Director's Desk Archives

2021 SET SEG Holiday Card Contest Winner

November 23, 2021 Leave a comment Director's Desk

Congratulations to Alina Nelson, an eighth grader from Negaunee Public Schools, for winning the grand prize in our 2021 holiday card contest! This year we had hundreds of entries to choose from and were impressed by the creativity and talent demonstrated by student artists throughout the state. Alina’s art will appear on the cover of our holiday card, sent to more than 800 member districts, vendors and partners.

Thank you to all the students and teachers who participated in our contest! All of us at SET SEG wish you a happy holiday season!

Pictured from left to right: SET SEG Account Executive Dan Reattoir, Alina Nelson, Pam Jacobson

Phishing’s Dangerous Sibling: Pretexting

October 26, 2021 Leave a comment Cyber Director's Desk

Social engineering attacks occur when an attacker convinces employees to provide sensitive information by exploiting a user’s lack of knowledge, or “tricking” them into giving the information up. This can commonly be done via email phishing attacks, or more specifically business email compromise (BEC), which we’ve covered extensively in our Cyber Security Resource Center.

While being mindful of fraudulent emails, or broader phishing attacks as a whole, is an important part of any cyber security awareness strategy, there’s a graduated form of phishing that your district should be conscious of as well: pretexting.

Phishing attacks are all about presenting a sense of urgency in the moment, keeping the target from being able to adequately assess the validity of an attacker’s claims. Pretexting is more advanced, utilizing aspects of phishing and BEC, while engineering a situation over a period of time.

For example, in a pretext attack on a K-12 organization, the attacker would reach out to a school employee pretending to be some representative of the school administrator. If the administrator’s email has been compromised, the attacker could even pretend to be the administrator. If this were a phishing attack, the communication would end there with an urgent call for payment credentials, but in a pretext attack, this initial email only sets the stage.

In this case, the email could point to a failed payment for some conference that members of the district are attending. Instead of requiring payment info immediately for some urgent reason (like a typical phishing attack), the attacker might request more information, such as a confirmation of dates and location. Generally, this interaction would go back-and-forth across multiple emails. The attacker would drop names and details that further reinforce credibility, until eventually asking the employee to give up private credentials.

This is what makes pretexting attacks so dangerous: the attacker lulls targets into a false sense of security. Defense against pretext attacks is similar to other forms of phishing: take time to review the communications you are receiving. Verify who the sender is and don’t hesitate to flag it for your IT Department if anything looks suspicious.

While the shear number of cyberthreats out there can be daunting, oftentimes the greatest way to protect your district is with a strong education. Visit our Cyber Security Resource Center for more informational items like this one.

2021 MASA Superintendent of the Year

October 26, 2021 Leave a comment Director's Desk

Congratulations to the MASA Superintendent of the Year!

The Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators (MASA) annually recognizes members who uplift their students, districts, and communities with the Superintendent of the Year Award. This year’s award went to Dr. Dania Bazzi, Superintendent for Ferndale Public Schools.

According to an article from MASA, Dr. Bazzi lead Ferndale Public Schools to win a number of prestigious awards, such as the Great Lakes Equity Center’s Equity Innovator Award and the International Center for Leadership in Education Innovative District Award in 2019, as well as Michigan ASCD’s Whole Child Award in both 2019 and 2020.

We’d like to congratulate Dr. Bazzi on her well-deserved win. Ferndale Public Schools have been longtime members of both the MASB-SEG Property/Casualty Pool and SEG Self-Insurer Workers’ Compensation Fund.

We’re happy to have outstanding administrators like Dr. Bazzi and districts like Ferndale Public Schools under our banner. As an industry leader in the school insurance market, we support any efforts to enrich the Michigan education community.

2021 Annual Board Meeting Highlights

October 11, 2021 Leave a comment Director's Desk Property/Casualty Workers' Compensation

To ensure the best possible decisions are made for SET SEG member districts, our boards are staffed with your peers. In September, the Workers’ Compensation and Property/Casualty boards meet annually to discuss the most important items Michigan educators encounter. If you weren’t able to attend, here is what you missed:

Workers’ Compensation Board of Trustees Annual Meeting

Financial Audit 2020/2021
After presenting the responsibilities of management and the auditor throughout the audit process, the audited financial report was presented to attendees. After receiving an unqualified opinion on the audit from the auditor, the board moved to approve the Audited Financial Statements of the Workers’ Compensation Fund as presented for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.

