Risks for Alaskan Schools: The Role of School Board Members
Carleen Mitchell, Deputy Director, Alaska Public Entity Insurance
As leaders of the educational community, school board members play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and well-being of students and staff in your school district. Alaska Public Entity Insurance (APEI) and Alaska Municipal League Joint Insurance Association (AMLJIA) are here to collaborate with Alaska’s school boards to help their districts reduce risks and protect students, staff, community members, and property.
While the day-to-day work of risk management falls to the superintendent and school staff, school board members have an important role in setting district policy and allocating funding to support the district’s risk management needs. It’s appropriate for board members to ask what risk management the district is engaging in, and what additional support is needed. Three critical areas school boards should be aware of are child abuse prevention, winter protection for school buildings, and cybersecurity.
Child Abuse Prevention:
Sexual abuse of children by school staff is a serious concern that needs to be addressed head-on by implementing a comprehensive prevention program. Programs should include training for staff on appropriate professional boundaries, establishing clear reporting procedures, and appropriate responses by administrators to any reported concerns. As board members, you are in a good position to communicate with families, and your support and commitment to these initiatives can make a significant difference. APEI can assist your school district in developing a professional boundaries training program and identifying best practices for preventing abuse.
Protecting Buildings in Winter:
Alaska’s harsh winters pose significant risks to our school buildings – frozen pipes can burst and flood, improperly designed heating systems may cause fires, and heavy snow loads can collapse roofs. Proper building maintenance and regular inspections of heating systems, roofs, and windows are essential to prevent damage from extreme cold and heavy snowfall. Additionally, making sure that someone is doing a daily walk-through of buildings during weekends and holiday breaks is vital so that any damage can be caught quickly and addressed. By ensuring our facilities are winter-ready, we can provide a safe and comfortable environment for our students and staff. APEI and AMLJIA’s loss control staff are available to assist school districts with building inspections and to provide resources to help prevent losses.
Cybersecurity:
In an era where technology permeates every aspect of education, cybersecurity has become a critical issue. Cyber-attacks can disrupt educational activities, compromise sensitive student data, and lead to significant financial losses. It is imperative that we implement robust security measures, including regular security audits, data encryption, and the consistent use of multi-factor authentication. Making sure that districts have the resources to keep computer equipment and software up to date, as well as educating staff and students about safe online practices is essential to protect against cyber threats. APEI and AMLJIA provide training courses for staff and can assist your school district in locating additional resources to help meet cyber security standards.
APEI and AMLJIA are dedicated to helping Alaska’s school districts address these risks and many others. As school board members, your leadership is crucial in providing your schools’ staff with the necessary support to implement effective risk programs. We encourage you to contact us to see how we can support your efforts in mitigating these challenges and safeguarding your schools.
The views expressed here are the writer’s and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Alaska School Boards. AASB welcomes diverse perspectives and civil discourse. To submit a Guest Column for consideration, see our Guest Column Guidelines and email your 400-1000 word submission HERE.