The Alberta Teachers’ Association

Question: I read in the ATA News about the fire that damaged Arrowwood School, near Strathmore. What steps can I take to lessen the impact on my classroom in the event my school is damaged by fire?

Answer: Thankfully, school fires are rare, but all teachers should take steps to assist them in putting their classroom back together in the event of fire or another devastating event.

The most important proactive measure to take is to compile a current inventory of what is in your classroom. If you have personal items or materials at school, keep an updated list of these items and, whenever possible, retain receipts for them. Keep the list off-site so that if your classroom is damaged or ­destroyed, you’ll know what items were in your classroom and you’ll have tangible proof that you paid for them. Taking such a step will facilitate your insurance claims.

In terms of insurance, while some school boards’ insurance policies cover the cost of teachers’ personal materials, other insurers might provide only a lump sum to each teacher. It is important, therefore, to know what, if anything, your school board’s insurance policy will cover. You should also check with your own insurer to verify that your personal items kept at school are covered and what your insurance deductible is. If you keep valuable items at school on a regular basis, inform your home insurance company and verify that you have coverage for these valuables.

Although it takes time to create an inventory of personal items and you will likely never need it, you’ll be glad you did in the unfortunate event your classroom is damaged or destroyed. The same principle applies to your personal belongings at home. Once your inventory has been created, ­update it annually.