Because it no longer has liability insurance, the San Benito
Prevention Coalition canceled the monthly
”
Friday Night Live
”
teen dance scheduled for April 11 and has postponed further
dances until an affordable insurance package is found.
Because it no longer has liability insurance, the San Benito Prevention Coalition canceled the monthly “Friday Night Live” teen dance scheduled for April 11 and has postponed further dances until an affordable insurance package is found.
The SBPC, which holds the dances for students in grades six through eight, was recently informed that San Benito County stopped providing liability coverage for the dances, since the coalition is not affiliated with the county.
“It’s not their responsibility. We’re a nonprofit organization, not a county agency,” said Lucia Aguilar–Navarro, the group’s community liaison.
Since the dances are held in the city-owned Community Center, Aguilar-Navarro said the SBPC would be covered by the City of Hollister under certain conditions, such as an injury caused by the property. But if a student was hurt in a fight at a dance, for instance, “Then it’s our organization’s responsibility,” Aguilar-Navarro said.
A fight between students at the November dance led to the cancellation of the December event.
The SBPC Friday Night Live dances are held the second Friday of each month from 7 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. The event was created by the California Highway Patrol to inform students about the perils of drinking and driving.
In its search for insurance, the SBPC has solicited one quote for $4,300 per year, which the group cannot afford, Aguilar-Navarro said. Three dances have been held since the group learned of the lost insurance coverage in December, but further events were postponed because, she said, “We were feeling like we were taking a bigger risk than we should.”
Aguilar-Navarro said she felt confident the May 9 dance would go on as scheduled, as long as the group finds affordable insurance.
“I think in the $3,000 range would be more reasonable,” she said.
The SBPC plans to divert funding from its periodic participation in conferences, Aguilar-Navarro said. First, though, she must get permission from the group’s funding source – the Community Antidrugs Coalition of America. She expects a response from the organization within the next week.
“If we decide to do any more conferences before the end of the fiscal year, we’ll have to find some more money to do that,” Aguilar-Navarro said.
