Whats New

Throughout the three day 2023 SPELL JIF Joint Retreat, a series of highly valuable and collaborative sessions were designed to elevate the knowledge and skills of our members. One of the highlights was the informative “Law Day,” which featured engaging sessions on Service Dogs in schools, Workers’ Compensation, and Tort claims. To conclude the day on a fun note, we organized a competitive game of SPELL JIF Jeopardy, where contestants not only had a great time but also deepened their understanding of insurance issues in school districts.

Another session that stood out was titled “What is our Why?” This interactive series of roundtable discussions and presentations delved into the core questions associated with SPELL’s history, present, and future. It provided a platform for meaningful conversations and insights.

• Why Statement: The SPELL JIF is a collaborative group of dedicated school professionals who manage our risks to provide the best coverage and outcomes.
• How? Your district will benefit from our innovation and expertise when you join.
• What? Full-service risk management.

Additionally, we conducted a comprehensive reinsurance review and facilitated discussions on third-party contracts. To further enrich the experience, we invited a retired chief of police and school security expert to review best practices and protocols for ensuring safety in schools. Our Virtual Safety Director also addressed the crucial topic of protecting school districts from cyber attacks.

Overall, the retreat proved to be an enjoyable learning experience for all participants.

At the May NJ Self Insurers’ Association Conference in Atlantic City, Scott Tennant moderated a panel discussion on Challenging Clients. The panel reviewed tools and resources to ensure client issues are addressed before they become unmanageable. The panel included Justin Wilkinson, Territory Sales Manager of PMA Management Corp. (PMAMC), William Hogan,  Branch Manager of Cannon Cochran Management Services, Inc. (CCMSI) and Kathleen M. Kissane, Esq, Assistant Vice President, Account Management of Qual-Lynx.

Amy Lerner, School Business Administrator for North Hanover Twp BOE and Avon by the Sea School District was awarded School Business Administrator of the Year by the New Jersey Association for School Business Officials (NJASBO).  Amy continuously works to create an environment in which people give their best, and her reputation as a leader and a resource is an inspiration to others. She is an active member of the BCIP JIF and currently serves on the Finance Committee and as a JIF Delegate.  Congratulations on a well deserved award!

Each year, the Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem School Districts Joint Insurance Fund (GCSSD JIF) celebrates member school district successes at their Annual State of the Joint Insurance Fund Dinner. The dinner meeting is organized to reward and recognize the extraordinary efforts of member districts for their commitment to provide a safe and healthy environment for students, staff and community by actively participating in risk management programs. Rewards were earned by Members who reduced the number of accidents by focusing on local safety efforts. Utilizing GCSSD JIF safety services, districts build and maintain responsive internal accident reporting systems.  Member Districts were acknowledged for their hard work with recognition plaques and monetary awards.

In all, twenty-three (23) member school districts were recognized and received awards totaling $77,000.

Donna Contrevo, Business Administrator from Gateway Regional High School received the Safety Star of the Year Award.   Donna has been a leader within her school districts and the GCSSD Joint Insurance Fund for over two decades. She is a champion of risk management and safety, helping to guide and implement critical programs and policies to minimize losses in the schools.

Delsea Regional High School and Salem County Vocational Technical School District were each recognized as Safety District of the Year for their ongoing contribution to safety efforts, earning an additional $2,500 reward.

View GCSSD JIF Award Presentation HERE

After 3 years, the SPELL JIF team attended the NJ School Boards Conference in Atlantic City in October 2022. We loved connecting in person to our JIF member Business Administrators and their School Board Members.  And our own Scott Tennant provided valuable insight on managing risk while presenting at the “Confronting Cyber Liabilities” session both days of the conference. Way to go Scott!