PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD AWARDS INSURANCE BID

Cape Girardeau Public Schools saved about $25,000 by bidding its insurance contract for next year.

At a special noon meeting Wednesday, the Board of Education awarded the contract to W.E. Walker Co., which submitted a bid of $164,675. The company had been providing the district's insurance.

This insurance policy includes property, earthquake, liability, automobile, workers compensation, boiler, crime, builders risk and dwelling.

Business manager Larry Dew said it includes all the district's insurance except health and student accident insurance.

The district is not required to bid this type of insurance. Dew said he decided to seek bids this time in an effort to save money.

The policy was last bid in 1983.

The rate was lowered by about $25,000 through the bid process. Dew expects the rate will be even lower in the future.

"That's one teacher's salary," he said.

The Walker Company bid was not the lowest bid the district received. A bid by MUSIC insurance company was lower, $139,738.

Dew said: "W.E. Walker and Commercial Union have had a long history of service to the school district and this is the reason for awarding other than the low bid. The district has an excellent loss ratio with the company and looks for improved rates as Commercial Union becomes more school oriented."

The Walker company is also a local firm.

"We want to keep as much as we can local," said board vice president Ed Thompson.

Representatives of the insurance company, Joe Stahly and Gary Lossing, attended the meeting.