Winter storms and low temperatures have the potential to create significant damage and financial loss to your facilities. Water and freezing damages are the second most frequently filed insurance claims in the U.S., accounting for an average of $13 billion in losses annually. While the average cost for a water damage claim is about $10,000, in public school buildings individual claims costs soar.

In thousands of communities throughout California and widespread areas of the nation, wildfires pose a serious risk to life and property. The danger is especially acute at the wildland urban interface (WUI) – where vegetative fuels and the built environment meet. As large cities and small towns grew, there was a lot of new construction in areas bordering wildlands. Tens of thousands of homes, school buildings, public facilities and businesses have been consumed by wildfire in just the last decade.

In the twenty years since the September 11 attacks on the U.S., the proliferation of surveillance cameras is obvious. Such devices perform 24/7 watch over buildings, public areas and even our homes’ surroundings. When a criminal, accidental or otherwise suspicious incident occurs, law enforcement often seeks the video evidence collected by these numerous cameras to investigate what happened and apprehend those responsible. From a risk management standpoint, surveillance cameras have been useful in solving crimes, substantiating liability, and in deterring nefarious behavior.

For the most part, kids are excited to be returning to school in person, to see their friends and teachers and participate in more “normal” activities again. But many students will also face some anxiety as they come back to campus in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. It will not be a complete return to the way things were in the past and there will be significant rules and restrictions. You may anticipate both you and your students will encounter some challenges.

In a recent Keenan Blog, we presented information on a ransomware attack that targeted school districts and other public agencies. The IT vendor serving nearly 50,000 customers quickly detected the scheme and only about 50 organizations were actually breached. But vulnerabilities to small businesses and local agencies became apparent. This Trending Topics focuses on the steps schools can take to prevent their data and systems from being compromised and the best practices for recovering from a breach by cyber criminals.

The trend toward more collaborative learning environments is incorporating various concepts into school classrooms to facilitate greater creativity and flexibility. You may be exploring approaches including student seating with more mobility, portable storage and partitioning, relaxed and informal seating areas. The 21^st-century classroom shows potential for educational benefits, but you want to pay careful attention to safety considerations and risk management before implementing these measures.

As you wrap up what may be the most unusual school year you have ever gone through, we’re sure you’re hoping this fall will be more normal. Maybe you were able to hold some of your end-of-the-year events, such as commencement, in person but with modifications to keep everyone safe. No one knows for sure how the situation will change over the summer, but with high COVID-19 vaccination rates, live events on campus may again resume.

Returning to the classroom after the pandemic is another major change both your staff and students will be experiencing through these uncertain times. As they prepare for a new normal, teachers will encounter parents with trepidation about letting their kids return to campus and juggling new schedules. Meanwhile, they will deal with their own family adjustments and fears. For some, the pandemic impacted their lives inalterably after loved ones have been seriously ill or passed away. The “new normal” for those individuals will be completely different.

Graduation is a milestone in a young person’s life that they want to celebrate with their family, friends and fellow students. The Coronavirus pandemic put severe limitations on how grads were recognized last year, with traditional ceremonies replaced by virtual events, graduates at their homes with only immediate family, and diplomas received by mail. Graduation 2021 in many communities could have fewer restrictions and more gathering, but COVID-19 safety will still require different approaches compared to pre-pandemic years.

Schools are beginning to reopen and you may be looking into keeping sufficient quantities of hand sanitizer for staff and students to keep their hands clean. To minimize the possibility of COVID transmission, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer (ABHS) should be readily available to those in your facilities. At the same time, you need to be mindful of fire safety in storing and dispensing these substances.