A letter from Bill Leibensperger and Patricia Frost-Brooks' speech to the STRS Board, December 13, 2007

From Bill Leibensperger, December 14, 2007
Subject: In the spirit of open communication
Good morning, Kathie,

Attached please find the complete text of OEA President Frost-Brook's testimony to the STRS Board on December 13. Rather than the annotated summary that currently appears on your blog, this version is offered for the sake of accuracy, to promote transparency, and allow your readers to come to their own conclusions concerning its message. President Frost-Brooks was directed by the OEA Representative Assembly to deliver this testimony through a New Business item that had no opposition. Allow me to explain what that means.

The OEA Representative Assembly is the supreme governing body of the OEA. These 1200+ elected delegates meet twice a year to adopt legislative policies and resolutions, debate and pass business items, and conduct the business of the Association. All representatives are elected democratically at the local level. When this body gives specific direction, officers are bound to carry it out. These directives apply also to the staff of the OEA, who perform their respective jobs in accordance to the direction of the members.

Therefore, it is not surprising that President Frost-Brook's remarks are the result of a collaborative effort. Hardly "ghostwritten," the testimony was a collaborative effort between her and the other officers, appropriate staff, and the makers of the motion of the new business item. Nonetheless, the message was delivered by the President, who is the embodiment of the OEA when speaking in public. This is the essence of a union.

Certainly within a democratic organization there is dissent. We value that, in fact. Such discussions make us stronger. The key to that strength is that we have these discussions within the organization so that we can present a united front to the world. Even so, it is understood and accepted that there will be individual members who will not support the majority view, Ms. Jancyzk being one as it appears. No doubt this letter and Ms. Frost-Brook's speech (which I hope you will post in their entirety) will elicit additional hue and cry from Leone/Lazares loyalists. That is fine. The OEA chooses to address issues, not personalities.

Molly suggests that somehow President Frost-Brook's testimony negates free speech. Although I don't quite follow the argument, I must say that the OEA as an organization, President Frost-Brooks, and I stand for this principle. We understand, however, that with every right comes a responsibility. The right to speak freely includes the responsibility to be accurate and fair. It is irresponsible to call names and make unsubstantiated accusations.

Let's not lose sight of what we can do together. CORE activists have been effective grassroots lobbyists for HB315. I suspect that with work on our relationships we will find many things on which to work effectively together. Let's do that!

Sincerely,

Bill Leibensperger
Vice President
Ohio Education Association

STRS Testimony
December 13, 2007

Good afternoon, Chairman Chapman, Executive Director Asbury, members of the Board, staff, and guests. My name is Patricia Frost-Brooks. I am a teacher on leave from the East Cleveland school district, a contributing member of STRS for 31 years and currently serving as President of the Ohio Education Association. I speak to you today on behalf of OEA’s 100,000 contributing STRS members and the many retired OEA members who are beneficiaries of the System. Please understand that I am not speaking as an individual, but as the official spokesperson of the OEA, representing 130,000 members.

Specifically, I have been directed by the OEA Representative Assembly which met on December 1 of this year, to deliver to you a resolution stating the following beliefs:

• The OEA supports the outstanding performance of the STRS Executive Director and Staff.

• The OEA believes that the STRS Board should reject any motions that would inhibit the Executive Director and Staff in carrying out their statutory responsibilities and/or hamper the System’s ability to pass legislation to preserve the health care benefit.

• The OEA reiterates its support for the Health Care Advocates for STRS and the public testimony they provide to the Board.

• The OEA expects that after deliberation the Board will speak with one public voice that reflects the consensus or majority of the Board.

As the various stakeholders in retiree health care work diligently to gain recognition and develop solutions for the funding challenges that lie ahead, it is crucial that STRS serve as a foundation of strength in that effort. In order to fulfill that critical role, unified leadership by the STRS Board and Executive Director is essential to the effectiveness of STRS staff and STRS partners.

To that effect, the OEA urges that a collaborative environment be nurtured that allows for the Executive Director and Staff to do the jobs they have been hired to do as professionals. In order for them to best be able to help secure the retiree health care benefit, they must be directed not micromanaged, monitored not second-guessed, and supported not undercut. In conjunction with the work of the Health Care Advocates for STRS, this kind of cooperative professional spirit of goodwill provide STRS retirees the best opportunity for a secure retirement with affordable healthcare.

The great work performed by the STRS Executive Director and staff in recent years should be reinforced by praise for finding ways to accomplish the objectives set by the Board. In doing its due diligence, the Board should be praised. However, any motions before the Board that would or could undermine trust and confidence between the Board, Executive Director and Staff, are not in the best interest of the system, and, in fact, may be unnecessary and counterproductive.

The significant external obstacles we face in achieving some of these objectives, especially those surrounding retiree healthcare, make this collaborative approach imperative. I urge in all of you the courage to trust. As the Board deliberates various motions today, at the January retreat, and into the future, we urge that these principles be kept in mind.

On behalf of the OEA and our STRS members, I thank you for your consideration and efforts to address the complex challenge of retiree health care.