Robin Rayfield: ORTA endorses Michelle Flanigan for STRS Board: "It is only by seating more reform-minded board members that the mismanagement of our pension system can be corrected."

From February, 2024 ORTA Newsletter

February 19, 2024

Message to ORTA members from Executive Director Dr. Robin Rayfield

Greetings ORTA Members,

Hopefully, you recently received ORTA’s annual report in the mail. Since that newsletter was mailed there have been a few things that have transpired that will be of interest to all STRS members.

First, the magistrate reviewing Wade Steen’s challenge to his removal from the STRS board offered his decision. His legal ruling was a full vindication of Wade Steen and his challenge to Governor DeWine’s action to replace him. Interesting, however, is that DeWine thumbed his nose at the court and the hundreds of thousands of educators in Ohio. While waiting on approval from the 10th circuit court of appeals to approve their magistrate’s decision that would replace Wade Steen on the STRS board, the governor’s replacement Brent Bishop resigned his position on the STRS board. Instead of accepting his defeat in court, DeWine doubled down and appointed another person to complete the term rightfully belonging to Wade Steen. Every educator, in fact every public pension beneficiary, should be outraged by DeWine’s doubling down on his unlawful action! 

Wade Steen has challenged the gamesmanship displayed by DeWine in the same court and asked that he be place on the board at STRS. More legal wrangling simply wastes more time. 

ORTA wants to know what the governor is hiding. Why is he so adamant that the

mismanagement at STRS continues? 

As you may know, ORTA has been collecting funds to help Wade Steen pay his legal expenses. Thus far we have paid nearly $50K in legal bills on Wade’s behalf. Unfortunately, we have collected only a little over $10K so our pension defense fund is short. I ask that, if you are able, donate to the ORTA Pension Defense Fund. Your money will go directly towards legal challenges to our pension system. 

As we wait for the outcome of the Wade Steen case, ORTA has been active working to change the makeup of the STRS board through the election of members. ORTA interviewed one candidate (the only candidate seeking an endorsement) for an endorsement for election to the STRS board. ORTA is happy to join several other groups: Ohio Federation of Teachers, Ohio STRS Member Only Facebook Group, Ohio STRS Watchdogs Facebook Group, and the American Association of University Professors in endorsing Michelle Flanigan for an active seat on the STRS board. Although retired members are not eligible to vote in active seat elections, we can offer our support for Michelle Flanigan by asking our active teacher friends to vote for Michelle. It is only by seating more reform-minded board members that the mismanagement of our pension system can be corrected.

At the STRS board meeting on 2/14/24 it was announced that STRS Executive Director Bill Neville will remain on paid administrative into May. In addition, Mr. Neville will receive ‘professional development’ through an as yet unknown consultation firm. 

I look forward to seeing many of you at the ORTA meetings I have been invited to.