School Security: A Differential Diagnosis from Risk Management, Legal and Insurance Perspectives
Robert Bambino
Vice President, Wright Risk Management Company, Inc. (WRM)
Lawrence Brennan, Esq.
Associate Corporate Counsel, WRM
William Fishlinger, Esq.
Chief Executive Officer, WRM
Douglas Hayden, Esq.
Vice President, WRM
Vincent Piazza
Director of Security, WRM

WRIGHT RISK MANAGEMENT
 
During the 1997-1998 school year, WRM launched a school violence prevention initiative for its public school clients. At that time, the frequency of assault claims was occurring at the rate of .65 per client, with an average cost per claim of $15,664. By the end of the 2005-2006 school year, after ten years of comprehensive risk, claims, and litigation management, the frequency of assault claims decreased to .40 per client, and the average cost per claim dropped to $8,759.

This presentation will explain the comprehensive approaches used to reduce and control the school violence exposure, including:
• “All hazards” approach to school security
• Legal implications, local laws, and litigation management
• Risk management techniques
• Student travel
• Public relations and media management

Participants will receive materials outlining various methods and techniques to prevent and control both school-related violence and student-to-student assaults.

Wright Risk Management Company, Inc. (WRM) designs and supervises comprehensive, fully-insured and self-insured risk financing and risk management programs for both public and private sector clients. WRM licensed and manages public-sector owned property and casualty insurance companies and Workers Compensation plans in New York, representing more than 1,200 public schools and municipalities throughout the state.

As manager of the New York Schools Insurance Reciprocal (NYSIR), WRM provides comprehensive, school-specific risk management and safety services to its 340 members, with an emphasis on hazards and loss exposures affecting the educational community. WRM has developed and implemented programs to address educational risk, specifically concerning leading loss exposures, including student safety, gang prevention, student-to-student harassment, and hazing.