Ohio Retirement for Teachers Association
Fighting for Ohio's teachers since 1947!
The mission of ORTA is to monitor, advocate for, and protect the pensions and benefits of its members. ORTA demands accountability from the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio andlobbies Ohio's legislators to provide a strong and sustainable retirement system for all Ohio educators, Pre-K through higher education. We rely on membership dues to continue our work.
Weekly Update - May 16, 2026
Greetings, ORTA members,
Again, no news on the Glennetta Krause case. This isn’t necessarily bad, because it maintains the current Board structure. Speaking of which.
A few weeks ago, in the ORTA Update, a comment was made that our Board was prioritizing reduction of years of service over COLA. This led to a conversation with a couple of Board members who disagreed with this statement, and I think it is important to share their point of view and to let our members know that ORTA appreciates what they have done for members.
I’ll begin by stating that before ORTA became involved in endorsing Board candidates, STRS didn’t have a plan to reinstate benefits, other than hoping for better investment returns. ORTA continually asked STRS about their plan for restoring benefits, and all we heard was crickets. Newly embedded in the Ohio Code and affecting the restoration of our COLA was language stating that its restoration depended on its impact on the fiscal integrity of our pension. Nothing was defined, and previous Board members seemed to dodge this issue.
Our current Board, largely elected to restore lost benefits and strengthen the pension, has developed a plan and put it in Board policy. This was accomplished with a unanimous vote. Without going into the weeds, there are two main components: a “De-minimis” component and a “Sustainable Benefit Plan” component.
The De-Minimis component allows for 1% of the value of STRS to be spent on benefit restoration as long as our pension’s unfunded liability is above 80%. So, if STRS is worth $100 billion, $1 billion can be spent on benefits. Please know that our Board has committed to ensuring retirees will automatically receive a 1% COLA when this happens (our board prioritized this, which is why some board members were upset with my update a few weeks back). ORTA is grateful for the plan, but ORTA also recognizes that a 2% COLA costs $0.875 billion, and Ohio Code 3307.67 states that if the STRS auditor determines that fiscal integrity isn’t negatively impacted, the COLA increase “shall be two per cent.”
The Sustainable Benefit Plan component is what we all hope for. This allows for restoration of benefits beyond the De-Minimis component. To get to this component requires an above-average return beyond our projected rate of return. The math also accounts for many trend-line calculations to ensure that, if we spend the money, we remain in good shape in the future. To ensure this happens, our Board has determined that, whatever our actuary determines we can spend, we will use half on benefits and the other half to shore up the pension’s unfunded liability.
So, to clarify, ORTA appreciates that our Board has put us on a path that has already benefited all members, but ORTA also wants the Ohio codes germane to our COLA to be followed. Now that this is out in the open, we hope the excellent work of our current Board will be tweaked.
Lastly, on a positive note. ORTA held one of its Statewide Biannual Council meetings this past week. We want to thank new board member Joan Bellner for attending and presenting to our ORTA Board. Joan was knowledgeable, open, and we think she’ll be a great STRS board member. Also attending and presenting was Jeff Givan, who is running against Ohio Speaker of the House Rep. Matt Huffman for the House District 78 seat. Mr. Givan was up on every public education issue that concerned ORTA and supportive of all our positions. Remember, this is an important election year.
My best, and remember that ORTA is working for you,
Dean Dennis, Chair
ORTA Executive Committee
ORTA Pension Defense Fund
Please consider making a donation to the Pension Defense Fund to help pay legal fees and expenses to
defend and protect our pension and retirement benefits from current and future legal attacks.
Stand Up for Rudy and His $100,000 Commitment to You
Throughout his career, and as an elected member of the STRS Ohio Retirement Board, Rudy Fichtenbaum fought for the rights of Ohio's educators. As an STRS board member and Chair, he stood on the front lines to protect and restore the retirement benefits teachers have earned through decades of hard work.
Now, Rudy faces a massive personal challenge. Because of his commitment to teachers, he was targeted by a lawsuit from the Ohio attorney general, incurring over $100,000 in legal fees defending his actions as a board member. While ORTA previously provided assistance, they were forced to cease due to an investigation by the Ohio Ethics Commission. Rudy must now finance this battle on his own. We cannot let an educator stand alone after he stood up for us.
Your contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference. If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing Rudy's story and his GoFundMe campaign with your network of colleagues and friends. Together, we can ensure that standing up for teachers doesn't result in individual financial ruin.
Close the Loop: Report Back to ORTA
To: ORTA Members
From: Dr. Robin Rayfield, Executive Director, ORTA
Date: April 9, 2026
Re: Contact Your State Elected Officials
ORTA has sent the enclosed letter (below) to all Ohio state legislators (Senators and Representatives). The purpose of this letter was to clearly outline the loss of benefits to STRS members and provide important background on the ongoing challenges facing our retirement system.
