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Risk Management
RELATED
LINKS:
Workers
Compensation
Safety
Program
Motor
Vehicle Safety
HAZCOM Program
ADA Compliance
Other Insurance
Mission
Statement
To have a unified, integrated loss control effort throughout
the Mesquite ISD
In a way that
- includes students, faculty, auxiliary personnel, administration,
and the public
- complies with all federal, state and local regulations
- pro-actively maintains safe work environments, facilities,
and equipment
- celebrates the safety achievements and accomplishments
of the participants
So that
- we reduce costs related to accidents and injuries
- we promote a safe and healthy working and educational
environment
- we establish people as our most valued resource
- we build mutual confidence and trust
"Working
together to create a safe working and learning environment"
About Risk Management
The Risk Management Department endeavors to provide superior customer service and reliable programs in support of the district's mission. The risk management function is a key component to addressing various operational goals of the district. These components include accident prevention for employees and minimization of property losses and liability claims. Historically, risk management has reviewed insurance coverage, analyzed exposures to loss, and implemented programs to meet regulatory compliance and district policy requirements for safety and loss control. These functions include the following:
- Developing programs to protect district employees and students from injury and/or exposure to harmful elements
- Identifying operational exposures and determining the most advantageous way to manage risks for those exposures
- Gather annual information on losses, property values, and operational changes for insurance carriers and seek proposals to provide broadest insurance protection for best dollar value spent
- Prepare all necessary insurance applications for various coverage policies
- Coordinate and manage claims for workers' compensation as well as property/casualty, on behalf of the district
- Review claims history for trend identification/loss prevention
- Assist in review of contracts for insurance and liability issues
Taking all of the above into account, risk management develops the most cost efficient insurance program that provides appropriate financial protection in the event of a loss. It is always our goal to develop a strong understanding of the types of activities that increase the exposure to losses through district activities.
| MISD Administrator Named 2011 Public Risk Manager of the Year |
| The Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) has selected Mesquite ISD Administrative Officer of Operations/Risk Management, James E. Huckaby, ARM-P, as the 2011 Public Risk Manager of the Year. Huckaby was selected not only for his ability to effectively handle difficult situations through the development and implementation of short and long term solutions, but also because he possesses the mindset, experience, and the innovative strategies of a strong, proven leader. The Public Risk Manager of the Year Award competition searches for the grand master of risk management; one who handles losses, foresees risks, and |
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| prevents dangerous endgames. This award showcases risk management achievements to the entire public sector community and is the most prestigious award bestowed upon a PRIMA member.
Huckaby received the award at PRIMA’s 32nd Annual Conference held June 5-8, 2011 in Portland, Oregon. |
| 2011 TASB Risk Management Fund Innovation Award |
| During TASB's 37th Risk Management Fund Members' Conference held April 17-19, 2011 in Austin, Mesquite ISD was named as one of the 2011 TASB INNOVATION AWARD recipients. Each recipient was given a check for $1000 to be used toward future risk management efforts. MISD received the award this year for its Online |
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Safety Seminars for campus personnel. In 2010, the District's Risk Management Department began using an e-Learning software program, primarily used by teachers for making their curriculum more accessible to students, to create on-line safety training sessions for campus personnel. Campus employees can now conveniently sit at their own computers to attend safety training sessions at their leisure instead of interrupting their instructional duties to attend traditional group training. On average, 950 campus employees per quarter receive safety training through the on-line system.
Districts are eligible to earn this award every two years and Mesquite ISD was a recipient in both 2007 and 2009. Pictured (L-R): Ted Beard, TASB fund board member; John Palm, ARM, MISD Safety Officer - Risk Management; Kevin A. Carbo Sr., TASB Fund chair. |
| John Palm Named Risk Management Associate of the Year |
| Responsible for Mesquite I.S.D.'s safety program since 2006 (which includes the development of loss prevention/loss control programs and ensuring
compliance with state and federal safety laws), Safety Officer John Palm's
duties include performing annual safety inspections at each district facility,
job site safety inspections, safety concern investigations, accident/ injury
investigations, ergonomic assessments, and overseeing the district's crossing
guard program. He is also responsible for coordinating safety training for all
employees, including general monthly safety topics, hazard communication
(HAZCOM), equipment safety training, and defensive driving. Additionally,
Palm authors a monthly safety article for the MISD employee |
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| newsletter and
manages the district's safety award recognition program. The awards
(sponsored by the National Safety Council-Texas Chapter) are presented each
spring at various venues; for the past several years, Mesquite ISD has
received the highest number of safety awards among all other competing
school districts.
