(Pierre, SD) — South Dakota teachers are now going to have a guaranteed salary. Governor Noem signed Senate Bill 127 into law yesterday that requires new teachers in the state to earn a base pay of 45-thousand dollars. It also sets an average compensation amount unique to each school district. This bill is a major step in an effort to address South Dakota’s ongoing low teacher pay issues. Governor Noem says the legislation is meant to hold school districts more accountable in taking funding increases from the state and directly translating it into salary increases.