On January 9, 2025, a federal district court vacated a set of Title IX regulations and—at least for now—resolved the question of whether Title IX protects students from discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation. According to the ruling, it does not. In light of this, many school districts may have questions about Title IX training. APEI…
An extensive number of resources are available to municipal and other governmental agencies through the State of Alaska’s Division of Community and Regional Affairs (DCRA). They offer a variety of grants and funding opportunities, mapping, analytics, and data resources, along with other local government assistance programs. The Local Government Assistance Section of DCRA provides support to boroughs, tribal governments, and…
Each year on February 1st, employers must post the OSHA form 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illness which lists the total number of job-related injuries and illnesses the organization had over the prior year. The 300A is to be posted in locations where all employees can review it. In order to prepare the 300A, the OSHA 300 Log of…
APEI is excited to once again partner with the Alaska Municipal League Joint Insurance Association (AMLJIA) for their annual Public Entity Risk Management Seminar (PERMS). The two-day seminar will focus on reducing workplace risk through topics such as cyber security, hiring practices, child abuse prevention, and liability trends. Participants will also visit the Anchorage Fire Training Academy for a live…
As we approach the end of the year and schools are relatively empty during winter break, it’s crucial for school districts to stay vigilant to prevent damage to their buildings. Many property losses occur during cold weather and when buildings are left unattended. Freezing weather poses a risk for pipes, which can freeze, break, and cause water damage. Additionally, unattended…
Fire sprinkler systems are known to be one of the most effective tools for fighting fires in their early stages. A sprinkler system’s quick response time often contains a fire to a smaller area or extinguishes it completely, allowing occupants to evacuate the building without harm. Fire sprinkler systems can also significantly reduce fire damage by isolating the fire to…
Over the next few months, APEI’s excess insurance carrier, Safety National, will be joining APEI to provide a webinar series on a variety of risk management topics that affect public entities. Safety National is a leading insurance and reinsurance provider that specializes in assisting public entities with their risk management needs. Safety National has a full risk control team that…
As school districts start the new year, APEI wants to remind members about a valuable new resource for child abuse prevention. Earlier this year APEI introduced a 3-minute informational video that is intended to familiarize families and community members with professional boundaries. The video provides a brief overview of what professional boundaries are, what expectations school districts have for their…
Time is running out for members to submit their application for the current year’s safety grant. As a reminder… APEI offers grants to members in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, that can be applied towards the purchase of safety equipment, safety training, or other tools or resources that will help reduce losses. APEI will reimburse members for the cost…
As many of our members know, APEI has been working with AMLJIA (the other public entity pool in Alaska) to develop a plan to consolidate our two pools into a single larger pool, named the Alaska Public Risk Alliance (APRA). We believe that a combined pool will be able to provide our members with both a better price for their…
When it comes to discussing harassment in the workplace, employers tend to focus on sexual harassment. But there are many other types of harassment that pertain to other protected classes including race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex and sexual orientation/identity, pregnancy, and other factors. Maintaining a workplace where all employees feel safe and are free from harassment is essential…
Featured image (About. (n.d.). Password strength. Xkcd. https://xkcd.com/936/) One of the most effective ways to protect yourself and your organization against a cyber-attack is by requiring employees to use strong passwords. Passwords are the first line of defense against unauthorized access to your computer network by a cybercriminal. Cyber criminals are proficient at hacking into computer networks when weak…
APEI, AASB and a number of other organizations and individuals have worked together to develop information and training about professional boundaries in order to prevent child abuse from occurring in our schools. Educating administrators and school staff about what professional boundaries are, how adhering to professional boundaries prevents abuse, and the importance of reporting any concerns about boundary violations has…
Having a workplace safety committee is an essential part of an effective safety and health program. While safety committees have a variety of functions and roles, the common goal is for employees and management to come together to find ways to prevent accidents, injuries, and illnesses on the job. A blend of management and employees participating in the committee is…
As part of our ongoing efforts to prevent child abuse from occurring in Alaska’s schools, APEI has worked extensively with school districts and other organizations to prepare and present training to school staff about professional boundaries. We know that there have been questions from families in some communities about this training, why we recommend some of the boundaries that we…
APEI is pleased to announce that we will again provide all members with employment law posters which will be shipped soon after the start of the new year. Updated for 2024, these posters include each of the required state and federal posters in a single sheet that makes them convenient to hang. The posters must be displayed in areas where…
Winter snowstorms in Alaska can lead to large amounts of snow and ice build-up on buildings. Excessive snow and ice on a roof can cause a building to be loaded well beyond the designed capacity, which could lead to damage or even collapse. Roof collapse and other risks associated with excessive snow can be eliminated by removing the snow from…
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a new version of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. The Form I-9 is used to collect and document information about an employee’s identity and employment authorization, and must be completed within three days of the employee’s hire and. When completing the I-9 form, the employee must present original documentation proving the employee’s identity…
At APEI, we strive to provide our members with the best possible coverage and support for their insurance needs. As part of our commitment to transparency and fairness, we conduct an annual payroll audit to ensure that premiums accurately reflect each entity’s operations. Why is a payroll audit necessary? The primary purpose of our payroll audit is to adjust members’…
In the event your organization suffers damage to an insured building, timely reporting to APEI is essential to ensure a smooth claims process. Receiving information about the property damage shortly after the incident allows APEI to begin its investigation and determine the appropriate coverage. It is important that members report all property damages to APEI claim staff regardless of the…
