Dennis relates 'The Rest Of The Story'

Dennis Leone to John Curry, October 31, 2009
Subject: Re: Catherine...re. your excellent article in today's Dispatch

John --

I wish you would share the following with this reporter:

(1) Billirakis didn't stop an OEA lie in 2004 when both an OEA promotional newsletter and an STRS board candidate publication (reviewed in advance by Billirakis) said that he was an "active social studies teacher" at Perry High School......when in fact he had not set one foot in the school;

(2) Perry Local paid his STRS contributions for many years (reimbursed by NEA) to ensure he could fully protect his STRS retirement; and

(3) Until I yelled about it in 2003 in the Canton Repository, Perry Local was collecting substitute teacher reimbursements from STRS for STRS Board meetings Billirakis attended, when in fact there was no substitute teacher needed at Perry High School (because no teaching position existed there for Billirakis);

(4) NEA paid STRS back $35,000 for the substitute teacher reimbursements, which was an acknowledgement that the position never existed; and

(5) After I blew the whistle on this thing, I received a letter from the legal counsel representing the Perry Local Board of Education advising me to cease and desist my complaints (or face possible litigation) since NEA paid back STRS. It was unbelievable..........

Dennis Leone
STRS Retiree Board Member
2005-2009