Arthur Lard, the OEA endorsed candidate for the STRS Board in 2023, is a Portsmouth City Schools teacher with 31 years of experience in the classroom. He is dedicated to keeping our pensions solvent and secure. All Ohio’s educators deserve a pension they cannot outlive. As a member of the STRS Board he has been dedicated to acting in the best interests of all STRS members. Arthur joins us for this episode to explain why he wants to continue being a voice for OEA members on the State Teachers' Retirement System Board.
LEARN MORE | For more information about Arthur Lard's qualifications and his vision for the future of STRS, click here.
VOTE | Active educators can vote for the active seat on the STRS Board by phone, mail, or online. Ballots will be mailed out to eligible voters in early April. The deadline to vote is May 1, 2023.
Featured Education Matters guest:
- Arthur Lard, Portsmouth City Teachers Association member
- Arthur Lard is a Business Education teacher from Portsmouth City Schools who has served on the STRS Board since 2019. He has a strong background in accounting and board governance. He has served as treasurer of his local association for 23 years and was treasurer of the OEA Board of Directors for four years. Prior to becoming a member of the STRS Board, Arthur underwent extensive training on pension issues receiving the Certificate of Achievement in Public Plan Policy on Employee Pensions from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.
- As a member of the STRS Board, Arthur has been a thoughtful advocate for Ohio’s teachers. During his time on the Board, the funding status of the pension plan has improved, making our benefits more secure. The health care plan is fully funded so that it will be there for current and future retirees. The Board has lowered health care premiums and provided rebates to retirees. This fiscal year, STRS paid a 3% COLA to retirees and, most notably, did away with the age 60 requirement for retirement eligibility.
- Teacher in Portsmouth since 1992
- Teaches Business Education, Financial Management, and Accounting
- Teaches Typing and Print Shop- a combination marketing and production class that produces and sells goods to the public.
- Earned Certificate of Achievement in Public Plan Policy for Employee Pensions in 2019.
- Portsmouth Outstanding Teacher Achievement Award 2006 and 2018
- Treasurer for local association for 23 years
- Treasurer for district association for 4 years
- OEA Board of Directors for 4 years
- Outstanding Local Treasurer 2010-2021
Connect with OEA:
About us:
- TheOhio Education Association represents about 120,000 teachers, faculty members and support professionals who work in Ohio’s schools, colleges, and universities to help improve public education and the lives of Ohio’s children. OEA members provide professional services to benefit students, schools, and the public in virtually every position needed to run Ohio’s schools.
- Education Matters host Katie Olmsted serves as Media Relations Consultant for the Ohio Education Association. She joined OEA in May 2020, after a ten-year career as an Emmy Award winning television reporter, anchor, and producer. Katie comes from a family of educators and is passionate about telling educators' stories and advocating for Ohio's students. She lives in Central Ohio with her husband and two young children.
This episode was recorded on March 1, 2023.
