This is an OEA member-to-member communication

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Vote for Public Education. Vote Your Profession.

All OEA members are invited to join us on this journey. We aim to inspire engaging conversations in books that relate to everyday experiences on the topics of racial and social justice. This will help us learn from each other and grow in understanding.

All sessions will be virtual on Zoom and will take place the third Monday of each month from 7pm-8pm (unless otherwise stated).

Please contact Makia Burns, OEA-Retired Liaison, burnsm@ohea.org with questions.

Book Reading Schedule:

• September 21 – Slave Ship by Marcus Rediker
• October 19 – Slave Ship by Marcus Rediker
• November 16 – Tears We Cannot Stop by Michael Eric Dyson

OEA-R Racial and Social Justice Committee 2026 Book Study Flyer

NEOEA-R-Aug2026   Newsletter  (PDF 738KB   2 Pages ) 

• Goodtime III Cruise – Thursday, September 3
• NEOEA Day Nashville Trip
• NEOEA Day – Friday, October 9
• Campaign 2026 Action
• General Election Day is Tuesday, November 3
• Support Community School Issues 
• OEA-Retired Complimentary Membership

Don’t Sign the AxOHTax Petition — and Help Us Stop It

You may have seen people collecting signatures to eliminate property taxes in Ohio. Before you sign — or before someone you know does — it’s important to understand what is really at stake for public education.

The petition, called AxOHTax, would permanently ban property taxes in Ohio if it passes. While it’s being promoted as tax relief, the impact on schools and communities would be severe.

Property taxes are the largest source of local school funding in Ohio. In FY 2024, Ohio’s 611 public school districts collected approximately $13 billion in property taxes statewide, often more than 60% of local operating revenue for some school districts. This funding pays for teachers, support staff, classroom supplies, building operations, and student programs. Eliminating that revenue with no credible replacement plan would be devastating. 

This threat comes as the state continues to shrink its share of school funding. Since 1997 — the same year the Ohio Supreme Court ruled the state’s school funding system unconstitutional — the state has dropped its contribution from about 44% to 37%, with proposals to cut it even further. Over that same period, statewide property tax collections have more than doubled, from roughly $9.7 billion to $22.6 billion, and local communities have had to rely heavily on property taxes to fill the gap; the state left behind.

AxOHTax would eliminate the revenue source Ohio’s communities have been forced to depend on — without any plan for what comes next. The result would not be tax relief–it would larger class sizes, staff cuts, school closures, and fewer programs for Ohio’s students.

Property taxes also fund libraries, fire and EMS services, counties, and townships. Eliminating them would cost approximately $24 billion annually in lost revenue, nearly equal to Ohio’s entire General Revenue Fund. There is no realistic way for the state to replace that funding.  

What you can do:

• Decline to sign the AxOHTax petition.
• Visit OEA’s Protect Ohio Schools website for more information, including talking points, FAQ’s sample emails and social media posts, and resources. https://www.ohea.org/protect-ohio-schools/
• Share this information with colleagues, neighbors, and family.
• Stay engaged as OEA continues to lead the opposition.
• Sign up for an OEA Town Hall to learn more about the Protect Ohio Schools Campaign. [Link}

Our students, schools, and communities are worth protecting. Thank you for standing with us to Protect Ohio Schools.

A retirement system for public employees in the state of Ohio.

Join us for an online presentation on Zoom to learn more about how SERS works for
you to help you prepare for retirement. 

SPEAKER: Cameron Vaughan, Member Education Coordinator, School Employees Retirement System (SERS) of Ohio

DATE: Wednesday, January 28, 2026

TIME: 5pm

WHERE: Online, you can join on your phone or your computer

Register at https://tinyurl.com/y2ct22a8

All OEA members are welcomed to attend.

OEA-R SERS webinar flyer_Jan 2026 

Sponsored by OEA-Retired  https://oea-r.ohea.us

Kick off Read Across America, led by naturalist and educator Aaron Campbell, with an inspiring and interactive session that connects reading, curiosity, and care for our planet! Join us for “Save Our Earth —It’s Up to Us! Be a Nature Nerd”, a lively presentation that encourages students and educators to explore the natural world, ask big questions, and take small actions that make a real difference.

This session blends storytelling, science, and real-world experiences to spark environmental awareness and a love of learning.

Meeting Registration – Zoom

Event Flyer