Greetings ORTA Membership!
With 2024 in the rear view mirror, ORTA looks forward to 2025 with a renewed commitment to our mission to reform STRS and see real change that will have a positive impact on our membership. Immediately, the question of ‘Why such optimism about the future’?
Several factors account for ORTA’s optimistic perspective including:
Reformers have successfully defended the attacks by STRS management and their coconspirators in Ohio’s elected bodies. The governor of Ohio did his best to derail the reform
movement with his illegal removal of STRS board member Wade Steen. ORTA’s steadfast support of Mr. Steen proved to be successful as the courts slapped down the governor’s move with a unanimous rebuke in the appellate court and returned Mr. Steen to his rightful seat on the STRS board. Mr. Steen was able to serve out the remainder of his term and continued his fight for reforms at STRS.
The current make-up of the STRS board is tilted towards the reform movement with a 6-5 majority of the board identified as ‘reform minded’. With three seats up for election this spring, ORTA is optimistic that all three seats will see ORTA endorsed candidates being successful in May’s election. Dr. Rudy Fichtenbaum (retiree), Chad Smith (active member) and Michael Harkness (active member) are all endorsed by ORTA as candidates for the STRS board. The pathway to reform is clear.
Although a difficult road, fraught with obstacles and challenges, reform at STRS is inevitable. The COLA received in 2022 of 3%, the COLA received in 2023 of 1% and the supplemental benefit received in 2024 are all examples of what advocacy can do. When we also consider that the years of service has been reduced from a requirement of 60 years of age, to 35 years of service (yos), to 34 yos, to the current 33 yos, ORTA advocacy has also paid dividends for active contributing members of STRS.
The exit of two executive directors (Neville, and his successor Hoover) have provided the STRS board with an opportunity to usher in real change in the leadership at STRS. ORTA is optimistic that the change in leadership will result in a change in the culture to one of putting the membership first. Despite ORTA’s optimistic perspective, the fight ahead is a daunting task. The financial interests of STRS investors, politicians that turn a blind eye to the suffering of STRS retirees, along with the financial interests of Wall St. financiers will fight to keep the status quo.
Changing the narrative, ORTA was fortunate enough to engage our membership at local retired teachers’ associations in 40 counties during 2024. Between ORTA’s executive committee and me we visited these chapters with ORTA’s message of reform and hope. ORTA was also prominent at several of the STRS’s town hall meetings. When possible ORTA was present and asked questions of STRS staff members assigned to meet with members across the state. At each meeting attended, it was clear to everyone, that the membership was not satisfied with the direction at STRS. The narrative pushed by the STRS management is that the membership is being fed ‘misinformation’ by its vocal members including ORTA. The information presented by the membership or by ORTA comes directly from STRS so the charge of spreading misinformation is difficult to understand.
Dr. Robin Rayfield's message was included in ORTA's Biannual Newsletter, which was sent to members via USPS. Join ORTA to receive the full color, hard copy of the annual newsletter!
STRS Ohio Board member Rudy Fichtenbaum, and former Board member Wade Steen, are incurring legal fees, defending themselves against the lawsuit brought against them by A.G. Dave Yost. ORTA will use donations from the Pension Defense Fund to help them, if needed, pay their legal expenses. They have volunteered their time to support Ohio's teachers. Now it's time for us to show our support for them! Make a donation today to the ORTA Pension Defense Fund