Policyholder Spotlight: You Need Vigilance To Make A School House Rock
Joseph Neary, chief operations officer at FirstLine Schools, stands in the foyer of John Dibert Community School at Phillis Wheatley in front of a wall adorned with framed photographs of schoolchildren.
POLICYHOLDER FIRSTLINE SCHOOLS ENCOURAGES VIGILANCE TO KEEP EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS SAFE
Failing schools are not unique to Louisiana — they are a national issue. That is why Joseph Neary, chief operating officer at FirstLine Schools, has made it his passion to provide quality education in a safe environment to students of all backgrounds.
FirstLine Schools, a charter school organization, believes New Orleans can be the first city in America where every child goes to a great school. What’s interesting about this mission statement is that it is not only about FirstLine Schools having great schools, but all of New Orleans having great schools. Since its inception, all FirstLine Schools have shown positive growth toward closing the achievement gap.
FirstLine Schools started in 1990 as a program called “Summer Bridge” to help fifth- and sixth-graders get into high-performing middle schools in New Orleans. That evolved into an autonomous school, and in 1998, it became the first charter school, called New Orleans Charter Middle. At the time, it was the highest performing, non-select middle school in New Orleans. It was a unique school in that it was mostly project-based learning. In 2005, the Recovery School District approached the organization about taking on Samuel J. Green school. A week later, Hurricane Katrina hit. Samuel J. Green, now a part of FirstLine Schools’ network, reopened five months later, in January 2006. From that point, the organization enacted a rapid growth plan.
In 2008, charter programs in Louisiana were still in early stages and needed help. The key problems were in finance and operations, so charter experts across the country, including Neary, were recruited to provide assistance. At the time, Neary was working with a charter school in the Bronx, New York. He was approached by a friend from a previous charter project to see if he would be interested in trying to open a couple of charters in Louisiana.
Schoolchildren from John Dibert Community School at Phillis Wheatley walk from lunch. The school is located in a neighborhood in Mid City New Orleans.
"With over 400 employees and 3,000 students, Neary believes the key for safety and risk management is vigilance"
“I took her up on that challenge and moved down south to Baton Rouge,” Neary said. “I worked with charter schools in the Baton Rouge area for five years before another friend reached out to me to see if I could do part time CFO work for FirstLine Schools in New Orleans. At the time, FirstLine Schools had grown to three charters, but was in desperate need of help with finances to continue growth. I took the position, and eventually I was promoted to an interim position as COO for FirstLine Schools.”
Neary has been with FirstLine Schools as the COO for nearly three years and is responsible for everything that is not academically related. Day to day, he handles all aspects related to finances, facilities, legal, payroll, risk management -- the list goes on. Though he seemingly has his plate full, he still makes time regularly to visit all five of FirstLine Schools’ charters throughout New Orleans: Samuel J. Green Charter School (2006); Arthur Ashe Charter School (2007); John Dibert Community School (2010); Langston Hughes Academy (2010); and Joseph S. Clark Prep High School (2011).
With over 400 employees and 3,000 students, Neary believes the key for safety and risk management is vigilance, by constantly alerting people to report things that may appear unsafe. “It could be something as simple as a broken chair or a lifted floor tile,” Neary said. “We have a robust ticketing system that allows staff to report things that are damaged or unsafe so we can address things quickly to minimize the risk of someone getting hurt. Beyond the attention to safety and risk management is the assurance that you are working with an insurance agent and provider who gets you and truly cares about what you do.”
HUB International Gulf South has worked with FirstLine Schools throughout its evolution and the expansion of five schools. “Joseph Neary has been in his position as COO since my start with FirstLine,” said Doug Adams, Commercial Lines Producer at HUB International Gulf South. “What I have witnessed working with him is, most importantly, his strong, stable leadership followed by the team he has built. Each person knows their role in safety, claims reporting and claims administration. He recognizes that loss experience drives workers’ comp premium costs and has been very involved and receptive to our recommendations in loss control meetings with LUBA and HUB.”
As a policyholder since 2009, Neary believes in what LUBA’s Loss Control Department is doing. “LUBA has been a great partner throughout the years. We’ve asked them to come out to the schools and walk the halls with us to point out things that we might not see, review our procedures and to offer suggestions on how we can improve them. I would encourage other policyholders to take advantage of all the resources LUBA provides and to embrace and utilize them as a way to improve your practice.”
