Schools are more than just classrooms and textbooks; they're bustling workplaces with risks and challenges 24 hours a day, six days a week. This reality is keenly understood by Nancy Florman, Risk Management Specialist at Adams 12 Five Star Schools. With over 5,900 employees across 53 locations, the district's risk landscape is anything but ordinary.
The Five Star District is home to a wide range of professions, each with its own set of hazards. Teachers, paraprofessionals, maintenance staff, bus drivers, custodians, coaches, and even lifeguards all face distinct risks in their daily duties. This diversity demands a tailored approach to safety, recognizing that a one-size-fits-all solution won't suffice.
Perhaps surprisingly, one of the most significant risks facing the Five Star District employees comes from their interactions with students, particularly those with special needs. These unpredictable incidents can result in injuries ranging from minor to severe. Comprehensive reporting and prompt treatment for all injuries is critical, no matter how insignificant they may seem.
Many Colorado school districts take on the responsibility of services normally provided by the insurance carrier. They hire contractors to handle claims, return to work, medical providers, legal, auditing, and more. In contrast, Adams 12 trusts its own people, with Pinnacol as an expert partner just a phone call away.
To address the district’s multifaceted risks, Adams 12 employs a collaborative approach to safety. Each department develops its own safety plans, utilizing online training programs, tailgate talks, and regular meetings to reinforce safe practices. This decentralized approach empowers departments to tailor their safety efforts to their specific needs while maintaining a unified message.
“From the top down, the message has to be we want every single employee to go home to their family at the end of the day, safely,” Nancy said.
In this endeavor, Pinnacol has emerged as a valuable partner. As the district's workers' compensation carrier since 2017, Pinnacol understands the unique challenges faced by educational institutions. The insurer’s proactive approach to claims management, coupled with regular communication and a focus on return-to-work solutions, has proven instrumental in minimizing costs and ensuring employees receive the support they need.
The district recognizes that getting perspective from outside the organization can only make them safer and smarter. That’s why they take advantage of Pinnacol’s Safety Services team to visit facilities, identify potential hazards, and review injury trends.
Five Star Schools’ commitment to its employees extends beyond physical recovery. Recognizing the importance of mental and emotional well-being, the district strives to find meaningful work for injured employees, even if it means temporarily reassigning them to different departments.
This focus on feeling needed and appreciated fosters a supportive environment that promotes healing and a swift return to normalcy. “We think it's really important for our injured workers to feel needed and appreciated, no matter what they're doing," Nancy explains.
One example: A district paraprofessional was injured and had several restrictions on what she could do. The team found a seated role for her in the Instructional Materials Center adding barcodes to new books. The employee completed a necessary task while enjoying the camaraderie of coworkers in the IMC and recovering from her injury.
Five Star Schools uses a third-party platform to efficiently manage all insurance claims filed by the district. Pinnacol provides its own portal for policy and claims management, but to decrease friction for the district, Pinnacol uploads workers’ comp claims into the district’s existing system. This extra step streamlines the claims process and facilitates data-driven decision-making for district employees.
Pinnacol's Colorado roots are also seen as an advantage. The ability to meet face-to-face with claims representatives and safety professionals fosters a personal connection that transcends virtual interactions. Pinnacol's local expertise gives the Five Star District a partner who understands the nuances of Colorado's workers' compensation system and the specific challenges faced by a school district.
The partnership between Adams 12 Five Star Schools and Pinnacol is built on mutual respect and a shared commitment to doing things the right way. This collaborative spirit has yielded tangible results, with improvements in both the frequency and cost of claims. The numbers bear this out. The school district’s experience modification (e-mod) dropped from 1.07 in 2017 to .53 in 2024, a massive improvement.
By prioritizing employee well-being, fostering open communication, and embracing a proactive approach to safety, Adams 12 and Pinnacol are setting a new standard for workplace safety in the education sector.
