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Check out all of the photos from the recent TFT promotional campaign here!
TFT activists wear blue to show support for the Paraprofessional Bill of Rights, emphasizing the need for living wages, safe working conditions, respect and dignity, real solutions for staff shortages, and much more.
Michelle Flanigan for STRS Ohio Board - Reform Candidate for STRS Ohio Retirement Board
OFT is proud to endorse Michelle Flanigan for this year’s election to the STRS Board. (Michelle is running for the seat that is currently held by Dale Price, who is not running for re-election).
Ballots have been mailed from STRS. Please keep an eye out for this ballot so you don’t accidentally discard it. You can return it by mail (postage is prepaid) or you can also vote by phone or online. If you don’t receive a ballot by Wednesday, April 10, or if you misplace or accidentally discard your ballot, you can still vote! Email the Election Services help desk at STRSOHHelp@electionservicescorp.com or call 866-276-1506. *Share this information with your colleagues or other STRS contributing members!* |
STRS Update and Election Deadline
Dear TFT,
Recent events on the STRS Board have shown how important it is to have board members who consistently prioritize member benefits, accountability, and transparency. Read our updates below on this year’s STRS election, the reinstatement of board member Wade Steen, and a summary of positive changes that have been spearheaded by board members who we have helped elect, including three OFT members and one AAUP Ohio member.
STRS Election
This year’s election for the Contributing Member seat on the STRS Board is wrapping up and you have just a few more days to cast your vote! Voting ends at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 6. Please cast your vote by phone or online as soon as possible.
OFT has endorsed Michelle Flanigan, an experienced teacher and retirement advocate who is committed to prioritizing restoration of member benefits. You can read more about Michelle here.
If you have not received or misplaced your ballot, you can still vote. Email the Election Services help desk at STRSOHHelp@electionservicescorp.com or call 866-276-1506. Share this information with your colleagues or other STRS contributing members!
Reinstatement of Wade Steen
On April 18, Ohio’s 10th District Court of Appeals ruled that Governor DeWine overstepped his authority when he removed investment expert Wade Steen from the STRS Board. The court order reinstated Steen to the board. DeWine had removed Steen shortly after Berea Federation of Teachers member Pat Davidson won a seat on the Board to try to avert a majority made up of reform-minded members.
At the same time, the STRS Board was holding their April meeting. Steen delivered the court order to the Board meeting and asked to be reinstated. After a 90 minute executive session, Steen was seated on the Board and asked to be sworn in. This was initially denied, and then approved by a 6-4 vote of the Board. Shortly after Steen was sworn in, the meeting was abruptly adjourned, without a vote for adjournment.
We are concerned about how the meeting ended, but we are optimistic about changes that can be made in the coming months with the new majority for reform. Wade Steen’s term is up in September of this year, so we must elect Michelle Flanigan to retain this majority.
A Track Record of Success
In recent years, OFT and our locals across the state have devoted time, energy, and funds toward addressing systematic shortcomings on the STRS Board. We donated to the independent financial audit of STRS in 2020, we recruited OFT members to run for STRS Board seats, and we’ve helped elect those members and other educators who share a reform agenda for STRS.
Our endorsed board members, along with strong grassroots energy, has led to a string of wins — even without a board majority of reformers. We can build on these successes for years to come as long as we stay engaged and continue to elect Board members who will put STRS members first.
Highlights:
In Solidarity,
Darold Johnson, Legislative and Political Director
Ohio Federation of Teachers
Recent events on the STRS Board have shown how important it is to have board members who consistently prioritize member benefits, accountability, and transparency. Read our updates below on this year’s STRS election, the reinstatement of board member Wade Steen, and a summary of positive changes that have been spearheaded by board members who we have helped elect, including three OFT members and one AAUP Ohio member.
STRS Election
This year’s election for the Contributing Member seat on the STRS Board is wrapping up and you have just a few more days to cast your vote! Voting ends at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 6. Please cast your vote by phone or online as soon as possible.
