Stephen Seagrave to the transparency members of the STRS Board: Stay the course. Do not let politicians bully you. Be logical, thoughtful, and factual in your deliberations so that in the end STRS will return to serving the best interests of its members.

Stephen Seagrave's remarks to STRS Board

May 16, 2024

Stephen Seagrave – ORTA President-elect

My name is Stephen Seagrave. I am a retired educator from the Liberty Center Schools in Henry County with 43 years in education. I am a member of the Henry County Retired Teachers Association and of ORTA.

I am not going to repeat the points I made when I addressed this board in December.

TO THE STATUS QUO MEMBERS – Do you understand why teachers across the state are so angry at your “business as usual” approach? Do you understand why the transparency movement for reform has grown to the point that transparency candidate Michelle Flanigan received 85% of the vote? When status quo members oppose transparency and change, what we teachers hear is, “Forget getting back your lost benefits”.

TO THE STATUS QUO APPOINTED MEMBERS – Why are our elected politicians who appointed you siding with the insiders at STRS, the investment staff and their Wall Street friends? We know the investment staff with their giant raise last summer and bloated bonuses every year have a big ladle in the gravy train. With the lack of transparency in these Wall Street deals, who else is in this gravy train?

We have been asking for transparency and reform for years and have been ignored. Why are your bosses only interested NOW that another transparency candidate was elected? If STRS becomes fully transparent, as it should be as a governmental organization, what will be revealed that so frightens the politicians?

The lawsuit filed by Attorney General Yost based on an anonymous letter, in my opinion, is morally repugnant. Since there was no investigation, it is just a political move to help the STRS insiders and their Wall Street buddies avoid transparency.

TO THE TRANSPARENCY MEMBERS – I support you. Teachers across the state support you as shown by the 85% vote for Flanigan. Stay the course. Do not let politicians bully you. Be logical, thoughtful, and factual in your deliberations so that in the end STRS will return to serving the best interests of its members.