Tim, that math thing you said is just what we did. We were paying more than $1100 in dues to PTA and then we got insurance through the PTA for, I think, $175. When we went to PTO, we had to pay $500 for insurance, but we were still more than $700 ahead. So, this NPN thing could just make us more ahead. Sounds good. I'll be watching, too.
This has been truly enlightening. I am the President of a PTO in NYS. I have been on the Board before as a VP and have attended almost every meeting since my son started at this elementary school 9 years ago (he is now in middle school and my daughter is in the elementary school). Not once has an insurance policy on the PTO been brought up. If it has, it was pushed aside as "the district covers us". We have a mom in school who is out to upset the apple cart and I wouldn't put it past her to do something that would end up being a lawsuit. She has already accused the board members of stealing which I know they have not, but she has nothing to back up her accusations so we have just basically ignored her. I am very concerned about all of this and will be on the phone with the Superintendent tomorrow morning to find out what the scoop is on this. I am interested in hearing more about this NPN... I will continue to stay tuned in. :eek:
In response to insurance questions - our district does NOT require us to have any insurance. I personally took that as totally different than we don't NEED to have it. The district has guidelines as far as PTO's are concerned, events, use of district property, number of fundraisers, etc. One of their requirements is NOT that we have insurance. I agree with Tim that if the principal and/or district says you are covered under their policy, I would ask to make contact with a rep of the insurer, just to be sure that the types of events you are planning are covered as well.
Not trying to scare anyone, just trying to be informative.
Wish I could say back to the sand and surf - back to making "sand"whiches and "surf"ing the internet!
Let me try and give a couple of answers/reactions to above:
1. NPN should be up and available in two weeks, August 1 at latest. You won't miss it on the nav bar (at left) when it's ready. Just stay tuned to this site.
2. The "whys" of insurance are mentioned nicely above. If your principal "assures" you that you're covered, that's nice. I'd definitely ask to see the policy or speak with the carrier. Sometimes what the principal thinks is covered is different from what the policy technically says it covers and guess what happens in that case.
3. I've received a couple of private emails regarding the price of the NPN insurance package versus the price often available to PTAs. It's certainly true that (in most states) the rates available for PTA units are lower than the rates available to PTOs (even NPN-member PTOs). That said, if -- as these emailers stated -- the insurance plan is the only thing keeping you in the PTA, then the math is probably better to pay a bit more for NPN insurance, as opposed to the lower priced insurance PLUS county, state and national PTA dues (often $800+ per year, per group). If you're a PTA, you can do the math for your group based on: a) insureance rates for your state; b) size of your group; c) county, national and state dues in your state.
H3 - Our district is the same, we have to get our own coverage for events. Until now we haven't really had an option for insurance - this looks interesting, can't wait for more info.
I guess every district is different our district told us no participants would not be covered at our events we had to carry our own liability insurance.
