A six-year-old student at an elementary school operated by the McDuffie County Board of Education fell from a slide on the playground and suffered injuries. His parents brought on his behalf an action in negligence against the school board, which defended on the ground of governmental immunity, and specifically, OCGA 20-2-992. It is uncontradicted that at the time of the incident there was in effect a policy of liability insurance. The trial court ruled for the board, and the child's parents appeal, contending that any governmental immunity which otherwise might apply to the board was waived to the extent of insurance coverage provided, pursuant to the authority of Art. I, Sec. II, Par. IX of the Constitution of Georgia of 1983, which provides, in part, that "Sovereign immunity extends to the state and all of its departments and agencies. However, the defense of sovereign immunity . . . is waived as to those actions for the recovery of damages for any claim against the state or any of its departments and agencies for which liability insurance protection for such claims has been provided but only to the extent of any liability insurance provided." OCGA 20-2-992 cannot be effective to preserve sovereign immunity when the Constitution itself has waived it. In Toombs County v. O'Neal, 254 Ga. 390, 392 ( 330 SE2d 95) (1985), we held that, for purposes of the above-cited provision of the Constitution, a county is included within the definition of "the state and any of its departments and agencies." On that authority, we hold that the McDuffie County Board of Education likewise is included. WELTNER, Justice, concurring specially. | 