OFT has endorsed Michelle Flanigan, an experienced teacher and retirement advocate who is committed to prioritizing restoration of member benefits. You can read more about Michelle here.
If you have not received or misplaced your ballot, you can still vote. Email the Election Services help desk at STRSOHHelp@electionservicescorp.com or call 866-276-1506. Share this information with your colleagues or other STRS contributing members!
Reinstatement of Wade Steen
On April 18, Ohio’s 10th District Court of Appeals ruled that Governor DeWine overstepped his authority when he removed investment expert Wade Steen from the STRS Board. The court order reinstated Steen to the board. DeWine had removed Steen shortly after Berea Federation of Teachers member Pat Davidson won a seat on the Board to try to avert a majority made up of reform-minded members.
At the same time, the STRS Board was holding their April meeting. Steen delivered the court order to the Board meeting and asked to be reinstated. After a 90 minute executive session, Steen was seated on the Board and asked to be sworn in. This was initially denied, and then approved by a 6-4 vote of the Board. Shortly after Steen was sworn in, the meeting was abruptly adjourned, without a vote for adjournment.
We are concerned about how the meeting ended, but we are optimistic about changes that can be made in the coming months with the new majority for reform. Wade Steen’s term is up in September of this year, so we must elect Michelle Flanigan to retain this majority.
A Track Record of Success
In recent years, OFT and our locals across the state have devoted time, energy, and funds toward addressing systematic shortcomings on the STRS Board. We donated to the independent financial audit of STRS in 2020, we recruited OFT members to run for STRS Board seats, and we’ve helped elect those members and other educators who share a reform agenda for STRS.
Our endorsed board members, along with strong grassroots energy, has led to a string of wins — even without a board majority of reformers. We can build on these successes for years to come as long as we stay engaged and continue to elect Board members who will put STRS members first.
Highlights:
- Increased transparency. Meetings are now video recorded and materials are available online prior to the board meeting. OFT and AAUP members on the Board — Julie Sellers, Liz Jones, Rudy Fichtenbaum, and Pat Davidson — submitted this resolution.
- Reduced the 35 years requirement for a full pension to 34 years for a full retirement. (OFT and our allied board members will continue to fight to lower this requirement.)
- Provided a benefit enhancement for retirees. After 10 years without a cost of living adjustment, eligible retirees received a three percent enhancement in 2022 and a one percent enhancement in 2023.
- Provided a healthcare enhancement for pre-Medicare retirees.
- Changed the Performance-Based Incentive (PBI) Program, which determines how bonuses are awarded. Changes include: removing more than 30 positions from the PBI Program; reducing the maximum incentive possible; and adjustments when the pension fund has a negative absolute return and in any year where the board’s actuary determines there is not sufficient funding to enhance member benefits.
- Improved disclosure of fees and board governance by hiring a parliamentarian, a governance consultant to implement recommendations from the 2022 Fiduciary Performance Audit, and a new consulting firm to outline STRS fees.
In Solidarity,
Darold Johnson, Legislative and Political Director
Ohio Federation of Teachers
Teaching the Short 'u' Sound: Ms. Olrich
In a phonics lesson focusing on the short ‘u’ sound kindergarten teacher Fadia Olrich of Riverside Elementary School, in Toledo, Ohio, starts with phonemic awareness, moves to letters, and ends with reading words, which helps children develop the skills they need to become strong readers. Throughout the lesson, she uses various strategies, including the Roller Coaster strategy and giving students mirrors to see their mouths.
Local author helps students process real life challenges through books |
Students gathered inside Catherine Hernandez’s fourth-grade classroom at Marshall STEMM Academy in South Toledo on Friday afternoon to listen to local author Virginia Ulch’s children’s book Bullyfish.
“Her books resonate with students in the classroom,” Ms. Hernandez said, “and helps them resonate in positive ways when confronted with problems in the classroom.” |
Congratulations to our April 2024 Teacher and Para of the Month!
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Nominations are now virtual!You can now nominate a teacher or para of the month virtually! Visit the Teacher/Para of the Month page for more information and access to the form.
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