Watchdogs Editorial: Is OEA Intentionally Misleading Their Active Teachers for Election Purposes?

[STRS Ohio Watchdogs]

Watchdogs Editorial: Is OEA Intentionally Misleading Their Active Teachers for Election Purposes?

By Dean Dennis & Cindy Murphy

March 26, 2023

The mission of the STRS Ohio Watchdogs is to share information with Ohio's teachers, taxpayers, legislators, and media, about the management and investment practices at STRS Ohio. While we  primarily curate and share articles and documents that are in the public domain, we do occasionally editorialize. This is one of those times.

The April 2023 election for one contributing seat on the STRS Ohio Retirement Board is currently a hot topic on social media. The Watchdogs want to share with active teachers a serious misrepresentation on the part of the Ohio Education Association.

First, and most important, are the Minutes of the March 17, 2022, meeting of the STRS Ohio Retirement Board.

Following discussion, Mr. McFee moved, seconded by Ms. Herrington, that in accordance with the Board’s actuary’s determination that these changes do not materially impair the fiscal integrity of the retirement system, the Board should make the following benefit plan design changes.

1. Pursuant to the authority provided under Ohio Revised Code (RC) §3307.67(E), beginning July 1, 2022, approve a one-time 3% cost-of-living increase be paid to eligible benefit recipients on their anniversary date in fiscal year 2023.

2. Pursuant to the authority provided under RC §3307.58(B)(3), eliminate the requirement of age 60 scheduled to go into effect August 1, 2026, pursuant to RC §3307.58 (B)(1)(c)(vii).

Upon roll call the vote was as follows: Mr. McFee, yes; Ms. Herrington, yes; Ms. Correthers, yes; Dr. Fichtenbaum, yes; Dr. Hunt, yes; Mr. Lard, abstain; Mr. Price, yes; Mr. Rhodes, yes; Mr.Roulston, yes; Ms. Walters, yes. The motion carried.

Now that you have read the Board Minutes, what follows should be of interest to all active teachers:

View what OEA has posted on their website as of March 25, 2023. 

Note that OEA is stating that Arthur Lard “voted for the elimination of the requirement that members be 60 years old or older to retire and to approve a one-time 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for eligible retirees".

However, the Board Minutes reveal that, when he could have voted for these changes, he abstained.

This misrepresentation can be found as early as March 9, 2023, on the OEA Podcast Education Matters with Katie Olmstead. The podcast featured Arthur Lard running for his STRS Board re-election. Mr. Lard shared with listeners, "we were able to do a 3% cost-of-living-adjustment, we were able to do away with the age 60 requirement."

There is evidence that this misrepresentation by OEA is spreading on social media as well. It has been posted in several OEA affiliated Facebook groups, along with a variety of different explanations for Lard's abstention.

The Watchdogs believe that abstaining from this important vote to restore lost benefits for members breached the responsibility that one would expect of a Trustee.

If re-elected to the STRS Ohio Retirement Board, will Arthur Lard continue to abstain from voting on issues that impact Ohio's active teachers?