Board Member Appointment
We welcomed Gene Pierce, Superintendent from Tuscola ISD, to the Workers’ Compensation board where he will be adding his years of experience to help guide the Workers’ Compensation Fund.

Sales and Marketing Report
The wildly popular Safety Program, which distributes funds to member districts to help protect the health and safety of their school communities, will return for the third year. This year, SET SEG will be allocating $550,000 to member districts, up $50,000 from last year.

Executive Director’s Report
SET SEG is in the process of developing a new online enrollment system that will be implemented throughout member districts, providing time-saving HR tools.

Property/Casualty Annual Board of Directors Meeting

Financial Audit 2020/2021
After presenting the responsibilities of management and the auditor throughout the audit process, the audited financial report was presented to attendees. After receiving an unqualified opinion on the audit from the auditor, the board moved to approve the Audited Financial Statements of the Property/Casualty Pool as presented for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.

Cyber Task Force Update
Cybercriminals have increasingly targeted K-12 institutions over the last few years. Recognizing the importance of strong safeguards for member districts, SET SEG has pooled together a variety of resources, including a cyber task force to continually monitor potential threats and an entire Cyber Security Resource Center on our website providing members with the information they need to build a solid security foundation. While the existence of cyberthreats is certainly a looming presence for Michigan educators, we are committed to supporting our members with a regularly updated response as the situation evolves.

Sales and Marketing Report
EduSeries, the member-exclusive series of educational programs specifically crafted for school administrators and employees, was highlighted for its focus on hot topics happening in schools today. We have a number of exciting programs coming up and members are advised to attend.

Executive Director’s Report
The Property/Casualty Pool has performed well, ensuring continued support for our members. Additionally, an upcoming SET SEG Family Healthcare Center in Corunna was announced, which will be an exciting expansion to our already thriving healthcare options.

Recognizing Exemplary Acts of Service

October 11, 2021 Leave a comment Director's Desk

SET SEG is proud to recognize exemplary acts of service within our member districts. Two special recognitions were recently presented: the Gus Kihlstrand Service Award and the grand prize Michigan Safety Awareness and Facilities Excellence (MSAFE) Award.

Gus Kihlstrand Service Award

The Gus Kihlstrand Service Award was created in 2019 and named after a valued, long-tenured member of the SET SEG organization, and honors the legacy of public-school personnel who exemplify exceptional hard work and commitment to their district and community.

This year’s recipient is Billy Bregg, the retired Supervisor of Maintenance with over 24 years of service to the Allegan Area Educational Service Agency (AAESA).

Bregg began his tenure at AAESA as a Maintenance Technician, ultimately transitioning into the supervisory role, which he held for 12 years until retirement. Throughout his time as Supervisor of Maintenance, Bregg oversaw numerous building additions and renovations, directly contributing to the success AAESA experiences today.

Over the years, Bregg had a number of accomplishments that not only made him more effective in his career but also established him as a community leader. He graduated from the Michigan School Business Officials (MSBO) Leadership Institute, obtained a facilities director certification, and also served on the AAESA wellness committee.

Bregg’s uplifting personality (and trademark Hawaiian shirt) is recognized throughout AAESA as a positive force for everyone around him. “His smile is contagious and no matter what the situation, Billy is positive and always has a way to make things better,” says Abby Lloyd, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations. “If you hear someone whistling while walking down the hallway, you know it’s Billy.”

SET SEG is honored to award Bregg with this year’s Gus Kihlstrand Service Award and share appreciation for his dedication to upholding a safe environment at AAESA.

MSAFE Award

The SET SEG Michigan Safety Awareness and Facilities Excellence (MSAFE) Awards are presented to honorary districts across the state of Michigan that are members of the SET SEG Property/Casualty Pool and Workers’ Compensation Fund as a special way to recognize and reward their proactive efforts to protect their school community. This year’s overall grand prize MSAFE Award is presented to one of the four regional MSAFE Award winners to provide additional recognition for their exemplary attention to safety.

