Fond du Lac board approves property and casualty insurance renewal amid higher workers’ compensation costs

The Fond du Lac School District Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the district’s property and casualty insurance program for the 2026–27 year after an executive summary and questions from board members.

District administrator Gerlach told the board the recommended package reflects line-by-line premiums and noted the most significant change is an increase in the district’s workers’ compensation costs because of its three‑year experience modification. "Overall, the total sum is an expense increase of this renewal from all lines of around a little over a $119,000 from the previous year," Gerlach said. He also described a recommended change in cyber coverage from Coalition to Chubb to realize savings.

Board member Henschel emphasized the operational and safety implications of the experience modification. "It's now a $700,000 bill on our income statement or expense report," Henschel said, urging attention to employee safety and risk-management training to reduce future claims. He described the district’s experience-modification history as having trended upward and said reducing that modifier would yield long-term savings.

Gerlach said the district and its agent (R and R Insurance) are working on risk-management strategies and credited recent improvements under the new carrier, Argent, for some favorable claims experience this past year. He described the renewal policies as effective July 1 and said the net increase had been factored into the district’s preliminary budget.

After discussion, a motion to approve the insurance program was moved, seconded and approved by roll call 7–0.

The board did not change the district’s coverage lines at the meeting beyond the carrier recommendation for cyber insurance; the vote simply authorized the recommended renewals and the superintendent/administration to complete the implementation steps.