Robin Beebe's Wizard of Oz lesson for STRS

Robin Beebe's speech to STRS

August 15, 2024

My name is Robin Beebe. Retired teacher of mainly 4th Graders and Kindergarteners. 35 years. Fremont City Schools and Perrysburg Schools. Retired for 15 years.

First of all...Welcome, Michelle Flanigan!!!

I have been musing on the parallels and similarities found in “The Wizard of Oz” and the Mess at STRS. Yes, truly a TORNADO of epic proportions has hit our pension.

Now just what might a sequel look like? “The STRS Version of The Wizard of Oz, Part 2”.

Casting Call for the following:

The Tin Man – requires finding one’s heart to feel emotions, compassion, care for others.

The Scare Crow – requires finding one’s brain and confidence in one’s intelligence.

The Cowardly Lion – requires finding courage within one’s self.

All these roles could easily be filled by each and every one of our Reform Board Members. HEART. BRAINS. COURAGE.

There are additional roles to be cast. Who shall play the role of the Wicked Witch of the West, the Flying Monkeys, the conniving , dishonest, manipulative, behind-the-curtain Wizard of Oz himself? He who tries to fool everyone. I will leave that to you, the listeners here today, to figure out. It doesn’t take a Rocket Scientist, does it?

Where is all this heading, you may ask?

The Reform Board Members need to follow the advice that Glinda The Good Witch gives to Dorothy.

“You’ve always had the power, my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself.”

You see, ever since the Reform Board became the majority, you always had the power. This is your Ruby Slippers, Click Your Heels 3 Times Moment. You now hold the Master Key!!!

The Number 1 Take Away, and this is CRITICAL, is that you DO have the power to VOTE, CANCEL, STRIKE DOWN, REVOKE the 2021 Resolution (ORC Section 3307.04) that authorized the Executive Director to legally seize control over the STRS Board.

Rescinding/nullifying this 2021 Resolution can end the injustice immediately and the power will be returned and restored to the STRS Board where it rightfully belongs. All future decisions, votes, and reforms can flow from there. Board decisions can be based on a fiduciary duty to all teacher STAKEHOLDERS. This is the only true fiduciary duty the Board is obligated to have.

So….The intimidation can stop.

The bullying can stop.

The disrespect can stop.

The Sword of Damocles will no longer hang over your heads.

And may justice prove more powerful than greed.

Priority Agenda Item: The STRS Reform Board should call for a Vote of No Confidence in the Executive Director and in the Acting Executive Director, as well as a multitude of other STRS staff and REPLACE them immediately.

Remember, MAJORITY Reform Board Members, you truly have held the POWER all along. You just have to learn it for yourselves!!!

Wand ****