Lake City Area Schools is the first-ever grand prize winner of the SET SEG MSAFE Award! The district was recognized for its outstanding claims record and work to protect and preserve the safety and security of its buildings and grounds. SET SEG Loss Control Representative Jamison Hagerty credits the staff with keeping a well-maintained campus and reducing risk factors that may cause an injury or accident.

“The district is highly responsive to requests and prepared to make recommended changes to keep their district safe,” said Hagerty. “They prioritize the safety of their staff and students by regularly utilizing employee training courses and following standards for best practices.”

Hagerty attested that Lake City Area Schools’ commitment to the upkeep of their school grounds, prompt reporting, claims resolutions, and training participation makes them a model district. Given their attention to detail and high standards for safety, Lake City Area Schools has met the numerous criteria required to receive the grand prize MSAFE Award.

“I look forward to working with Tim, Tracy, Joe, and the entire staff in continuing the great success they have had in putting safety first.” – Jamison Hagerty

The Costliest Form of Cybercrime

October 11, 2021 Leave a comment Cyber Director's Desk Property/Casualty

Have you ever received a suspicious email from a contact you trust? Maybe it’s from a local print shop asking for immediate payment on an invoice for flyers for your district. It could be from your business manager requiring sign off on gift cards to employees. It could even be from a third-party contractor or district administrator asking for payment information to take care of construction costs.

Unfortunately, while those communications may appear innocent on the surface, the thing they all have in common is that none of them are actually from a trusted contact. Business email compromise (BEC) occurs when bad actors portray themselves as trusted parties. While not necessarily as prevalent as ransomware attacks, this form of cybercrime is the most financially costly to organizations, and one that has become increasingly common in K-12 institutions.

These fraudulent communications are often portrayed by the perpetrator as time-sensitive, asking for immediate financial action before the reader can accurately assess the validity of the request. While the short timeframe is part of what can make attacks successful, it’s also their downfall.

Taking time to scrutinize the email is all it takes to prevent a costly mistake.

Documents and videos in the SET SEG Cyber Security Resource Center describe, in detail, the dangers of phishing attacks from cybercriminals trying to steal your data and how to mitigate them. BEC threats follow some of the same rules.

Business email compromise attacks can be a costly hazard but taking the steps to educate employees on cyber security best practices is the key to protecting your district.

Participate in regular phishing training, like KnowBe4’s cyber awareness training.
Put strict policies in place, only allowing the use of district-managed devices for work-related tasks.

While cyberattacks are only becoming more common, SET SEG is committed to providing members with the greatest defense against such threats: knowledge.

If you haven’t already, visit our Cyber Security Resource Center to prepare your staff for whatever cyberthreats may come your way.

Enter SET SEG’s 2021 Holiday Card Contest

September 21, 2021 Leave a comment Director's Desk

Calling all student artists!

We need your help to design our holiday card! Our annual holiday card contest is open to students in grades K-12 in SET SEG member districts. The winning entry will be featured on our 2021 holiday card which is mailed to hundreds of recipients throughout Michigan.

Prizes:

Winning student: Receives…

Artwork featured on SET SEG’s 2021 Holiday card
Amazon gift card
A pack of holiday cards featuring the winning artwork

Teacher of winning student: Receives an Amazon gift card

Classroom of winning student: Receives a gift card for class supplies.

Artwork:

Artwork should reflect the theme: “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
Original artwork only
Must fit on a 5” x 7” sheet of paper in landscape format. Students are encouraged to completely fill the page but keep the design simple. Bold colors work best for the printing process.
Must include on the back: student’s full name, grade, school, and teacher’s name.
Do not include copyrighted images such as Sponge Bob Square Pants or sports logos.
Acceptable mediums: watercolors, markers, crayons, colored pencils, or a combination.

Deadline:

Friday, Nov. 5, 2021

Submissions:

Send artwork to the address below or scan a digital copy and email it to marketinghelp@setseg.org.

SET SEG, Attn: Marketing Department
1520 Earl Ave.
East Lansing, MI 48823

Questions:

Contact the SET SEG Marketing Department at marketinghelp@setseg.org.

