The Trusts

Workers' Compensation Self-Insurance Trust (WCSIT)

At the very heart of the program, WCSIT's workers’ compensation coverage is competitively priced, and includes $2,000,000 coverage for employer’s liability, a higher limit than that provided by WCSIT's competition.

Over $21 million in payments back to members
Approximately $200 million in claims paid
Approximately $20 million in current assets

WCSIT was organized February 1, 1982, under the Illinois statute that permits public entities to organize risk sharing pools. Formed and sponsored by the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB), WCSIT started with 62 Illinois school district members in its first year. In 1985, The Sandner Group - Insurance Program Managers became the plan administrator. Under its guidance, WCSIT has grown to become the largest and most successful self-insurance pool for school districts’ workers’ compensation in the state of Illinois.

In this competitive market, school districts need to carefully choose their workers’ compensation insurance provider. With its competitive pricing, financial stability, comprehensive loss control program, and strong reputation,WCSIT has been the preferred choice of Illinois school districts for many years. With WCSIT on your side, controlling the costs for workers’ compensation coverage has never been easier.

WCSIT Board of Trustees

ISDA (Illinois School District Agency)

In 1986, the Illinois School District Agency (ISDA) was established to help combat the high cost of traditional property/casualty insurance. Today, the ISDA provides competitively priced property/casualty coverage to over 130 school districts across the state.

Broad, reliable and competitively priced property/casualty coverage is the foundation of the ISDA program. The ISDA comprehensive package includes property, general liability, SBLL, automobile, equipment breakdown, and umbrella coverage protection. The coverage offered through the ISDA is regularly updated and tailored to meet the needs of public school districts. Over the years, the coverage package has grown to include catastrophic property exposures, liabilities arising from advances in technology, as well as coverages to meet the needs of special education. In addition, ISDA provides the highest limits available to Illinois public schools for abuse and molestation claims.

ISDA Board of Regents

Membership Privileges

ISDA was founded to address the specific property/casualty coverage needs of Illinois school districts. Sponsored by the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB), ISDA started out with 17 Illinois school district members and $854,000 in contributions. Under the program administration of The Sandner Group - Insurance Program Managers and its staff of industry professionals, ISDA has continued to grow and increase its level of service to member districts. Through the years, ISDA has provided Illinois school districts with dependable service in conjunction with broad, reliable and competitively priced property/casualty coverage.

Student Accident Coverage

ISDA is always looking for new ways to help its member districts. The Student Accident Coverage program will help defray medical costs for students injured while attending regular school sessions, while traveling to and from school, and while participating in most school-sanctioned activities. This coverage provides a limit of $5,000,000 and is a way for ISDA to help member school districts show their community they care about students injured during school activities. The Student Accident program enables school districts to comply with 105 ILCS 5/22-15 "Insurance on Athletes."

Property Appraisal

Approximately 80% of member districts take advantage of ISDA’s low-cost property appraisal service. ISDA’s loss control staff conducts appraisals on-site, and provides members with an accurate value of school property to ensure that the school is purchasing the appropriate amount of coverage. Using the sophisticated computerized Marshall Swift/Boeckh system, ISDA’s loss control staff provides the initial appraisal, and then conducts yearly updates as well as additional field work as needed.

Claims Administration

WCSIT-ISDA’s claim administrator—The Sandner Group - Claims Management—works with members to ensure that districts recover quickly after a property/casualty or workers' comp claim. Computerized claim tracking and 24-hour response lines are tools used to appropriately handle WCSIT-ISDA members’ property/casualty and workers' comp claims on a timely basis.

Marketing

WCSIT-ISDA is a growing program. The Sandner Group - Alternative Risk Solutions is charged with the task of getting the word out to Illinois school districts about the significant savings on district coverages. It has expanded the network of agents located throughout the state to increase the availability of personnel to service members' needs.

Illinois school districts can look to WCSIT-ISDA for the most current information on workers' compensation and property/casualty related issues. Working with its service providers, the WCSIT-ISDA continuously searches for more cost effective ways to provide coverage and to communicate information to its members. WCSIT-ISDA provides regular informative news via its quarterly newsletters and the WCSIT-ISDA web site. WCSIT-ISDA members also receive the Risk Control Bulletin from The Sandner Group - Claims Management with the latest information on safety and risk management news aimed at helping school districts reduce risk.

School Leaders Risk Management Association (SLRMA)

WCSIT-ISDA members are given access to the School Leaders Risk Management Association (SLRMA). SLRMA provides up-to-date information on the latest events involving public education litigation and legislation on a federal level. SLRMA members have received assistance with self-audits and sample documents for:

Avoiding Discrimination Claims When Using Criminal History in Employment Decisions;

Bullying and Harassment;

District Social Media Policy, Administrator/Teacher Social Media Policies;

District Social Media Policy, Student Social Media Policies Checklist;

Homeless Student’s needs;

Preventing and Responding to Hazing;

Protecting Students in the #MeToo movement;

Transgender and Gender Non-conforming Students Extracurricular Activities;

Transgender and Gender Non-conforming Students;

Undocumented Student Enrollment Protection;

and other relevant issues facing school districts today.

For more information, visit www.slrma.org

Loss Control Services

Staffed with loss control professionals located throughout the state, the loss control program offers exceptional loss control services to all members. Services such as evaluations of the school district’s current in-house safety/loss control programs, current and historic losses, as well as assistance in developing programs and procedures for self-inspection, forming safety committees, and evaluation of OSHA inspections are but a few of the loss control services provided to WCSIT-ISDA member districts. Team visits by The Sandner Group Agent, loss control specialist, and claims adjuster allow member districts to analyze trends in losses, plan for policies to mitigate future losses, and determine what risks they may face in the future, allowing the member to work with their Sandner Group Agent to coordinate coverages.

Loss Control Manual

Upon joining the WCSIT-ISDA, districts receive what has been noted as one of the most comprehensive loss control manuals currently available. This copyrighted manual provides practical advice on specific loss control measures WCSIT-ISDA members should implement to avoid conditions that may result in a loss or claim. Transportation of students, blood-borne pathogens, and lockout/tagout are just some of the topics covered in this indispensable manual. Click here to download the Loss Control Manual (pdf)

The Trusts

Workers' Compensation Self-Insurance Trust (WCSIT)

ISDA (Illinois School District Agency)

Membership Privileges

Student Accident Coverage

Property Appraisal

Claims Administration

Marketing

School Leaders Risk Management Association (SLRMA)

Loss Control Services

Loss Control Manual

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