Post by blackcrowheart on Apr 29, 2006 11:03:25 GMT -5
School Could Close (edu/community)
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Tribal school could close
By Chet Brokaw, Associated Press Writer
PIERRE - The Crow Creek Tribal School is in danger of closing because an
insurance company has not settled the school's claims from a fire that
destroyed a student dormitory a year ago, officials said Friday.
School superintendent Scott Raue and Gov. Mike Rounds held a news
conference to discuss the situation, saying they hope Minnesota-based
St. Paul Travelers will
settle the insurance dispute quickly so the school for American Indian
students can finish the school year.
Raue said the school, run by the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe in central South
Dakota, used its own money to build temporary dormitory buildings and a
kitchen area so the school could operate this year. He said the money
was spent in anticipation of getting the insurance settlement.
Raue said that unless the dispute is settled, the school might be unable
to make payroll on May 3, which could mean the school would close two
weeks before the end of the school year.
"All along, it was our goal to make sure the students at our school had
a safe setting, an educational setting that we could operate for over
600 students so they could be safe. We accomplished that," Raue said.
"We are here today because of the fact that the insurance carrier has
not, in my estimation, done good faith in what they promised they would
do."
Rounds, who was in the insurance business before becoming governor, said
the news conference was not intended to put pressure on St. Paul
Travelers, which he said has an excellent reputation. But he said he
directed the state Insurance Division to write a letter asking the
company about the delay and he has asked the state attorney general to
look into the matter.
"We fully intend to do everything we can to resolve the situation in
hopefully an amicable fashion," Rounds said.
Kim O'Connell, an official for St. Paul Travelers, said company
officials were not available Friday to comment.
Raue said the school's total loss from the fire totaled about $4.5
million. The Bureau of Indian Affairs provided $1.3 million to help
build temporary dorms so classes could open last fall, the school also
received about $400,000 from the state.
St. Paul Travelers already has advanced some money to the school, but
officials said they believe the school is still short about $2.6
million.
The school is part of a program, run by the South Dakota Associated
School Boards, that buys insurance from St. Paul Travelers to cover
large losses.
dick Tieszen, a lawyer for Associated School Boards, said St. Paul
Travelers has argued that because the school received $1.3 million from
the BIA, the insurance company is entitled to a credit.
Tieszen said the school has offered to accept less than its original
claim to settle the issue quickly.
"The school is in jeopardy," Tieszen said.
www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2006/04/22/news/state/state02.txt
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Tribal school could close
By Chet Brokaw, Associated Press Writer
PIERRE - The Crow Creek Tribal School is in danger of closing because an
insurance company has not settled the school's claims from a fire that
destroyed a student dormitory a year ago, officials said Friday.
School superintendent Scott Raue and Gov. Mike Rounds held a news
conference to discuss the situation, saying they hope Minnesota-based
St. Paul Travelers will
settle the insurance dispute quickly so the school for American Indian
students can finish the school year.
Raue said the school, run by the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe in central South
Dakota, used its own money to build temporary dormitory buildings and a
kitchen area so the school could operate this year. He said the money
was spent in anticipation of getting the insurance settlement.
Raue said that unless the dispute is settled, the school might be unable
to make payroll on May 3, which could mean the school would close two
weeks before the end of the school year.
"All along, it was our goal to make sure the students at our school had
a safe setting, an educational setting that we could operate for over
600 students so they could be safe. We accomplished that," Raue said.
"We are here today because of the fact that the insurance carrier has
not, in my estimation, done good faith in what they promised they would
do."
Rounds, who was in the insurance business before becoming governor, said
the news conference was not intended to put pressure on St. Paul
Travelers, which he said has an excellent reputation. But he said he
directed the state Insurance Division to write a letter asking the
company about the delay and he has asked the state attorney general to
look into the matter.
"We fully intend to do everything we can to resolve the situation in
hopefully an amicable fashion," Rounds said.
Kim O'Connell, an official for St. Paul Travelers, said company
officials were not available Friday to comment.
Raue said the school's total loss from the fire totaled about $4.5
million. The Bureau of Indian Affairs provided $1.3 million to help
build temporary dorms so classes could open last fall, the school also
received about $400,000 from the state.
St. Paul Travelers already has advanced some money to the school, but
officials said they believe the school is still short about $2.6
million.
The school is part of a program, run by the South Dakota Associated
School Boards, that buys insurance from St. Paul Travelers to cover
large losses.
dick Tieszen, a lawyer for Associated School Boards, said St. Paul
Travelers has argued that because the school received $1.3 million from
the BIA, the insurance company is entitled to a credit.
Tieszen said the school has offered to accept less than its original
claim to settle the issue quickly.
"The school is in jeopardy," Tieszen said.
www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2006/04/22/news/state/state02.txt