Indian River School Board OKs insurance repayment on Adams' first day

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — School Board members agreed to repay the $3.4 million insurance overpayment the district got for damage during the 2004 and 2005 hurricanes. But they voiced concerns over getting the bill seven years later.

The district is part of the South Central Educational Risk Management Program, a public entity risk pool with eight school districts that provides coverage for workers compensation, general liability, auto liability and property insurance.

After 2004 hurricanes Frances and Jeanne and 2005's Wilma, Indian River sustained damage to schools and facilities. The insurance carrier advanced money to the districts based on an adjuster's early assessments so repairs could get started quickly.

Indian River, which had a net claim of about $13.6 million, got a $3.4 million overpayment. The board was scheduled to take action on the overpayment earlier this month, but postponed a vote until it got more information.

The board voted unanimously to repay the money Tuesday. Tuesday's meeting was the first for new Schools Superintendent Fran Adams.

Board member Jeff Pegler said he hoped more answers would come during the board's meeting earlier this month with SCERMP. Instead, he left with even more concerns.

Board member Karen Disney-Brombach also said the carrier did not reasonably explain the overpayment to the board.

"I feel this level of customer service is almost customer no-service," she said.

Disney-Brombach said the board has to rely on diligence by district staff that the overpayment charged to the district is accurate.

"I will be watching for better customer service as we go forward," Disney-Brombach said.

Carter Morrison, assistant superintendent of finance, has said Indian River is hoping FEMA will compensate the district about $3.2 million, about $200,000 less than the $3.4 million overpayment it received from the insurance carrier.

The money will be paid from the district's capital budget, which pays for facilities and schools, Morrison has said.

Indian River County School District maintains “A” rating

“INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Indian River County School District has maintained its A grade for the 2010-11 school year, with 15 out of 21 elementary and middle schools earning “A” grades and the other six getting B grades from the Florida Department of Education, which released its district report cards Thursday morning.

The biggest improvement came from Imagine Schools at South Vero. The 3-year-old pre-kindergarten through seventh-grade charter school jumped up two letter grades to an A. The school, which will add its eighth and final grade next year, was also one of four local public schools to achieve adequate yearly progress among its students. . .”

Read the complete article published on June 30, 2011 by TCPalm.

Standard & Poor's creditweek

Monitoring report, Indian River County School District, May 3-6, 1993

High Schools in Indian River County, Florid, Vero Beach High School, Saint Edwards School, Indian River Charter High School

School District of Indian River County, report on Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP), full-time equivalent (FTE) students and student transportation for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002

Education law