Robin Rayfield: As hurtful as the comments were from the ORSC leadership, I thank STRS for having these two people present their thoughts for everyone to hear. I hope that STRS can have legislators come in for discussions such as this more often in the future.

Robin Rayfield's comments to STRS board

March 19, 2026

Good morning. My name is Robin Rayfield. I am a member of STRS and executive director of ORTA.

Yesterday’s investment seminar included comments from 2 members of the ORSC. Representative Bird’s and Senator Romanchuk’s comments were what all STRS members expected and disappointed all STRS members. Representative Bird’s comment about ‘part time’ work of educators reminded me of STRS’s consultant’s comments a few years ago.

As hurtful as the comments were from the ORSC leadership, I thank STRS for having these two people present their thoughts for everyone to hear. I hope that STRS can have legislators come in for discussions such as this more often in the future. I mention this because years ago, I met with Kirk Schuring during his time as ORSC chairman. Mr. Schuring was very straightforward when he told me that my concerns about STRS were not the concerns of the legislative bodies, but instead were the concerns of the STRS board. He informed me that if STRS members were interested in reforms at STRS ‘we needed to elect reform minded people to the board’. History shows that the people wanting reforms at STRS did elect people whose interest included changes at STRS. What we did not expect or understand is that the elected people in Ohio did not want change at STRS. From the governor to the statehouse powerful people have blocked or partially blocked all efforts at reforms with STRS.

As STRS board members each of you has knowledge of the problem that STRS is underfunded. None of the reforms suggested will allow for any significant change with regards to years of service or inflation protection without increases in funding. Certainly reductions in costs associated with investments and increases in investment performance can provide more resources for members, but addressing the problems at STRS will require increasing contributions from the state.

To the elected members, I encourage you to continue the struggle to implement reforms at STRS. To the appointed members, I encourage you to take the message to the person that appointed you to increase funding for STRS.