Three statewide teacher unions are challenging a change in state law that strips teachers' power to pick who serves on the powerful State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio board.

The Ohio Education Association, Ohio Federation of Teachers and Ohio Conference of the American Association of University Professors filed a lawsuit Sept. 16 in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.

State lawmakers inserted into the state budget bill a provision to revamp the STRS board . The amendment came in the middle of the night and without public debate.

STRS Ohio is currently governed by an 11-member board of four appointed financial experts, five teachers and two retirees. Under the new law, teachers and retirees will lose their majority, and power will shift to financial experts appointed by politic

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