The Risk Cooperative provides property and liability insurance coverage for 32 members.
About
Our Mission
The Cooperative’s mission is to support member districts by providing long-term protection from financial loss through proactive prevention and high quality risk management response, programs and services.
About the Risk Cooperative
The Risk Cooperative was formed September 1986 when school districts in southwest Washington State joined together through an Interlocal Governmental Agreement to self insure, self administer and group purchase excess insurance to cover their losses. Twenty-seven school districts, the Educational Service District 112, the KWRL Transportation Cooperative and the Washington Schools Information Processing Cooperative belong to the Risk Cooperative.
The Risk Cooperative is an Enterprise Fund established for the purpose of providing claims handling and risk management for property and casualty liabilities to its membership through group funding. The Risk Cooperative provides the following forms of group purchased insurance coverage for its members: property, vehicle and mobile equipment physical damage, equipment breakdown, crime, electronic data processing equipment, and general liability, automobile liability, employment practices liability, errors and omissions liability and statutorily required bonds.
The Risk Cooperative is fully funded by its members. Educational Service District 112 is contracted to provide financial, loss control and claims services for the Cooperative.
The Risk Cooperative is governed by a Board of Directors, which is comprised of one designated represented from each participating member, with delegated authority to a five member Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is responsible for conducting the business affairs of the Cooperative.
Member Benefits
Benefits of Membership
Local control. Regional support. That’s the key to successful cooperatives and school services. By working together, districts are able to leverage financial and operational resources to provide high quality and efficient programs. The ESD 112 Risk Cooperative is one example of this successful concept.
Why Choose Us
- Schools are our only business, the only clients we serve.
- The Risk Cooperative’s Executive Board are Superintendents and Business Managers who are familiar with – and responsive to – local district needs. They are the policy-makers for the Risk Cooperative.
- We offer assistance before a formal claim is presented.
- School-tailored coverage follows an excess manuscript policy written for schools.
- The Executive Director, Risk Manager, Fiscal Officer, Claims Adjuster and Loss Control Specialists are highly experienced and familiar with school challenges and issues.
- The Risk Cooperative is one of just 48 pools across the nation to earn Association of Governmental Risk Pools (AGRiP) recognition for excellence of internal operational procedures.
- The Risk Cooperative works with member districts to reduce loss, focusing on a specific target area each year.
Long – Term Stability
- The Risk Cooperative is financially stable and well-funded.
- Rates are set by the Executive Committee and based on actuarial analysis.
- The Risk Cooperative has no deductible on liability claims and a $1,000 deductible on property claims. Other school insurance cooperatives may require larger deductibles out of district funds.
- Loss control services, as well as claim handling costs and legal services, are included in the yearly contribution costs.
- A member district with excellent loss experience could save up to 30% (of the base rate).
Coverage and Pricing
The cooperative makes no profit from schools.
- Our pricing is transparent and consistent among all members. We have no hidden costs.
- The Risk Cooperative covers some defense costs for Special Education disputes.
What Our Customers Are Saying
“To me this relationship and level of support is critical to our total operation.”
“Most importantly is that I trust the people I work with in the ESD 112 Insurance Cooperative.”
“The Risk Cooperative is proactive in providing training to keep our district in compliance with regulations and has been an advocate for providing safe and secure schools. East Valley appreciates the Risk Cooperative’s legal support and response during unfortunate circumstances.”
Member Services
Member Services
Members of the ESD 112 Risk Cooperative can access attorney and experienced school administrator consultation services at no additional cost to their districts. These services were initiated by the Risk Cooperative’s Executive Committee as part of its strategic planning for the Risk Cooperative.
These services were initiated by the Risk Cooperative’s Executive Committee as part of its strategic planning for the Risk Cooperative.
Attorney Consultation Services
The attorney consultation service provides member districts with up to 90 minutes of advice on any legal matter via phone consultation with any panel attorney. This can be used as often as needed.
Your Attorney Consultants
To Request Services
Contact the Attorney consultant of your choosing directly. Simply identify yourself as a Risk Cooperative member when you call.
School Administrator Consultation Services
Administrator Consultants are retired school administrators available to assist superintendents with sometimes challenging operational and personnel issues. They provide a unique service to school district CEOs, offering options for consideration taken from their own experience. They provide a valuable perspective to current administrators on a variety of issues. This is a peer consulting service for school superintendents.
How Administrator Consultants Can Help Members
- Administrator Consultants can assist member districts with personnel issues, non-claim investigations, administrative mentoring or to serve as hearing officers for disciplinary hearings
- The Administrative Consultant reports directly to the requesting superintendent
Your Administrator Consultants
Dr. Ann Varkados
- Continuing Superintendent, Administrator and Teaching Certificates
- Former Assistant Superintendent of Bethel School District
Dennis Mathews
- Continuing Program Administrator and Psychologist Certificates
- Former Associate Superintendent, ESD 112
- Experienced Arbitrator and Mediator
Dr. Gay Selby
- Continuing Superintendent, Principal, and Teaching Certificates
- Former Superintendent, Kelso S.D.
- Former Program Chair, WSU-V Superintendent Certification Program
Dr. Milt Dennison
- Former Superintendent, Clackamas Education Service District
- Former Superintendent, Camas School District
Patty Page
- Continuing Administrator, Principal, and Teaching Certificates
- Former Superintendent, North Kitsap and Coupeville School Districts
Susie Barker
- Continuing Principal and Teaching Certificates
- Former Superintendent, Castle Rock School District
To request services, contact:
Peggy Sandberg
Director of Insurance Programs
Claims
How to File a Claim
Notice of any claim or occurrence likely to give rise to a claim shall be given to the Risk Cooperative in writing immediately upon notice to the member district. The notice should identify the District, the time, place and circumstances of the occurrence or wrongful act, the nature and extent of any property loss, names and addresses of injured or involved person(s) and all witnesses. In addition, the member district shall immediately forward to the Risk Cooperative every demand, notice, summons or other process received by the member district or any of its representatives.
For more information, contact:
Jeff Boydston
Senior Risk Claims Adjuster
Reporting Forms
Foundational Documents
Meetings
Meeting Agendas and Minutes
Contacts
Who to Contact
Submit an Employee Incident Report
Click on a logo below to report an employee injury.
Insurance Questions
If you have a question about any of our insurance programs or services, please reach out to:
Peggy Sandberg
Director of Insurance Programs
Risk Management Matters
Sign up for our Risk Management Matters newsletter to get the latest tips right in your inbox!
Safety & Insurance News
Every Step Matters
Every year over 100 people die in ladder-related accidents, and thousands suffer disabling injuries. March is National Ladder Safety Month and is intended to raise awareness of ladder safety and to decrease the number of [...]
The challenges of school employee safety
The key to preventing harm to school employees (and students) is to establish a good safety program. Tailor the safety program to the specific needs of your school while meeting established compliance standards. Managing employee [...]
Employee Involvement In Safety
Your school strong safety program will not be complete without employee participation. Employees operate the equipment, use the tools, and do the tasks that expose them to hazards so they need to be involved in [...]
New Tool Can Help Identify Dampness and Mold in Schools
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently introduced a new tool to help school staff to identify and assess areas of dampness and mold in their school buildings. The Dampness and Mold [...]