Sunman-Dearborn Schools Announces New Two-Year Collective Bargaining Agreement

This agreement continues the Corporation’s commitment to attracting and retaining the most talented educators in SEI.

(St. Leon, Ind.) - Sunman-Dearborn Community School Corporation is proud to announce the successful negotiation and ratification of a new two-year Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Sunman-Dearborn Educators Association, covering the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years.

This agreement continues the Corporation’s commitment to attracting and retaining the most talented educators in Southeastern Indiana by offering the highest starting teacher pay in the region at $49,500 in 2025-2026 and the first to reach $50,000 for 2026-2027. This achievement reaffirms the vision of the Board of Education to remain a regional leader in teacher compensation and to prioritize investments that directly impact student success.

Superintendent Dr. Andrew Jackson stated, “We are proud to once again honor the work of our outstanding teachers. Their dedication to student learning is the cornerstone of our success, and we are committed to compensating them accordingly. With the highest starting pay in the area, we continue to lead in making education a top priority.”

All returning teachers will receive raises ranging from $1,500 to $3,000 per year. Teachers who pursue and obtain additional graduate-level coursework in education or the Early Literacy Endorsement are eligible for raises at the top end of this range. In alignment with the Corporation’s and State’s ongoing focus on early literacy, any teacher who obtains the Early Literacy Endorsement will receive a $500 increase to their base salary.

Teachers will continue to receive access to high-quality health insurance, $0 co-pays for in-person and virtual clinic visits, and annual Health Savings Account contributions of $1,500 or $3,000 based on the selected plan. Sunman-Dearborn teachers also pay the lowest premium amounts among all members of the Southeastern Indiana School Insurance Trust (SISIT), underscoring the district’s commitment to affordable and accessible health care for its staff.

This agreement demonstrates the Corporation’s dedication to academic excellence and teacher support while remaining financially responsible and future-focused.