School is Back in Session

As school is back in session, it’s important to make sure your school is equipped with the correct safety procedures. Thinking about your school’s physical security as a series of layers can help you find gaps in your plan. Transportation and volunteers are just two important aspects of your school safety plan to think about.

 

A well-designed transportation and supervision plan demonstrates your school’s commitment to safety, builds trust, and protects your students on the move. These steps will help you diminish the risks to improve safety and reduce liability:

  • Require a volunteer driver form, provide contact info, consider non-owned vehicle insurance, discourage caravan travel, prohibit distracted driving, and ensure age-appropriate car seats and seat belts.
  • Screen drivers before they get behind the wheel to ensure that those in your care are transported safely.

 

Field trips offer hands-on opportunities for students to explore topics outside of the classroom and should be addressed by your transportation safety plan. Some modes of transportation, such as 15-passenger vans, have poor safety records. Their high centers of gravity make them more likely to roll over in the event of an accident. Consider other options, like school buses, chartered buses, small buses, vans, or private vehicles for transporting students to and from your field trip location.

 

Another key piece of your school’s safety plan should be proper supervision for children. Good supervision not only helps deter abuse but helps avoid false allegations of abuse. Your school’s procedures need to be explicit: No adult volunteer should be alone with a child or youth. This includes in a vehicle, at a camp, on a mission trip, or during an overnight event. Consider using the two-adult rule or the rule of three.

 

  • The Two-Adult Rule – This rule creates accountability that helps prevent and deter misconduct. It also helps reduce the ability for anyone to make a false accusation. The rule requires that two screened and unrelated adult volunteers be present in every vehicle involving children and youth.
  • The Rule of Three – For the rule of three, it’s about accountability—the age and capacity of the children being supervised should be taken into consideration. When ministries cannot support the Two-Adult Rule, supervision policies and procedures should require at least three individuals to be present, one of whom is a screened adult. To maintain an environment of accountability, the Rule of Three should be reserved for settings where children are at least five years old.

 

Brotherhood Mutual has insurance and services for K-12 Christian schools designed to help ministries like yours thrive in the school environment. You can customize your insurance property package and general liability coverage with additional protections that meet your school’s individual needs. We’re committed to serving you by offering coverages designed to protect your Christian school. Contact your American Church Group agent to ensure you have all the necessary coverage for your school.

April 3, 2023
Tragedy in Nashville
Tragedy in Nashville: What can we learn from the Covenant School shooting?
Tags: insurance, coverage, ministry
March 17, 2023
Worry-Free Mission Travel
Worry-Free Mission Travel
Tags: insurance, coverage, ministry
March 17, 2023
HR Document Library at your Fingertips
HR Document Library at your Fingertips
Tags: insurance, coverage, ministry
March 17, 2023
Highlights from Recent Security Training Events
Tags: insurance, coverage, ministry
January 24, 2023
Wind and Hail – Deductible Buyback
Wind and Hail – Deductible Buyback
Tags: insurance, coverage, ministry
January 24, 2023
Common Questions About Our Agency
Common Questions About Our Agency
Tags: insurance, coverage, ministry
January 24, 2023
Coming to your area in 2023
Coming to your area in 2023
Tags: insurance, coverage, ministry
January 24, 2023
Kingdom Advancing Grant
Kingdom Advancing Grant
Tags: insurance, coverage, ministry
January 24, 2023
ACG Retreat in Kansas City
ACG Retreat in Kansas City
Tags: insurance, coverage, ministry
January 23, 2023
Loaning Your Ministry's Facilities
Loaning Your Ministry's Facilities
Tags: insurance, coverage, ministry
January 23, 2023
Protecting You and Your Ministry Partners
Protecting You and Your Ministry Partners
Tags: insurance, coverage, ministry
January 9, 2023
Better Achieve Your Mission in 2023
Better Achieve Your Mission in 2023
Tags: insurance, coverage, ministry
November 18, 2022
Our Team is Growing, Again!
November 10, 2022
We Want To Hear From You!
We Want To Hear From You!

There are a lot of hats worn in any growing ministry – and we want to serve every one of them. 

Tags: insurance
November 10, 2022
Evaluate Your Ministry's Fire Safety Plan
Evaluate Your Ministry's Fire Safety Plan

With the holiday season right around the corner, it’s wise for ministries to evaluate their fire safety plan. Whether your ministry is hosting a holiday party, prepping treats for charity, or running a community kitchen, make sure you’re well-prepared with these tips.

Tags: insurance, property, volunteer safety, fire safety
November 10, 2022
Holiday Season Safety & Security: 3 Things to Plan Before Christmas
Holiday Season Safety & Security: 3 Things to Plan Before Christmas

The holidays present unique opportunities and challenges for churches that aren’t typical during other times of the year. A lot of the ministries that I work with are seeing steady increases in attendance and are praying for a significant jump in Christmas service participation this year. 

Tags: insurance
October 26, 2022
October 2022 Blog: What is a 403(B)(9) Retirement Plan?
October 2022 Blog: What is a 403(B)(9) Retirement Plan?

In this article, Brad Brown from Plan A Wealth Management gives a wonderful insight into why ministries might consider choosing a 403(B)(9) retirement plan.  

Tags: insurance, property, taxes, retirement, retirement plan
September 21, 2022
Inflation's Major Impact on Ministries
Inflation's Major Impact on Ministries
Tags: insurance, schools, churches, building, property
September 21, 2022
Report Reveals How Students are Feeling About Their Safety at School
Report Reveals How Students are Feeling About Their Safety at School
Tags: insurance, schools, building, property, child safety
September 21, 2022
Top 10 Requested Forms
Top 10 Requested Forms
Tags: insurance, schools, churches, building, property