Sunman-Dearborn Community School Corp. teachers have been working without a contract since the 2005-06 school year.

The teachers’ union and the board of trustees have met on numerous occasions and still cannot reach an agreement. Now a fact finder has been requested, according to SDCSC business manager Kris Wilson.

This person will be “working with both sides,” and each group will have a chance to present its case in a public hearing.

“The fact finder asks questions and ... comes up with a report, which will be presented to both parties in a public hearing,” the business manager reports.

This person will make a recommendation, but “neither side has to follow it .... because it’s not binding,” adds Ken Wilson, teachers’ union president.

Both sides are trying to determine a date that will work for everyone involved.

The president says he has filed an unfair labor practice against the board of trustees because “I don’t feel they have been bargaining in good faith .... (and) they keep extending the time in between meetings.

“I would like for the public to know that we as teachers have been doing all we can to get them to talk to us .... We want to negotiate and go back to the table.”

Diane Raver can be contacted at 812-934-4343, Ext. 114; or diane.raver@ batesvilleheraldtribune.com.