Joe Lupo: A big thank you to five STRS Board members for supporting STRS members with their vote at today's STRS virtual Board meeting

From Joe Lupo

June 18, 2020

A great big THANK YOU to the following STRS Board members for voting NO on the 2021 Budget:

Robert McFee

Dale Price

David Gruber

Mr. Hunt (alternate for Paolo DeMario - Supt. of Public Instruction)

Wade Steen (appointed by the Governor)

To those members that voted YES on the 2021 Budget...SHAME on you:

Carol Correthers

Rita Walters (retired teacher member)

Arthur Lard

Jeffrey Rhodes

Robert Stein (retired teacher member)

Yoel Mayerfeld

After the vote, Board Chair Carol Correthers said that this was a difficult decision for some Board members. In reality and based on the current state of STRS, it should have been a difficult decision for all Board members. The 6-5 vote by the Board approving the 2021 Budget will continue to financially impact thousands of retirees for years to come...the same way past budgets have impacted us today.

On a positive note, it has been some years since only one dissenting vote occurred on the Board, let alone five dissenting votes we witnessed today. If the two retired teacher members on the Board would have voted for the retirees they are supposed to represent, the 2021 Budget would have failed. It has taken three years for us to get to this milestone. For those forum members that are getting discouraged, have faith, keep your chin up and look to he future...and vote the current Board retired teacher members out as your representatives.

We were pleased to hear Board members speak up today before their vote, asking questions on recommendations by staff and asking for separate votes on recommendations having more than one issue. This certainly helps provide clarity for members and could in the future reduce erroneous assumptions and accusations. Open discussion by the Board is always healthy and promotes transparency with their members.

While watching the STRS webinar today, I couldn't help but think that this antiquated form of meeting delivery to members is like putting a wagon wheel on a Tesla automobile. I can not think of one reason why STRS can not provide a better delivery and also allow members to access the Board meting and materials at their convenience. There is technology available and it should be accessed for future Board meetings. Board transparency is an issue along with COLA that is not going to go away anytime soon.

In closing, I would be remiss if I did not mention the reading of the Board Retirement Resolution for Mike Nehf. This is not intended as a criticism, but food for thought in the future. The Board member that is designated to read the resolution should have it in advance to be able to rehearse reading it...especially when it has been written by another party or parties. While I will not comment on the content of the resolution, the reading mistakes and delivery certainly detracted from the presentation to the individual being honored.