With the beginning of school only a few weeks away, Bellevue’s school district and teachers’ association are still working with a state mediator to find a compromise on terms for a new contract.

The current contract, which was put in place in 2008, expires next week, Aug. 31.

Since July, the two parties have been working to resolve disagreements on issues that include teachers’ salaries, Wednesday early release time, teacher evaluation and how long teachers have to post student grades online.

Although they have reached agreement on more than 30 issues, the disagreements that remain are “difficult and challenging issues that will affect both student teaching conditions in the classroom,” Superintendent Amalia Cudeiro in an open letter to families, staff and community members that posted on the district’s website (www.bsd405.org).

The education association’s last bargaining update on its website (www.bellevueea.org) included a report that stated: “The BEA remains committed to meeting and finding common ground at any time the district is willing to engage in productive discussions.”

BEA president Michele Miller said she was advised by the mediator not to speak with the press during negotiations, and declined further comment.