Dennis Leone re: STRS severance checks (BOARD, ARE YOU LISTENING?)

From Dennis Leone, July 15, 2010
Subject: RE: New questions

For sure, the 9 got severance checks that (in the education field) are reserved ONLY for those who are retiring at the end of their career. I objected to this notion while I served on the board, but was alone in my objection. I was told repeatedly that such severance checks were needed to keep the affected employees from bolting early and in order to be “fair.” After all, staff said, some of these staff members have “car payments and college savings accounts for their children.” Once again, it is an example of more sensitivity for the STRS staff than for retirees of the system who pay them their wages, benefits, and severance checks.

Dennis Leone