Previously, Palm was risk control manager for a multi-national construction
equipment rental company. He has also served as an industrial hygienist and
safety officer for a health and safety consulting company in Garland, Texas.
He received his Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation in 2007,
and earned a master's of Public Health Degree from the University of
Southern Mississippi in 2001. As part of his education curriculum, Palm
completed an internship with the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) in Mobile, Alabama. A native of Bridge City, Louisiana,
Palm relocated to Texas in 2001 to begin his professional career in safety and
risk management. |
| 2010 TASB Exemplary Performance Renewal Reward |
| JENNIFER SMITH, TASB risk management consultant,
presented a $10,000 check to Superintendent DR.
LINDA HENRIE, for the District's fifth consecutive
year of exemplary performance. Also pictured are Risk Management Safety Officer JOHN PALM, ARM, and Director of Risk Management JAMES E. HUCKABY, ARM-P. |
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| Mesquite ISD Receives 2010 TASB Loss Prevention Grant |
During the June 2010 school board meeting, the Mesquite ISD was awarded a loss prevention grant of $1500 from the Texas Association of School Boards Risk Management Fund.
Since 1998, a total of 1,781 Loss Prevention Grants, valued at over $4.6 million, |
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have been awarded to pool members in the Workers' Compensation and Property and Liability programs. The purpose of TASB's grant program is to provide members with opportunities to reduce losses and raise awareness of safety issues. In past years, grant monies have been used to mitigate potential loss exposures through the purchase of personal protective equipment, mechanical lifting devices, fall protection equipment, funding defensive driving training and driver improvement courses, addressing fire protection and electrical safety initiatives, and obtaining facilities security equipment.
Previously, Mesquite ISD received Loss Prevention Grants from TASB in 2007 and 2008.
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| 2009
TASB Exemplary Performance Renewal Reward |
On
behalf of TASB, KIM WEBB, risk management consultant,
presented a $10,000 check to Superintendent DR.
LINDA HENRIE, for the District's fourth consecutive
year of exemplary performance.
Also
pictured is JAMES E. HUCKABY, ARM-P, director
of Risk
Management. |
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| 2009
TASB Risk Management Fund Innovation Award |
| During
TASB's 35th Risk Management Fund Members' Conference
held April 19-21, 2009 in Austin, Mesquite ISD
was named as one of the
2009
TASB INNOVATION AWARD recipients. Each recipient
was given a check for $1000 to be used toward
future risk management efforts. MISD received
the award this year for their |
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| innovative safety
audit tools for school campuses, and district
buildings. MISD also received this award in 2007.
Pictured (L-R): Ted Beard, TASB fund board member;
Richard Koonce, MISD assistant superintendent
- Financial Transparency; James E. Huckaby, ARM-P,
MISD director - Risk Management; Kevin A. Carbo
Sr., TASB Fund chair. |
| 2008
Exemplary Performance Renewal Award |
On
behalf of TASB, KIM WEBB, risk management consultant,
presents a $10,000 check to RICHARD KOONCE, assistant
superintendent - Financial Transparency for the District's
third consecutive year of exemplary performance.
Also
pictured is JAMES E. HUCKABY, ARM-P, director
of Risk Management. |
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| District
Receives 2008 TASB Loss Prevention Grant |
Mesquite
ISD was awarded a loss prevention grant of $2000
from the Texas Association of School Boards' Risk
Management Fund. Grant monies will help implement
loss prevention and safety initiatives to reduce
the potential for property losses and on-the-job
injuries and raise safety awareness. A total number
of 206 public school districts and education entities |
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| received
grants of $550,000 from the Fund this year. Since
1998, the Fund's Loss Prevention Grant
Program has distributed 1,381 total grants of more
than $3.4 million to Fund members in the workers'
compensation and property/casualty programs.
The 2008 grants were awarded to 192 school districts,
6 colleges, 4 regional education service centers,
2 appraisal districts, and 2 educational cooperatives.
Workers' compensation grants focused on fall prevention,
personal lifting devices, and personal protective
equipment. Facilities security initiatives, driver
improvement, and vehicle safety were the primary
areas receiving grants under the property casualty
program area. |
MISD
Director of Risk Management Appointed to Texas Surplus
Lines Stamping Office Board of Directors, December
2007
Austin,
Texas - Mike Geeslin, Texas Insurance Commissioner,
recently appointed JAMES E. HUCKABY, ARM-P to serve
as a public representative to the Texas Surplus Lines
Stamping Office Board of Directors. The nine member
board will consist of four members representing the
general public and five members representing the surplus
lines industry. Huckaby's three year term will begin
January 1, 2008.
