Insurance broker reviews midyear claims; recommends increased training and defensive-driving classes
Summary
Alamo Insurance Group presented a five-year claims review and urged continued safety training and defensive-driving classes for bus drivers. Workers' compensation claims remain the largest cost driver.
Alamo Insurance Group presented a midyear and five-year retrospective on the district’s insurance claims at the Pleasantville Board of Education meeting on Feb. 18 and recommended stepped-up training and risk-management activities.
Sameer Serifres, speaking for Alamo, reviewed claim counts and average costs across auto, general liability, property and workers’ compensation lines. He reported that auto claims increased from one in 2021 to 10 so far in the 2024–25 midyear period and that the average cost per claim varied across policy years. On workers’ compensation, he said the district saw 16 claims in 2021 (a COVID year), 91 in 2021–22, 71 in 2022–23, 49 in 2023–24 and 51 claims to date in 2024–25.
Alamo staff said slips, trips and falls were the single largest cause of claims, followed by special-education incidents where students act out. The broker described recurring loss-control steps: regular safety meetings, on-site training, and the district’s use of the Vector Solutions online training portal (provided by the carrier). Alamo said average cost per claim for workers’ compensation has fallen compared with the previous year — the presenter cited a decrease from about $36,000 per claim to about $25,000 per claim in the most recent year.
Alamo proposed a defensive-driving refresher for bus drivers that would both reduce risk and potentially lower personal insurance points for drivers; the presenter said drivers could receive a two-point reduction and up to a 5% discount on personal liability insurance through the course. Board members asked about training frequency; Alamo said mandated trainings occur yearly but that additional or more frequent sessions are scheduled when claims trends indicate a need, and Alamo committed to increase reminders and opportunities for training.
The board heard the report and discussed targeted training for custodial and special-education staff and expanded reminders and assignment of Vector Solutions courses.
