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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.
STRS Board Elections 2026
Thank you to all of our members who signed nomination petitions for Elizabeth Jones to be placed on the ballot for the STRS Ohio Retirement Board. Because she and Julie Sellers (active) are both running unopposed, there will not be an election. They will both start their new terms on the Board beginning September 1, 2026.
Weekly Update - March 14, 2026
On Tuesday, ORTA held a meeting with our Legislative Committee to discuss numerous issues of concern to our members. The majority of these issues will involve Ohio’s Legislature. On Wednesday, ORTA’s Executive Council developed a plan to operationalize our efforts to raise Ohio legislators' awareness of our concerns.
Our concerns were listed in last week's update, but briefly, our pension is significantly underfunded by Ohio compared to the rest of the nation. Some legislators don’t realize that public school educators don’t pay into Social Security and therefore, don’t have reliable inflation protection. Most legislators don’t know that Ohio doesn’t tax Social Security pensions but does tax our STRS pensions. They also need to know that Ohio’s Ed Choice Voucher program is hurting the STRS pension, and lastly, there are members of Ohio’s Legislature who want to make our members a minority voice on our STRS pension board.
ORTA’s plan is to send a letter to Ohio’s legislators and to ORTA chapter presidents. This letter will outline our concerns. This letter will be followed up by an email to ORTA members. Once delivered, ORTA will hold a Zoom meeting to get the membership on the same page.
ORTA’s goal is for members to reach out to their Ohio representatives to share ORTA's concerns, and then share the response with ORTA. The letter and email to our membership will outline the steps and issues.
This is an election year, and our members need to know who will support our 105-year-old State of Ohio Retirement System and who will ignore our concerns. Of the five Ohio pension systems, STRS is arguably in the best financial shape. But this hollow claim is only because the benefits needed for a dignified retirement are being withheld. It’s time for the Ohio Legislature to listen.
My best,
Dean Dennis, Chair
ORTA Executive Council
Legal Update by Dr. Robin Rayfield
âOn February 19, 2026, the judge in the Steen/Fichtenbaum case ruled that Fichtenbaum and Steen breached their fiduciary responsibility. The judge’s decision is posted below. Obviously, everyone hoping for reforms at STRS was shocked and disappointed by Judge Phipps’ decision. As a result, Rudy is removed from the STRS board. Several things struck me as I read the decision. I am no lawyer, but as I read the decision, I sense that the judge agrees with the reformers’ notion that STRS investment performance has been less than it could/should be. It was proper for board members to seek different investment strategies, but that communications over suggested strategies were improper. The judge also seemed to say that despite what the AG’s office says, the board does have the authority to eliminate the PBI (bonus) program. It will be interesting to see where that notion goes. ORTA stands behind Dr. Fichtenbaum and Wade Steen. I know them personally and have complete confidence in their integrity and honesty despite what a single judge may decide. What does this decision mean to STRS members? Here is what I think:
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STRS members lost a great leader of the reform movement. Our hope is that a replacement can come in and provide support for the other reformers on the board. We have great board members that have been elected to make changes at STRS. Rudy’s expertise will be missed, but things can move forward.
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Many people have contributed to the Pension Defense Fund. Even though Judge Phipps did not give the decision that would support educators across the state, ORTA’s support did allow Steen and Fichtenbaum to have their day in court. With such a recent decision, the next steps are being determined. Steen and Fichtenbaum must decide if the lower court’s decision will be appealed. Although financial resources are limited, ORTA will support whatever these leaders decide is best.
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ORTA worries that this decision may have a chilling effect on anyone that challenges operations at STRS. Does this decision mean that, if a STRS board member disagrees with what STRS management does, they will be dragged into court for their opposition to leadership?
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Finally, what might be a silver lining in this storm cloud… As we recently witnessed an attempted takeover of the STRS pension board by the elected officials in Ohio, the decision by the judge in this case would be evidence that the system in place to remove or rebuke board members worked. Due process and American values, the very foundation of public education, provided a mechanism to remove a board member. We may disagree with the decision, but we respect the legal process and will live with the results. A board takeover by the politicians would seem to be unnecessary.
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Robin Rayfield, Executive Director
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.
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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Join ORTA today! Take advantage of all of our member benefits!
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!
ORTA Facebook Group
We created this new Facebook group to make Ohio's retired and active teachers aware of all of the opportunities available to them at our county chapters throughout the state. Chapters can submit posts about monthly meetings, classroom grants and student scholarships, volunteer opportunities, events and activities.
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
ORTA Video Library