Insurance claims down at GMCSD

By Bill Donovan
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Claims paid by the insurance company for the county schools have gone down substantially in the last two years.

The Gallup-McKinley County Public School District has gone from payments of at least $1.3 million in 2003 to just $212,000 in 2006.

During the last five years, the district, in known claims, has paid out at least $3.4 million to people who have been injured in accidents or to pay for thefts or fires that occurred on school property.

The reason why the term "known claims" is used because some settlements those for civil rights and sex discrimination, for example were sealed and there is no public record on how much the district paid to get these claims settled. In the last five years, the district has settled more than a dozen claims of this kind.

The list of claims comes from the district's insurance carrier, the New Mexico Public School insurance program, which is a state program and covers all of the school districts. The list was requested by officials for the McKinley Federation of United School employees who said they wanted to see what kinds of claims the district is paying out.

The district pays the state an insurance premium of about $1.7 million a year, a figure that is based partially on prior claim history, the student population, the number of schools and the amount of miles traveled by school buses.

Here is the basic information by year.

2002
Total paid out in known claims: $587,000.

The district had 10 cases of vandalism, two burglaries, eight accidents, 14 bus and car accidents, five thefts and one case of property damage.

One case of a teacher attacking a student cost the district $17,638. A wrongful termination claim filed by Tami Mancero was settled for $1,227. Another one dealing with Paula Livingston cost $17,161.

Timothy Bond, Robert Scrivner and Rose Smallcanyon filed claims for race discrimination. Audrey Gentry filed one for sex disciminations.

2003
Total paid out in known claims: $1.3 million.

The district had 10 cases of vandalism, 10 accidents, eight bus and car accidents, two thefts, six cases of property damage and one sports injury.

Natalie Lewis filed a claim for sex discrimination and received a settlement of $8,156.

Esther Macias, Melinda Weston, Cynthia Eastridge, JoAnn Apodaca and Darlene Jefferson all filed civil rights discrimination claims. Tim Nelson filed one for sex discrimination and Kristen Olguin filed one for inappropriate counseling.

Fires, including one at Red Rock Elementary School, resulted in just over $1 million in claims. One student versus student altercation resulted in a $29,000 settlement.

2004
Total paid out in known claims: $455, 518.

The district had four cases of vandalism, three burglaries, 13 accidents, 26 bus and car accidents and 10 cases of property damage. Most of the bus accidents involved rear-ending other vehicles.

One case involving a teacher slapping a student required a $28,000 settlement.

Dolly Begay and Amanda Tucker filed sex discrimination cases. Dorie Havens and Robert Bass filed a claim for alleged false accusations. Suzette Gordan filed a claim for alleged retaliation. Keith Booner filed a civil rights claim.

The district paid out $157,000 in a claim of a person falling out of a wheelchair. Another claim was for $24,000 for theft of computers.

2005
Total paid out in known claims: $835,000.

The district had three cases of vandalism, one burglary, four accidents, six car or bus accidents, one theft, two cases of property damage and one dog bite.

The settlements included $65,000 for reimbursement for an embezzlement at Gallup Junior High School and $88,000 for a couple of arsons.

Thomas Sims, Dolly Begay, Martha Padilla, Ray Palacios and James Meese all filed claims for race and civil rights discrimination.

The district paid out more than $640,000 to a brother and sister who were struck by a bus.

2006
Total paid out in known claims: $212,000.

The district had four cases of vandalism, three burglaries, two accidents, six car and bus accidents, two thefts and four cases of property damage.

A student who was stabbed by another student received a $5,000 settlement. A medical malpractice case involving exceeding medical dosage cost the district $10,000. The district also paid $50,000 to an employee who was raped by another employee. A fire extinguisher discharge in which two students were injured resulted in a $60,000 settlement

Eugene Collins filed the only civil rights case.

2007
So far this year the district has paid out $58,000 in claims.

County School Superintendent Karen White said her office and the district's safety committee have been working in recent years to bring down the number of claims.

For example, the number of accidents involving buses has decreased substantially in recent years and one of the reasons, said White, is that the district's transportation department is providing more training to drivers. The district has also gotten stricter on its drug enforcement policy.

White credits the district's personnel manager, Teresa Mariano, for enacting new procedures that have cut down the number of claims from teachers and staff for civil rights or sex discrimination.

"She and her staff are really doing a good job in talking to personnel and addressing their concerns," she said. "They are very good in working with people."