Robin Beebe's speech to STRS 02/18/2026 (listen for the crickets!)

      My name is Robin Beebe. Retired Master's Degree teacher of mainly 4th Graders, 2nd Graders, Kindergarteners, a smattering of other elementary grades and eight summers of Migrant Education. 35 years. Fremont City Schools and Perrysburg Schools. Retired coming up on 17 years. Denied my full 3% COLA's. Denied approximately $120,000 and counting.

     I had to step away from attending STRS Board meetings and delivering my 3 minutes of Public Comments to help take care of our newborn grandson and his 4 year old Big Brother, two FUTURE PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.

     It is important to try to be back in person, as much as I possibly can, to witness what goes on at good old STRS.                              S.....is for SNIFFED (woof, woof)

                                         T.....is for TIMED ("1 minute")

                                         R.....is for RESTRICTED (from most areas of the cavernous Taj)                                                                               S.....is for SCANNED (like at airport security)

                                                    or should that be S.....is for SCAMMED?????

   

     Well, I know you have heard "crickets" from me lately. But, likewise, I have heard "crickets" on many serious matters at STRS. Hence, my talk today is titled "CRICKETS : PART 1"

     The latest STRS "Sustainability Plan" calls for a "maybe 1% COLA for the next 20 years". YIKES! GOOD GOLLY, MISS MOLLY!!! Why is there no meaningful "robust discussion" (to use a favorite term of this board) on how to honor your obligation and restore our denied 3% COLA's??

                                                              Just.....[crickets]

     I sense that this may be an "OUT WIT", "OUT PLAY", "OUT LAST" Survivor game to STRS, hoping we retirees all die off eventually, and nothing will need to be restored. 

                                                              Then, sadly, it truly will just be.....[crickets]

     Why is there no "robust discussion" about the huge losses of our Real Estate holdings and high salaries paid?

                                                               Instead....[crickets]

     Why is there no "robust discussion" to seriously study selling the gigundous TAJ or at least renting out office and garage parking spaces?

                                                               Here come the.....[crickets]

     Why has there been no motion made to restore real power to the Board by rescinding the 2021 ORSC Resolution(Section 3307.04) which gave the Executive Director power to override the STRS Board's decisions???

                                                                Just hearing.....[crickets]

     At a minimum, why has there not been an apology issued by our STRS attorneys/legal counsel for writing the infamous "Anonymous Letter"??? Or perhaps, is a vote of No Confidence still in order??? Which is it???

                                                                Hmmmmm.....[crickets]

     On the Private Equity front, during one slide presentation, it was proclaimed how CLOSE the "alts" came to ALMOST beating the Russell Index. But then I read in the small print, "net the fees and expenses"! And methinks, therein lies the rub. "Net the fees and expenses", I suspect the actual profits are far, far, far less than indicated. With Private Equity, those "fees and expenses" NEVER have to be disclosed, do they????? The "fees and expenses" are secretive, aren't they???? As my teacher-friend stands up and asks at EVERY meeting, "WHAT ARE THE FEES?"

                                                                 And so, we get.....[crickets]

     3 Minutes is clearly not enough for all the crickets to chirp. So, stay tuned for "CRICKETS: PART 2"

                                                                         [crickets.................]