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Cherokee ISD has been awarded a loss prevention grant of $4,000 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. Grant monies help implement loss prevention and safety initiatives to reduce the potential for property losses and on-the-job injuries and raise awareness of safety issues. Since 1998, the Fund's Loss Prevention Grant Program has distributed 1,581 total grants of more than $4.01 million to Fund members in the workers' compensation and property/casualty programs.

"During these difficult financial times, it is important for schools to keep focused on ways to maintain safety and well being of all employees and prevention of losses in the workplace. The Fund is behind our members' efforts to save valuable resources by providing funding to help educate staff, secure facilities, and create a safer work environment," said Edwin Thompson, director of TASB Loss Prevention Services. "Over the past 35 years, the Fund has stood by its members by providing coverage to meet the changing needs of our members and over the last 12 years awarding much-needed resources to help fund loss prevention initiatives," he said.

The 2009 grants were awarded to 190 school districts, four colleges, one regional education service center, one appraisal district, and four 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.

"Since its inception, the Loss Prevention Grant Program has been the barometer of the loss prevention concerns of our members. Every year's applications are detailed in describing the pressing loss prevention needs of the membership and what they have identified to reduce the potential impact on their resources. The most difficult part for us during the approval process is reviewing each member's application, finding the most compelling needs, and providing funding to mitigate those exposures," he said.

"The Fund's mission to give back to its members through various initiatives over the years has been a win-win situation," Thompson said. "It is certainly pleasing to see the various ways our members have creatively addressed loss exposures for staff, students, and resources. The commitment shown by participating districts and education organizations in saving valuable local resources and increasing productivity only enhances the fund's continued commitment to its members. I am sure that the same commitment shown during the past 35 years will continue into the future and not only provide the coverage needs of our members but help them achieve their loss prevention and safety goals," he said.

The TASB Risk Management Fund is the largest risk sharing pool for school districts and one of the largest public entity risk pools in the nation. Created in 1974, the fund provides comprehensive risk management coverage and services in the areas of workers' compensation, property/casualty, and unemployment compensation. More than 1,100 school districts, education cooperatives, junior colleges, education service centers, and county appraisal districts participate in one or more of the Fund's programs.