STRS Flashback - 6 years ago - Paul Kostyu promised, "It won't!"

From John Curry, June 1, 2009

Then again....we can always go to 'early bird specials,' can't we?

John

“Several months ago when I'd asked (health care) questions of Hazel (Sidaway, a board member from Canton), I found her to be quite arrogant, insulting and degrading. She suggested that we go to ‘early bird specials’ and learn to live more modestly! She even suggested that my husband and I move to Florida where we might find (health care) more reasonable!”
(From an STRS benefits recipient)

Readers show intense concern about STRS, not to mention anger

Canton Repository, June 20, 2003
By PAUL E. KOSTYU
Copley Columbus Bureau chief

COLUMBUS -- At 6:30 a.m. today, a group of people planned to meet in the parking lot of McKinley Senior High School in Canton to car- pool to Columbus. Depending on traffic, they should arrive in plenty of time to attend the 10 a.m. meeting of the State Teachers Retirement System board.

They are coming to express their concerns about the spending habits, policies and attitude of the board and its executive director, Herbert L. Dyer.

Ever since the story broke almost two weeks ago that STRS spent more than $15 million over the past three years on staff bonuses, artwork and travel even as the system’s portfolio lost $12.3 billion, a lot of people have reached their own conclusions. [Click here to view that story, from the Cleveland Plain Dealer.]

Many have sent them to me in 40 e-mail messages and close to a dozen telephone calls. They have come from as close as Canton and as far away Arizona and Florida. If we printed all of the messages as letters to the editor, they would take up a page and a half in the newspaper. I plan to respond to each one of them, as is my normal practice. Readers should rest assured we are paying attention to their concerns. Here are some of them:

Getting involved: “Is there any sort of ‘grass roots’ movement forming among state retirees in Ohio? I, for one, would love to have an opportunity to fight this kind of impropriety. I worked hard for my retirement and to have it ‘ripped off’ by the very people who are supposed to be protecting it really makes me angry.”

Sources in our stories can lead to other people interested in the same fight.

Angry in Hiawassee: Most writers were just downright angry, particularly with Dyer. A Georgia writer commented: “As a retired teacher I am appalled at the arrogance of the STRS director and board. What a bunch of spendthrifts and jerks.”

He was not alone. “They played on my money. Impeach every single one of them. There should be no bonuses for anyone. A good job is rewarded with your salary. ... Honesty and common sense. None of the current board members have either one. As far as I am concerned they stole my money.”

Another wrote: “We are just in shock over these reports.”

And this from Canton: “The STRS shenanigans are a travesty! As a retired educator, I am appalled with the arrogance of OUR STRS board.”

A teacher wrote: “I've had my experience with Mr. Dyer. I can't get over the fact that these people feel and truly believe that it is their money to spend and they're damned well going to spend it all. ... I don't get any bonuses for doing my job.”

Health care woes: Many, like this Arizona retiree, worried about their health care: “Under the current plan our health care and medicines will take well over 30 percent of our current pension income. We cannot drop our insurance as I am in remission for cancer and my husband had heart bypass surgery (six times). Our lives depend on STRS and the current board seems to be trying to kill us off by making health care and medicine unaffordable.”

Writing the board and legislators: Some folks want to contact legislators and board members directly. Others already have and are less than thrilled with the experience. Information about board members is available at:

http://www.strsoh.org/

Keep in mind Dyer intercepts their mail.

One who got through had this experience: “Several months ago when I'd asked (health care) questions of Hazel (Sidaway, a board member from Canton), I found her to be quite arrogant, insulting and degrading. She suggested that we go to ‘early bird specials’ and learn to live more modestly! She even suggested that my husband and I move to Florida where we might find (health care) more reasonable!”

The names and addresses of legislators can be found at:

http://www.state.oh.us./

Forget about writing — clean house: To improve STRS, many writers followed this line of thinking: “Things must change with STRS and the first item would be the immediate dismissal of Herb Dyer.” Or this, “Mr. Dyer needs to resign NOW.” Or “Shame on them and fire their sorry butts, maybe even jail time. At least, they should pay back the misappropriated funds and resign.”

Keep reporting: “Down here in West Virginia, when we publish the amounts of public employee bonuses, we don't use titles. We use actual names. I recommend the practice.”

Finally, one writer suggested, “This story should not be allowed to die.”

It won’t.