The
purpose of the Surplus Lines Stamping Office is to assist
the Texas Department of Insurance in the regulation
of surplus lines insurance and to encourage compliance
by surplus lines agents and insurers with the surplus
lines laws and regulations of the state.
Although
the Stamping Office performs many functions, its principle
responsibilities fall under three main categories: evaluation
of surplus lines insurers for eligibility to write in
Texas; review of all surplus lines insurance policies
procured by Texas licensed surplus lines agents; and
education. The Stamping Office performs other duties,
such as tabulating extended coverage premiums written
by surplus lines affiliates of admitted insurers for
use by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association in
determining assessments. Over the years, as the Texas
surplus lines industry has grown to serve the second
largest market in the US, with annual state premiums
now exceeding $2.5 billion.
MISD
Safety Officer Receives Designation Associate of Risk
Management (ARM), December 2007
The
Mesquite ISD Risk Management Team is proud to announce
that our Safety Officer, JOHN F. PALM III, has successfully
completed the requirements for the Associate of Risk
Management designation.
The
ARM designation program teaches practical, relevant
skills needed to help manage risk at all levels by providing
in-depth knowledge needed to assess and respond to the
numerous hazard risks a company faces. ARM helps employees
build a strong foundation in the science of risk management
while gaining practical skills to avoid, reduce, and
manage risk, and to learn how to adapt those skills
to meet changing needs.
2007
Exemplary Performance Renewal Award
The
Exemplary Performance Renewal Reward is the Texas
Association of School Board's way of recognizing
Mesquite ISD's contributions to the Fund's continued
success. This reward is offered only to members
that meet certain criteria, such as excellent
loss experience and long term membership in the
Fund's programs. |
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"It
is only because of members such as Mesquite ISD
that the Fund is recognized as one ofthe most successful
public entity pools in the nation. We value the
relationship we have with Mesquite ISD and thank
you for your many positive contributions to the
TASB Risk Management Fund," stated DUBRAVKA
ROMANO, TASB's associate executive director of
Risk Management Services. |
2007
TASB Loss Prevention Grant Recipient
The
Texas Association of School Boards' Risk Management
Fund honored MESQUITE ISD as a 2007 TASB Loss
Prevention Grant recipient. Grant monies will
help implement loss prevention and safety initiatives
to reduce the potential for property losses and
on-the-job injuries and raise safety awareness.
A total number of 214 public school districts
and education entities received grants of $565,000
from the Fund this year.
"The
safety and well being of all employees and prevention
of losses are crucial issues in the
workplace.
The Fund is dedicated |
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to partnering
with its members to save valuable resources and
do everything we can to help educate staff to
provide for a healthier work force and create
a safer work environment," said EDWIN THOMPSON,
Director of TASB'S Loss Prevention Services. "We
are quite proud that the Fund has been able to
award much-needed resources to our members over
the years," he said. |
2007
TASB Risk Management Fund Innovation Award
On behalf
of the Mesquite ISD, School Board member KEVIN
CARBO (far left) and Director of Risk Management
JAMES E. HUCKABY, ARM-P (2nd left), accepted the
Texas Association of School Boards' Risk Management
Fund Innovation Award and check for $1000 during
TASB's annual conference in April. The District
was cited for the Mesquite Employee Health |
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| Center, featuring
a pharmacy and clinic that provides basic primary
and emergency care with a focus on wellness and
prevention.
"This award, established by the Risk Management
Fund Board of Trustees in 2004, is a special way
of recognizing Fund members who have demonstrated
innovation and success in risk management initiatives,
products, or programs. Applications were rated
on cost effectiveness, originality, transferability
for use by other Fund members, and ability to
address current needs at the overall member level.
Recipients of the Innovation Award set an excellent
example of timely, creative, and effective approaches
to risk management that we hope other Fund members
will emulate," said DUBRAVKA ROMANO, TASB
associate executive director of Risk Management
Services. The award money is to be used toward
the recipients' risk management efforts. |
MISD
School Board's Peak Performance Award
| During the December
11, 2006 meeting, the MISD School Board presented
it's inaugural award for Peak Performance to the
MISD Risk Management Department. Pictured above
with the RISK MANAGEMENT TEAM are School Board President
RITA CRUMP And several vendor representatives whose
services are utilized by the department. |
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