Montana School Boards Association

MTSBA'S MISSION IS TO DEVELOP THE FULL POTENTIAL OF EACH CHILD THROUGH SCHOOL BOARD LEADERSHIP.

LEGAL SERVICES AND LABOR RELATIONS.MTSBA HAS LONG BEEN AN ACKNOWLEDGED LEADER IN OFFERING LEGAL SERVICES TO MEMBER SCHOOL BOARDS IN MONTANA. WE OFFER BOTH DUES-BASED AND FEE-BASED LEGAL SERVICES IN STRICT COMPLIANCE WITH THE RULES OF ETHICS GUIDING THE PRACTICE OF LAW, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO RULE 6.5 (NONPROFIT AND COURT-ANNEXED LIMITED LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAMS), RULE 7.3 (DIRECT CONTACT WITH PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS), AND RULE 5.4 (PROFESSIONAL INDEPENDENCE OF A LAWYER) OF THE MONTANA BAR ASSOCIATION RULES OF ETHICS.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.MTSBA HAS PROVIDED TRAINING OF ONE KIND OR ANOTHER SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1926. AS PART OF OUR MEMBER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, WE OFFER BOTH DUES BASED AND FEE-BASED TRAINING, INCLUDING VIRTUAL, IN PERSON AND HYBRID FORMATS, WITH DIFFERENT TRAININGS PROVIDED ON FREQUENCIES RANGING FROM WEEKLY TO SEASONALLY TO ANNUALLY THROUGHOUT MONTANA. WE ALSO PROVIDE TRAINING TO OUR MEMBERS ON SITE AT THEIR LOCAL DISTRICTS ON TOPICS CUSTOMIZED BY THE MEMBER AND INCLUDING FACILITATION OF STRATEGIC PLANNING TO HELP MEMBERS ENGAGE STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES IN ALIGNING PUBLIC SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO THE PEOPLES' GOAL OF DEVELOPING THE FULL POTENTIAL OF EACH PERSON."

SELF FUNDED INSURANCE PROGRAMS FOR MEMBERS.SEE SCH O.MSGIA (WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAM): THE MONTANA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION ADMINISTERS (THROUGH A TPA AGREEMENT) A SELF-FUNDED WORKERS' COMPENSATION RISK AND RETENTION PROGRAM (WCRRP). WCCRP IS THE LARGEST SELF-FUNDED PROGRAM OF ITS KIND IN THE STATE PROVIDING WORKERS' COMPENSATION COVERAGE FOR OVER 25,000 PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES. WCRRP PROVIDES COVERAGE THAT IS CONSISTENTLY MORE COMPETITIVELY PRICED THAN PRIVATE MARKET OPTIONS WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PROVIDING FOR A WIDE RANGE OF ADDITIONAL SERVICES TO MEMBER DISTRICTS AT NO ADDITIONAL COSTS. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES A RANGE OF E-LEARNING PROGRAMS TARGETED AT MEETING MANY OF THE REQUIRED ANNUAL TRAINING TOPICS FOR ITS MEMBERS AS WELL AS SEVERAL OPTIONAL TRAINING AREAS IN ALL ASPECTS OF SCHOOL DISTRICT RISK MANAGEMENT. LOWER COSTS FOR COVERAGE TRANSLATES INTO SAVINGS FOR MEMBER DISTRICTS WHILE EXTRA EMPHASIS ON RISK MANAGEMENT RESULTS IN FEWER SUCCESSFUL CLAIMS AGAINST THE DISTRICT.MSGIA (PROPERTY AND CASUALTY PROGRAM): MSGIA LAUNCHED THIS SELF-INSURED POOL ON JULY 1, 2008. MSGIA CONTRACTS WITH THE MTSBA TO PROVIDE GENERAL PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION AND RISK MANAGEMENT SERVICES. THE PROPERTY AND LIABILITY PROGRAM PROVIDES BROAD COVERAGES TO ITS MEMBERS AT VERY COMPETITIVE RATES WITH MEMBER SERVICES NOT TYPICALLY FOUND IN OTHER MARKET OPTIONS. THE PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO FOCUS ON PROVIDING RISK MANAGEMENT TOOLS AND TRAINING TO MEMBERS IN THE HIGHEST RISK AREA FOR MONTANA SCHOOLS IN SCHOOL LEADERS' LIABILITY. LOWER COSTS FOR COVERAGE TRANSLATES INTO SAVINGS FOR MEMBER DISTRICTS WHILE EXTRA EMPHASIS ON RISK MANAGEMENT RESULTS IN FEWER SUCCESSFUL CLAIMS AGAINST THE DISTRICT.MTSUIP: MTSUIP WAS CREATED IN 1994 TO MEET THE NEEDS OF MONTANA SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE AREA OF UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE. THE PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED TO ALLOW SCHOOLS TO POOL THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PREMIUMS AND BECOME REIMBURSABLE EMPLOYERS UNDER THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE LAW IN AN ATTEMPT TO REDUCE THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATES PAID BY SCHOOLS. SCHOOL DISTRICTS PAY QUARTERLY PREMIUMS INTO THE FUND AND THESE FUNDS ARE USED TO PAY CLAIMS. MEMBERS RECEIVE LOSS CONTROL, CLAIMS HANDLING, LEGAL, ACTUARIAL AND OTHER SERVICES THAT THE POOL MAY PROVIDE IN-HOUSE OR MAY PURCHASE FROM CONTRACTORS. RATES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN COVERAGE COSTS THROUGH THE STATE OF MONTANA. LOWER COSTS FOR COVERAGE TRANSLATES INTO SAVINGS FOR MEMBER DISTRICTS WHILE EXTRA EMPHASIS ON RISK MANAGEMENT RESULTS IN FEWER SUCCESSFUL CLAIMS AGAINST THE DISTRICT.