Are Schools Ready for Pandemic Lawsuits?
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 08/12/20
U.S.
schools are already heading back to class, and a recent article has
posed the question: Are they ready for the potential liability claims
that could follow?
In
an article
published on finder,
a website that "helps people make better decisions,"
insurance experts addressed four topics for schools to consider:
-
How
the pandemic has changed the way schools approach insurance;
-
What
the types of insurance are that schools should invest in;
-
What
essential insurance coverage for schools would be to cover COVID-19
claims; and
-
What
the best insurance for teachers is.
As
the article noted, with heavy pressure coming from many sides to
return to in-person education, for some schools, the "high cost
of coverage may affect their decision to reopen in the fall."
The risk is that a district could be sued by somebody contracting
COVID-19 by participating in classes or school events.
In
some cases, insurance companies have added "pandemic exclusions"
to policies, leaving schools especially vulnerable to the impact of
lawsuits.
"At
the brink of the new school year, school boards, teachers and parents
all face heavy questions surrounding a return to in-person school.
Together, we're weighing topics like adequate safety measures, new
policies, procedures and guidelines, sufficient insurance coverage
and even cybersecurity in line with online learning. We all want to
know if the benefits outweigh the risks," said Megan Shepherd,
insurance editor for finder.
While
precautions such as small group learning, requiring masks and the
like will play a role in the level of risk, she said, "when it
comes to schools and teachers being equipped for the possibility of
financial loss, understanding how to protect yourself using
comprehensive insurance coverage is key. Policies like commercial
property insurance, umbrella insurance, cyber insurance, life
insurance and disability insurance will play a substantial role in
mitigating risks."
The
guidance is openly available on
the Finder website.
About the Author
Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.