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News & Developments

PACE expands services, coverage limits

When Mt. Hood Community College science club students built a two-story volcano, they called on risk manager Staci Huffacker, who got a "second opinion" from a PACE consultant.

The vinegar and baking soda eruption got a thumbs-up just one example of PACE's active role in the lives of its members.

PACE has increased liability limits to each of its members from $5 million to $10 million per occurrence and increased earthquake and flood limits without adding cost.

"PACE has invested time and effort to understand our needs," Huffacker said of the property/casualty insurer. "Community college needs differ from those of K-12 schools, and PACE has developed programs to suit them."

PACE now covers 235 school districts, community colleges, education service districts and charter schools. Two new charter schools recently chose PACE coverage over that offered by competitors.

Michael Screen, Springfield School District's risk manager, said he appreciates that a PACE staff member alerted him about a training session that was being offered nearby.

"We've received extremely good service," Screen said. "PACE adjusters are quick to respond and supportive. We bounce ideas off each other. And if I have a question, they do the research and get back to me with answers."

When Grants Pass School District band and choir students recently traveled to Disneyland to perform, one of their chartered buses rear-ended another bus. Fortunately, there were only slight injuries to a few students, but business director Sherry Ely said the district had trouble working with the bus company.

"They wouldn't return our phone calls and they tried to deny medical claims," she said. "We were able to turn it over to PACE, and they handled it."

PACE conducts property inspections and provides safety-and-risk training, legal services and matching grants for safety-related projects.

As for those Mt. Hood Community College students and their volcano, you might see them again in the Guinness Book of World Records. We'll have to wait until the end of the year to find out. For now, it's enough to know that their volcanic eruption was handled safely.