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Board approves FISBIT insurance renewal after questions about surge in SAM coverage cost
Summary
Gadsden County School Board approved the district’s FISBIT renewal, including optional excess liability and a $1,000,000 SAM (abuse/molestation) coverage layer; staff said pooled pricing and member choices drove the per-district SAM cost increase discussed in public comment.
The Gadsden County School Board voted to approve the district’s FISBIT insurance renewal and the superintendent’s recommendation to purchase the base renewal and the additional $1,000,000 excess liability layer that includes SAM (sexual abuse and molestation) coverage.
During public comment, Tracy Stallworth (speaker 6) asked why the SAM line item appeared to jump from about $6,800 in the 2025–26 estimate to roughly $33,640 in the proposed renewal and whether the district had solicited quotes from alternatives such as SCRAMP. Miss Bruner (speaker 8), who presented the renewal packet, responded that FISBIT operates as a pooled program and that per-district costs depend on the pool makeup; she said that if the entire pool had opted for SAM coverage the per-member charge would have been about $10,000, but because not all members picked the optional coverage some districts pay a higher share.
Miss Bruner told the board the overall renewal showed a net decrease versus the prior year even with the optional excess layer. She described the packet’s line items and said the recommendation before the board included the base coverage (presented in the packet as roughly $1,340,227) plus the additional excess liability cost (presented as approximately $33,640) if the board chose that option. Board members asked for more detail about individual line items and comparisons; Bruner said the pool’s January market analysis showed FISBIT remained the most competitive option.
A motion to accept the superintendent’s recommendation to renew with the optional excess layer was made and seconded; the board approved the recommendation by voice vote. The chair announced the motion carried. The district said the renewal will be paid from the general fund and capital outlay, and staff will return with any additional requested detail about the market comparison and line-item breakdowns.