Are Your Properties Ready for the School Year?

August 9, 2021 Leave a comment Director's Desk Property/Casualty

With the school year swiftly approaching, it’s important to take care of annual maintenance and inspections before students start roaming your halls.

Thankfully, our Loss Control team has put together a number of useful documents to help your district prepare for the new semester. See below for a few critical things to look out for.

Playgrounds

Inspect playgrounds regularly and take care of required maintenance early to avoid any unnecessary hazards. Click here to review our playground checklist and conduct your own inspection.

FREE Member Benefit: Members of the Property/Casualty Pool may receive a playground inspection at no cost! Contact your Loss Control Consultant for more information.

Roofs

Check roofs regularly, but especially after storms, to ensure a small problem doesn’t turn into a big, costly project. Doing so at the beginning of the school year (or earlier!) ensures limited disruption of classroom activities. Consider reviewing our Preventing Roof Losses Checklist by clicking here.

Vacant Buildings

Are any buildings in your district not opening back up this school year? Any building with less than 31 percent occupancy is officially considered “vacant.” This excludes buildings that are under construction or undergoing renovations.

It is the member’s responsibility to notify the Pool of any changes in vacancy status as soon as the change occurs. Reach out to your Account Executive as soon as possible if any of your properties have officially become vacant.

Athletic Facilities

Fall sports are just around the corner! Be sure to inspect spectator stands for structural degradation and verify that they’re grounded. This would be a good time for indoor bleacher inspections as well. Additionally, make sure to keep lighting well maintained.

While facility inspections are a regular part of any property ownership, the oncoming addition of students into the mix adds an extra level of pressure. Please refer to our Building and Property Resource Center to view a collection of checklists and flyers that can help you prepare for another safe school year. As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to your Loss Control Consultant for guidance.

2021 MASC/MAHS Summer Leadership Camp

August 9, 2021 Leave a comment Director's Desk Foundation

Arriving at the Michigan Associations of Student Councils and Honor Societies (MASC/MAHS) Summer Leadership Camp for the first time can be a bit jarring: scores of loud, enthusiastic, high school-aged students dancing, singing, and ultimately developing their leadership skills is certainly an uncommon experience. Give it a little time, however, and you’ll see just how beneficial the event is for the students and the Michigan communities they hail from.

The MASC/MAHS Leadership Camp focuses on developing core skills for the future leaders of Michigan communities. The program caters to all students ranging from grades 9–12 and features high-energy, introspective collaboration with their peers.

While the camp seeks to grow leaders, its effects are wide-reaching; as camp attendees head back to their schools, and ultimately their communities, they pass on the skills they’ve learned, enriching their environment, and Michigan as a whole. Recognizing the unique value of the camp, the SET SEG Foundation has been a long-time supporter of the program.

“Partnering with the MASC/MAHS Leadership Camp makes complete sense for the SET SEG Foundation,” explains Molly Mellema, the Executive Director for the Foundation and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at SET SEG. “Our mission is focused on providing students with the tools they need to enrich themselves and their communities. The camp is a very effective example of one of those tools.”

The Foundation awards over $26,000 in full scholarships every year to students across Michigan. The SET SEG team handpicks applicants, often selecting individuals who may not have the financial means to pursue a spot at the leadership camp.

To students like Sarayu Bethamchurla, the worth of the leadership camp is obvious: “If you want to change, if you want to work on yourself, then come to camp. If you want to meet incredible human beings that are capable of changing the world, come to camp.” And she should know; this is Sarayu’s second year at camp, thanks to scholarships from the SET SEG Foundation.

For over 15 years, the SET SEG Foundation has been passionately focused on student empowerment and providing financial support to things like the MASC/MAHS Summer Leadership Camp, helping to establish a bedrock of growth for Michigan students.

To contribute to events like the MASC/MAHS Summer Leadership Camp, consider donating to the SET SEG Foundation. Click here for more information.

Winners Announced for Cyber Security Awareness Drawing

August 9, 2021 Leave a comment Director's Desk Property/Casualty

Winners have been announced, but you can still enter to win! If you’re a member of the Property/Casualty Pool and your district has invested in cyber training for staff and students, click here to enter your district for a chance to win $1,000!