Teachers’ $1,400 Raises Proposed in Blackford County Agreement

From the Blackford County School Board meeting on October 13, 2026

Eligible returning Blackford County Schools teachers would receive $1,400 raises under a tentative 2026–2027 agreement presented October 13, while health-insurance premiums would rise 10.2%.

Superintendent Yencer said the raises would apply to returning teachers rated effective or highly effective in the prior year. The proposal also includes a $900 increase to the bachelor’s hiring scale. He described a new median salary of $58,816 and a 2.3% raise at that median.

Yencer said the district would increase insurance contributions by $400 or $600, though he did not clearly assign those increases to coverage tiers. He gave total proposed district contributions of $7,035 for single coverage and $16,324 for family coverage. Employee premium totals were not available at the meeting.

The district opened its bargaining process with the Blackford Federation of Teachers in August. The October hearing did not ratify the agreement. It was to go to union members before returning to the board at the second October meeting.

The proposal also revises language concerning legacy 2011 buyout and bridge obligations without removing them, Yencer said, and adds athletic stipends connected to sixth-graders participating on junior-high teams.

Source: YouTube transcript — Blackford County - County School Board Meeting - October 13, 2026; official Oct. 13 school agenda

Some information may be inaccurate due to video audio quality.