Jim N. Reed to the Dispatch: STRS at Another Fork

From Jim N. Reed, April 14, 2010

Jim N. Reed to the Columbus Dispatch, March 29, 2010
[Unpublished]
Subject: STRS at Another Fork
To: letters@dispatch.com

During the month of April Ohio's "active" educators are at another fork and will be voting for new STRS board members.

Since the terms of board members Dennis Leone and John Lazares ended, watch-dogging and challenging rubber-stamp policy have dangerously retreated and their warnings diluted by an OEA-controlled board. Unfortunately for actives and retirees, prognostications regarding STRS financial mismanagement have been corroborated including the $30 billion asset loss from 2007-2009.

Current OEA-trained and endorsed board members recently voted to increase: service retirement from 30 to 35 years; minimum retirement age to 60 (or until 35 years of service);member contribution by 2.5%; employer contribution by 2.5%; and your FAS calculation to five years.

Cincinnati Sycamore H.S. Athletic Director Jim Stoll offers 24 years as a teacher, coach, administrator and successful businessman as experiences that can monitor and challenge policy in making STRS accountable to its members. Stoll's platform emphasizes cutting STRS spending and not member benefits.

Actives, do some homework and vote. Too many have blindly followed Yogi's advice, "When you come to a fork in the road, take it." STOP! Become STRS-literate.

Jim N. Reed
Baltimore, Ohio