by Scott Wartman
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Dr. Henry Webb, the superintendent of the Kenton County School District, gives the opening remarks at the Northern Kentucky Rally for Public Pensions at Dixie Heights High School in Edgewood, on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. Hundreds of public school teachers and supporters gathered in the school gym to protest proposed plans to change public pensions.
(Photo: The Enquirer/Sam Greene)
EDGEWOOD – Hundreds of teachers filled a gymnasium in Northern Kentucky on Tuesday night.
They weren’t there for basketball. They were there to save their pension plans.
Faced with a $40 billion shortfall in the state’s pension system, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin last week unveiled changes to the pension plans of the state’s 45,000 current and retired teachers as well as most public employees.
In response, Kentucky Education Association staged the rally at Dixie Heights High School’s gymnasium in Edgewood.
CCEA president Lisa Poor speaks at the Northern Kentucky Rally for Public Pensions at Dixie Heights High School in Edgewood, on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. Hundreds of public school teachers and supporters gathered in the school gym to protest proposed plans to change public pensions. (Photo: The Enquirer/Sam Greene)
“This is personal,” said Laura Schneider, a teacher at Simon Kenton High School and president of the Kenton County Education Association and Northern Kentucky Education Association.
Schneider, who’s taught for 33 years, opened the rally with an emotional speech, tears welling in her eyes.
“A promise has been broken. We must tell our stories. We must have them heard,” Schneider said.
Lawmakers have struggled for more than a decade to address Kentucky’s pension system, allowing it to balloon to a $40 billion pension shortfall. It threatens government services.
Teachers fear a mass exodus from their ranks if Bevin’s proposal becomes law. Statewide, more than 13,000 are eligible for retirement. Teachers in the audience envisioned classrooms with 60 children or more if the pension changes are made.
“If we go down the path Gov. Bevin proposed, this state and education system will cease to exist as we know it,” Kentucky Education Association President Stephanie Winkler said. “That is not a threat, that is a fact. “
The crowd gives a standing ovation as Dr. Henry Webb speaks at the Northern Kentucky Rally for Public Pensions at Dixie Heights High School in Edgewood, on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. Hundreds of public school teachers and supporters gathered in the school gym to protest proposed plans to change public pensions. (Photo: The Enquirer/Sam Greene)
She asked how many in the crowd had more than one college degree. A majority of the hundreds in attendance raised their hands.
“Any one of you could leave education, go to the private sector and make two or three times the money you’re making now,” Winkler said.
Teachers don’t feel Bevin and other leaders have listened to their concerns. Teachers don’t get Social Security benefits. Many of them said they counted on their pension plan as is.
When asked by The Enquirer how teachers feel about Bevin, Winkler hesitated and chose her words carefully.
“It’s hard to say,” said Winkler, who is also a fourth-grade teacher from Richmond, Kentucky.
“Among the general education community there is a lot of distrust and anxiety about what he may do next,” Winkler told The Enquirer.
So what does Bevin’s proposal do?
Last Wednesday, flanked by the Republican leaders of Kentucky’s House and Senate, Bevin hailed his plan as a national model.
New teachers and most other new public employees under the new plan would have a 401(k)-style plan found in most private sector job places.
Current employees and teachers would shift into the new plans after working 27 years in their current plan.
Current teachers and employees would pay 3 percent more of their salaries for retirement benefits. Bevin’s proposal would also suspend cost-of-living increases 1.5 percent for retired teachers for five years. Teachers who retire in the future would not get a cost-of-living adjustment for the first five years.
It doesn’t have the draconian cuts recommended two months ago by a pension consultant. It doesn’t raise the retirement age for full benefits or immediately move most current employees to a 401(k)-style savings plan.
Bevin has yet to set a date for a special session.
Bevin will travel to Northern Kentucky Wednesday to explain his pension proposal to the Northern Kentucky Chamber. He’ll appear at a luncheon at 12:30 p.m. in Erlanger.
Bevin will travel to Northern Kentucky Wednesday to explain his pension proposal to the Northern Kentucky Chamber. He’ll appear at a luncheon at 12:30 p.m. in Erlanger.
Chris Horelein, a world history teacher at Simon Kenton High School, knows what she’d tell the governor.
“Commit to what was promised to us,” Horelein said. “I would like to say it was not our fault it was not funded and the government needs to fix it.”
Three Republican legislators were on hand Tuesday night, Reps. Kim Moser, R-Taylor Mill, and Sal Santoro, R-Florence, and Sen. John Schickel, R-Union.
All three said they didn’t know how they’ll vote and aren’t sure what’s going to be in the final bill.
“I’m going to educate myself as much as I can on the information I have and make my decisions based on what I think is in the best interest for the people in my district,” Schickel said.
The one Democratic lawmaker in attendance, Rep. Dennis Keene, D-Wilder, received a standing ovation with his one-liner.
“I can tell you for a fact, I cannot and will not support this legislation,” Keene said.