Paul Boyer's letter published in the Lima News

April 8, 2006

Teachers need to protect future

PAUL L. BOYER, Lima

The month of April is an important time for all active and retired teachers in the public schools of Ohio. Over the weekend, ballots were mailed to all contributing members, formerly called active teachers, to elect two persons to sit on the State Teachers Retirement Board and must be returned by May 1. As a member of Concerned Ohio Retired Educators, I am urging all teachers to vote for Tom Hall and Mark Frederick. CORE members believe they will be the most diligent in taking care of the retirees’ needs.

Hall is a professor of economics at Miami University. He was outraged a few years ago when he heard of the stock market losses by STRS and the rampant, illegal spending of our money on board members and employees. Frederick has taught in the Cleveland schools for 26 years He has continued to provide leadership for his students and colleagues, a continued working, growing and learning throughout his career.

I would also like to remind you that, in the primary balloting in May, two of the candidates will be the auditor and attorney general, both of whom were on the STRS board and refused to curb the spending.