George Doyle, Tom Curtis: Rehires, Actives and HC costs

Hello Geo,

I like your new name for the STRS. That situation may change soon. Unfortunately, the administrators in this state have taken the greatest advantage of this rule. Besides, many of them have rehired at their same salary, or as my former superintendent did just last year, she got a $5,000 increase. She was quick to remind me that she was saving the school system money by not having the need to be part of the school system's health care program. Isn't that special? She also was proud to tell me how 65 other administrators in Stark Co. have done exactly the same. Most administrators in Ohio have provided little support for Dennis Leone and what he is trying to accomplish. We all know, that as soon as we have what we desire, we are no longer concerned about those that are unfortunate enough to, as Herb Dyer would say, have fallen through the cracks.

Take care,

Tom Curtis

----- Original Message -----

From: George Doyle

To: Tom Curtis

Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 5:52 AM

Subject: RE: 120705 Curtis Resp To Doyle; Re Canton Repository; Teacher's Pension To Consider Law Suit Settlement; Curry

I doubt that the actives even care. They are too worried about their own health insurance costs, which have also risen. Most school systems now make the teacher pay most of the health care; hence, the apathy toward retired teachers and their health care problems. They will certainly whistle a different tune when they retire and find that most of their check goes to health insurance. I think we need to rename the STRS to "State Teachers Rehirement Service" since they seem to be more concerned about rehires than retires.

George

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From: Thomas Curtis
Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2005 5:50 PM
To: George Doyle
Subject: 120705 Curtis Resp To Doyle; Re Canton Repository; Teacher's Pension To Consider Law Suit Settlement; Curry

Hello Geo,

I keep hoping the newly retired will get involved, but most people I receive correspondence from are not those people. Educators have just allowed the OEA and STRS to take care of everything for us, believing that would be done in an efficient manner. Boy have we been wrong!

On the other hand, we were not made aware that there were so many problems in both of those organizations until 2003. Do you think we would have been more interested if we had known that problems with health care and pension shortages were looming heavily in our immediate futre? I will readily admit that I never gave it a thought that the STRS would not have the necessary funds to meet our health care and pension needs. I guess we shall see if the actives are willing to increase their contribution rates to help provide for the funds needed to continue both pensions and health care.

Take care,

Tom Curtis

----- Original Message -----

From: George Doyle

To: Tom Curtis

Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2005 3:26 PM

Subject: RE: 120705 Canton Repository; Teacher's Pension To Consider Law Suit Settlement; Curry

Tom:

You and I both know that active teachers depend on information from their locals and the locals get their information from OEA, so there you go! That's why active teachers do not seem to care much about their retirement. Just wait until some of these apathetic people retire, then you's hear all kinds of complaining and want the retired to take some action to help them!

George