Marilyn Taylor Gerken responds to statements made to the STRS Board in March

Marilyn Taylor Gerken's speech to STRS Board

April 18, 2024 

My name is Marilyn Taylor Gerken, a retired teacher, 37 years.

Thank you, STRS Board, for allowing public participation. I am speaking today to address the Board in response to the statements made to you at the March Board meeting.

A Threat: Clearly not an acceptable means of expressing frustration. Teachers understand—they encounter student threats, bomb threats, active shooter threats, parent threats, and Reduction In Force threats. Teachers in my district voted voluntarily to take a pay freeze to retain teachers, it was the right thing to do. The STRS members face the threat of financial insecurity.

Negative Impacts: The Acting Director described the negative impact on hiring and on associates. STRS has created a negative impact on the financial well-being of the entire STRS membership—some of whom do not yet realize what is being done to them, to our financial security. The financial well-being of STRS employees is intact and their pension, along with the Ohio Cabinet and legislators, remains secure.

Uptick in STRS Public Documents: The STRS members request documents, some are easier to obtain than others. Our discussions are based on information from STRS, the Ohiocheckbook.gov., the Ohio Retirement Study Council, the investigative report from the Ohio Attorney General, and independent fiduciary reports. I am confused and need clarification regarding mis-information.

Enhancements: The Acting Director and her teams label our benefits “enhancements.” George Orwell coined the term double-speak, used in propaganda to confuse, manipulate, and control the narrative. Surely that is not the intent of anyone at STRS. I propose a change to that term to what it actually is—our benefits. Benefits promised, benefits received, benefits reduced, benefits removed, and benefits restored.

Thank you