Now, we need your voice.
We are asking every ORTA member and chapter leader to personally contact your state Senator and Representative and urge them to support Ohio’s retired teachers. A phone call or email from a constituent carries significant weight—especially when legislators hear from multiple educators in their district.
What to Say: Key Talking PointsWhen contacting your elected officials, please emphasize the following:
Retirees Lack Inflation Protection
STRS members do not receive guaranteed inflation protection, despite being promised annual cost-of-living increases. Social Security recipients do receive guaranteed inflation protection. Additionally, Social Security benefits are not subject to Ohio income tax, while STRS benefits are taxed by the state.
Ohio Teachers Pay More but Receive Less
Ohio STRS members pay the highest individual contribution rate among non-Social Security states. At 14%, our members are contributing more into the system relative to the value of benefits received. At the same time, the employer contribution rate—also 14%—is the lowest among non-Social Security states and is less than half of the national average. This imbalance is a key driver of the challenges facing STRS retirees.
ED Choice Diverts Funding from Public Education
Ohio’s Ed Choice voucher program directs approximately $1.1 billion in taxpayer dollars to private and religious schools. This diverts critical funding away from public education and weakens the STRS system. The primary beneficiaries of these vouchers are families well above the poverty threshold.
Support HB 719
A bipartisan bill has been introduced at the statehouse that would protect the STRS pension board from a takeover by political appointees. HB 719 would reverse the amendment placed into the budget bill that silenced the voices of all STRS members. Most legislators didn’t even know the amendment was in the bill when they voted for the budget.
Oppose Property Tax Elimination That Harms Schools
The proposed elimination of property tax in Ohio will reduce support for public schools, along with other essential government services. ORTA urges all public officials to oppose this measure.
Close the Loop: Report Back to ORTA
After contacting your elected officials, please share their response—or lack of response—with the ORTA office. This information is critical as we continue to advocate on behalf of Ohio’s retired educators.
You can contact:
Dr. Robin Rayfield
Phone: 614-431-7002
Email: rrayfield@orta.org
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Judge grants preliminary injunction in lawsuit over Ohio teachers retirement system
On October 15th, the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas issued a preliminary injunction preventing changes to the composition of the STRS Board while litigation is in progress.
ORTA wishes to thank the organizations and individuals who have engaged in our fight to retain elected teachers on the STRS Ohio Retirement Board.
The Ohio Federation of Teachers, Ohio Education Association, and Ohio Conference of American Association of University Professors funded the injunction to stop the removal of elected teachers to the STRS Ohio Board. They released this statement:
“We are thankful for Judge Aveni’s ruling to grant a preliminary injunction. This determination confirms what retired and active members of STRS have known since June: this is an unconstitutional power grab by the legislature. Educators, just like all other public employees in Ohio, deserve a meaningful voice in our pension plan.” — Statement from OEA President Jeff Wensing, OFT President Melissa Cropper, and OC AAUP Executive Director Sara Kilpatrick.
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Colleen Marshall, NBC4 Columbus, has reported factually and without bias on STRS Ohio since the Governor's failed attempt to remove Wade Steen from the STRS Board in May 2023. Watch her report on Judge Aveni's decision to support the preliminary injunction.
David Pepper has dedicated many of his Substack articles to the state's ongoing attack on members of the STRS Ohio Board.
"I have detailed the saga of how Ohio’s always lawless lawmakers have spent years attempting to steal the power of teachers and retirees over their own ($100B) pension fund. And how a number of their attacks have been in clear violation of Ohio law and the constitution." - David Pepper
And above all, we want to thank all of Ohio's teachers who contacted their legislators, asking them not to support this attempt by a small group of politicians to remove democratically elected members from our pension Board.
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Free AMBA Webinars
ORTA has partnered with AMBA to offer a series of short webinars about important topics like long term care, Medicare, medical transportation, and more. The talks are educational and informative. Join us for the next one, and invite a friend! ââ
Each webinar begins with an ORTA update by Dr. Robin Rayfield, Executive Director.ââ
ORTA County Chapters
Join your local county chapter of ORTA for social, educational, and volunteer activities, as well as presentations about STRS Ohio and your retirement benefits. Check our list of county chapters for links to chapter websites and Facebook groups. If your county doesn't have an active chapter, contact ORTA about starting one!
AMBA Benefits
ORTA has partnered with Association Member Benefits Advisors, to offer our members exclusive group rates on health, Medicare supplement, life, dental, vision, and professional liability insurance. AMBA focuses on providing customized coverage through top-rated insurance providers, with options often available to members who may not otherwise qualify for group rates. â
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