The Plainfield school board ratified at its January 10, 2012 BOE Work & Study/Policy meeting the adoption of several Workers' Compensation settlements that were adopted at their Executive Sessions. Workers' Compensation settlements, just like grievances and legal settlements, must be adopted in a public meeting, it is the law. (See agenda HERE, page 38)
It never occurred to me to look into Workers' Compensation settlements expense but the fact that they were documented at Executive Session Minutes and legal bills but not on public agendas raised the question on whether this was a cause of concern or not. Having read that that these, and other settlements and contracts, needed to be ratified in public I sent the school district THIS LETTER and the Plainfield school board responded through their BOE Secretary on December 5th, 2011 with THIS LETTER . The school board's position apparently was that there were no reasons for concern. On December 2011 and January 2012 settlements were ratified in public. This is how I started looking into Workers' Compensation settlements. Here is a link to NJ's guide to Workers' Compensation Rights and Obligations.
Now I have questions on two fronts: where the money to pay for this kind of settlements, and others, come from and what is causing Workers' Compensation Claims. Here are the questions, please add your own or please help provide answers. Settlements and their amount can be read underneath the questions.
1) Do school board settlements function like a car/home insurance?
2) Does the school district pay the difference between what the insurance covers and what the final settlement is?
3) Does the insurance rate, or deductible, go up based on the amount of claims the district gets?
4) Just as with grievances, has the school board looked into what is causing Workers' Compensation claims and ways into improving or amending whatever is causing them?
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
September 21, 2010, WORKERS COMP. matter handled by HH&R, C.G. v. Plainfield Board of Education, PLB027350 for $15,000.00.
3. September 21, 2010, WORKERS COMP. matter handled by HH&R, D.D. v. Plainfield Board of Education, PLB028246 for $14,553.00.
4. October 21, 2010, WORKERS COMP. matter handled by HH&R, J.H-C. v. Plainfield Board of Education, PLB023139 for $25,265.70.
January 18, 2011, WORKERS COMP. matter handled by HH&R, J.J.B v. Plainfield Board of Education, PLB029876 for $9,270.00
March 8, 2011, WORKERS COMP. matter handled by HH&R, A.C. v. Plainfield Board of Education, PB020322 for $52,720.00 (actual settlement amount $50,670.06).
March 8, 2011, WORKERS COMP. matter handled by HH&R, M.S. v. Plainfield Board of Education, PLB026281 for $20,613.00.
April 19, 2011, WORKERS COMP. matter handled by HH&R, S.T. v. Plainfield Board of Education, WORKERS COMP.082566 for $133,200.00 (actual settlement amount $102,780.00).
April 19, 2011, WORKERS COMP. matter handled by HH&R, R.H. v. Plainfield Board of Education, LB031353 for $35,310.00.
May 17, 2011, WORKERS COMP. matter handled by HH&R, S.M. v. Plainfield Board of Education (WORKERS COMP.), PLB024362 for $7,000.00 (actual settlement amount $5,818.75.)
August 16, 2011, WORKERS COMP. matter handled by P&C, S.J-T. v. Plainfield Board of Education, PLB025651 for $40,815.00.
7 comments:
Curious when did these cases get submitted originate? If prior to the current board then wouldn't it speak to their efforts for closing old cases and handling the business of this district. Get the full picture.
9:55,
So, why did the school board didn't publish these settlements before and actually waited until they were asked to do so? Why not be proud and share the story on how this current board is taking care of closing old cases? What advice is the school board being given for them not to tell their own story? And has the current board taken steps to locate the source of employees' injuries and any possible remedies to make PPSD a safer and healthier place to work for? I look forward to hear from you. Thanks.
Every action taken is recorded either in public session or meeting minutes. I believe the process was explained to you at the last meeting. A settlement isn't a settlement until "ALL" parties agree. The board simply giving permission to settle as noted in the executive minutes is not the same as reaching a settlement as noted during the resolution in public session.
Hope that helps.
Please stop trying to insinuate this Board is out to get the public. Doing so would get their own children as atleast 4 of them have students served by the very system they are trying to improve. It's illogical to think they have some sinister plan. They are ALL Plainfield residence and are directly impacted by any decision they make or don't make.
Come on now, count to 10 and think it through!
P.S. I think you should ask the Board if they have analyze the reasons behind the various legal actions. You just may be surprised.
To anon...if the board is actually cleaning up old cases, that's a good thing and they should be able to post it as such and not feel they have the right to hide everything behind a veil of secrecy. Its our money that is being spent. We have a right to know where it is being wasted, by whom and on whom. You work for us. Dont forget it! Maria...keep up the good work!
11:12,
I didn't ask any question at the last meeting. And the questions I asked the previous one had to do with the superintedent's search. So, please, stay on the facts. As for me insinuating that the board is trying to "get the community" I don't insinuate things, I am quite outspoken and don't need to use insinuations or anonymous to speak up. I don't think the board is planning sinister things but what I think is that the district is quite broken and the school board needs to be more straighforward, be honest with itself and separate issues from personal ties and accept that there needs to be far greater accountability and transparency, just look what all official documentation speaks of. Please stop trying to make excuses and start looking at all the facts for all schools, it will also help if you stop thinking that I am out to get the BOE. I am not. Thanks.
More straight forward How? what does that mean?
Honest with itself how?
separate issues from personal ties who exactly and how?
transparency how? define that more clearly.
greater accountability where, who and how?
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