Cyber Liability - Risk Management Best Practices for Montana's Public Schools
By Matt Komac, MSGIA Assistant Director for Property & Liability Pool Operations and Harry Cheff, Certified School Risk Manager
The hacking community has increased their focus on public entities that typically hold sensitive data and that lack the necessary resources needed to invest in cyber security. As a case in point, August 2019 it was reported that the computer systems for 23 small Texas towns had been hacked, seized, and held for ransom in a widespread, coordinated cyber-attack. To be sure, this is the type of event we wish to help prevent in our K-12 public schools in Montana. Read more
Weight Room Safety and Open Gym
By Matt Komac, MSGIA Assistant Director for Property & Liability Pool Operations and Harry Cheff, Certified School Risk Manager
How many times have you entered a school building and discovered students and community people utilizing the facility? The question many often ask in these instances is, “How did they get into the building?” Where a level of concern is raised is that many times the people are in the weight room or gym. These are areas of the school that require adult supervision when students are present. If community members are accessing these areas, one should ask if they have permission and if they went through proper channels to obtain access to the building. Read more
Transportation Risk Management Best Practices
By Matt Komac, MSGIA Assistant Director for Property & Liability Pool Operations and Harry Cheff, Certified School Risk Manager
Although somewhere between four to six school-age children die each year on school transportation vehicles, that number represents less than one percent of all traffic fatalities nationwide. In fact, students are 70 times more likely to get to school safely when taking a bus instead of a car. Most importantly, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the school bus is the safest vehicle on the road, and children are much safer taking a bus to and from school than traveling by car. Read more