Cherokee ISD has been awarded a loss prevention grant of $2,500 from the TASB 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. This award is part of $550,000 in grants the Fund gave this year to 200 Texas school districts and educational entities. Since 1998, the Fund's Loss Prevention Grant Program has distributed 1, 781 total grants of more than $4.5 million to Fund members in the workers' compensation and property/liability programs.

"The safety and well being of all employees and prevention of losses are crucial issues in the workplace. The Fund is dedicated 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 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.

The 2010 grants were awarded to 186 school districts, three regional education service centers, three county appraisal districts, five community colleges, and three shared service arrangements. 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/liability program area.

"Member response to the grant program has grown steadily over the years and applicants did an exceptional job of analyzing their hazardous exposures, loss prevention needs, and developing loss prevention initiatives to mitigate their impact on district resources," Thompson said. "Almost two months were needed to evaluate and select grant recipients and the process was extremely challenging given the wealth of well-justified applications submitted," he said.

"Safety in the workplace and loss reduction has been major objectives of the Fund's Loss Prevention Grant Program since its inception and will continue to be an integral part of our overall focus. Raising awareness and reducing injuries and losses is a win-win situation and we applaud participating districts and education organizations for their commitment to saving valuable local resources and increasing productivity. The Fund remains steadfast in its pledge to provide continued support of our members' efforts to achieve their loss prevention and safety goals," he said.

The TASB Risk Management Fund is a self-insurance pool serving Texas school districts, community colleges, education service centers, county appraisal districts. The Fund has been in existence since 1974 and provides worker's compensation, property, liability, and unemployment compensation coverage to more than 1,100 members. Services range from loss prevention and free member training events to online resources, grant programs, and claim forms.