Safety Group Insurance Program

Since 1974, the Iowa Association of School Boards^® has collaborated with Jester Insurance Services, Inc., and EMC Insurance Companies to bring Iowa schools a comprehensive and competitive insurance program. Expansions and improvements to the program have been made continuously to meet the ever-changing needs of school districts and keep pace with educational changes, laws and regulations.  

Download the Safety Group Insurance Program Overview.

IASB School Safety Group: The History, the Convenience & the Savings!

Advantages of the Plan

1. Cost Reduction. The Safety Group Insurance Program provides very competitive yet stable insurance pricing. The possibility of a dividend allows the maximum possible reduction in insurance costs. If earned, a dividend, which is the amount of premium which exceeds the losses and company overhead expenses, would be returned to participants in proportion to their premiums paid to the safety group. Since 1974, the plan has returned more than $90 million to Iowa Schools.

2. Safety and Loss Control Programs. An important element of this insurance program is the comprehensive safety program administered by EMC Insurance Companies for all participants. Through the reduction of losses, members will ultimately realize the greatest possible savings in their insurance costs and a reduction in the number of accidents. Activities such as hazardous chemical audits, air quality testing, safety audits and safety training are coordinated by EMC and the managing agents.

3. Local Agency Service. Under this Safety Group Insurance Program, each school may use its own local insurance agent. Your agent does not need to be an EMC agent. The insurance company will license the agent you select to handle your Safety Group Insurance as a special agent for this purpose. The agent will receive insurance commissions for writing the school district’s business. Refer to our checklist Some Things Your Property and Casualty Insurance Agent Should Do For You for tips on evaluating the performance of your district's agent of record.

4. Improved Insurance Coverage. Each school district has its own separate policy with coverage and limits designed to meet its individual needs. Minimum coverage guidelines will be suggested to assist members in protecting their assets, while at the same time adequate coverage will be provided on a sound and economical basis to address taxpayer concerns. Additionally, a wide range of optional coverages are available to suit the individual needs of each member.

5. Shared Group Excess Policy. Every school participating in the Safety Group Program shares coverage in an Excess Liability policy. This coverage is for catastrophic claims and offered at a very reasonable cost. It is the only such program available to schools in the country. This special group excess liability policy applies on top of the individual umbrella liability policy that each school carries in its own name, and of course all of that is excess over the school’s primary liability coverage.  
 

For more information about the Safety Group Insurance Program, email Calvin VandeKrol or call (515) 247-7030.