RH Jones: OSBA Platform Opposing STRS Enhancements
From RH Jones, February 4, 2006
Subject: OSBA Platform Opposing STRS Enhancements
Dear Linda F.R. Omobien:
First, I would like to personally congratulate you on your election to presidency of the OSBA and your Award of Achievement from them. What a great chance for you to do good for our pupils, and their active and retired teachers. I am proud to be a retired 6th grade teacher from the Akron City School System of which you are also honored to serve as a school board member. God Bless Your Service!
My reason for contacting you is that I am concerned that: the OBSA opposes -- according to OSBA Legislative Platform, Personnel Section -- any attempt to increase the employer's share to cover increase in cost. As you probably know, it has been 21-yrs. since there has been increase. Therefore, an enhancement of the present 14% employer rate is long overdue. The teaching profession, and its retirement system, needs an enhancement at this critical time in Ohio history. While businesses are leaving the state for lack of a pool of educated job seekers, the OBSA opposes future benefit enhancements unless accompanied with a reduction in the 14% only a reduction in the employers share.
As a consequence of this type of negative thinking, damage is being done to both the commercial businesses and the public education sectors. And, contrary to this outdated OBSA platform: #1. Our children need, and deserve, well paid career educators with the guarantee of a STRS offering a Compounded COLA pension & health care benefits. #2. And contrary to outdated OBSA statements, these enhanced STRS benefits will attract and keep the best educators serving Ohio's children, and and their communities. The attraction of businesses and keeping them here will thus be the outcome of a financially healthy public school system backed by a forward thinking OSBA that cares for outstanding public schools; for the last several years that has not been the case. Furthermore, backward ultraconservative OSBA attitude is hurting us all. Please help with a progressive change.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I await your response.
Robert Hudson Jones,
A concerned retired career Akron, Ohio teacher
First, I would like to personally congratulate you on your election to presidency of the OSBA and your Award of Achievement from them. What a great chance for you to do good for our pupils, and their active and retired teachers. I am proud to be a retired 6th grade teacher from the Akron City School System of which you are also honored to serve as a school board member. God Bless Your Service!
My reason for contacting you is that I am concerned that: the OBSA opposes -- according to OSBA Legislative Platform, Personnel Section -- any attempt to increase the employer's share to cover increase in cost. As you probably know, it has been 21-yrs. since there has been increase. Therefore, an enhancement of the present 14% employer rate is long overdue. The teaching profession, and its retirement system, needs an enhancement at this critical time in Ohio history. While businesses are leaving the state for lack of a pool of educated job seekers, the OBSA opposes future benefit enhancements unless accompanied with a reduction in the 14% only a reduction in the employers share.
As a consequence of this type of negative thinking, damage is being done to both the commercial businesses and the public education sectors. And, contrary to this outdated OBSA platform: #1. Our children need, and deserve, well paid career educators with the guarantee of a STRS offering a Compounded COLA pension & health care benefits. #2. And contrary to outdated OBSA statements, these enhanced STRS benefits will attract and keep the best educators serving Ohio's children, and and their communities. The attraction of businesses and keeping them here will thus be the outcome of a financially healthy public school system backed by a forward thinking OSBA that cares for outstanding public schools; for the last several years that has not been the case. Furthermore, backward ultraconservative OSBA attitude is hurting us all. Please help with a progressive change.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I await your response.
Robert Hudson Jones,
A concerned retired career Akron, Ohio teacher
posted by Kathie Bracy at 10:23 AM
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