The Board negotiates salary and other conditions of employment with employee groups under requirements and subject to limitations set forth in the state law.

Under the South Dakota Codified Laws, public employees—including members of the teaching profession—may join or refuse to join without prejudice any organization for professional or economic improvement. Representatives of the teachers and the Board will meet at reasonable times to negotiate with respect to rates of pay, wages, hours of employment, and other conditions of employment; to confer in good faith; and to attempt to negotiate an agreement.

Support personnel are given the right to organize and to join any employee organization and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing. The Board has the duty to confer in good faith with respect to wages, hours, and other conditions of employment, and to attempt to negotiate an agreement.

These laws state further that anything therein “does not compel either party to agree to a proposal or require the making of a concession.”