The Brandywine school board has called a special meeting to discuss ongoing negotiations with the teachers’ union for a new contract and a project to fix roofs throughout the district.

The meeting will be at 7:30 a.m. today in the conference room at the Brandywine Innovation Academy (formerly the Bell Building).

Supt. John Jarpe said the board would take no action on either item. The board will discuss the contract negotiations in a closed session, meaning that it will not be open to the public, although the public is welcome to attend the meeting.

The Brandywine District Education Association (teachers’ union) and the district have been negotiating the terms of a new contract since April. The teachers’ previous contract expired at the end of June.

Teachers’ union president Debbie Carew said last week that Brandywine’s teachers deserve more pay.

Jarpe, who is part of the school board’s negotiating team, has said he does not want to discuss contract negotiations in public.

The two sides met Sept. 3 but could not work out a deal.

Both sides have said they are close to coming to terms on a new contract.

In the meantime, teachers continue to work under the terms of the old agreement.

The board will also discuss projects to fix roofs at Merritt Elementary, Brandywine Elementary and the middle/senior high school.

“We have some roof work that needs to be done before warranties expire this fall, and we can extend the warranties by getting bids and getting it done,” Jarpe said via email. “We will discuss that tomorrow morning (Sept. 10) and we will discuss roof work more at next Monday night’s meeting (Sept. 14) as well.”