State should make double-dipping illegal

Re “Letting school bosses ‘retire’ hurts pensions,” Dec. 2: The editorial on double-dipping is right on target. When high-paid superintendents double-dip, they drain the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) of monies that will support the future retirements of our present cadre of young teachers.

The STRS exists to provide reasonable retirement benefits to the hard-working public teachers of Ohio, not to provide lavish lifestyles to public officials who have found a legal way to game the system.

Any teachers in STRS should recognize that double-dipping jeopardizes their future retirement and should be outraged that the very people who should be demonstrating high standards — the superintendents who represent the leadership of Ohio’s public schools — are, in fact, acting in a highly unethical and self-serving fashion.

Moreover, all Ohioans should likewise be outraged, because a weaker STRS means that Ohio will not be able to attract the best teachers to our state. It is time for Ohio’s state government officials to remedy this situation and put an end to double-dipping. It is not what the STRS was intended for.

Marvin Miller

Dayton