LOCAL BRIEFS

The Brainerd Lakes Area Early Childhood Coalition will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Brainerd School District Learning Center, 311 10th Ave. N.E., Brainerd.

A light supper will be provided. The Brainerd Lakes Area Early Childhood Coalition supports all young children in reaching their full potential. The coalition was developed by the Minnesota Initiative Foundation and meets the second Thursday of each month.

For more information on becoming involved or to RSVP for Thursday's meeting, call 828-1281.

National Guard Iraq veteran to speak to BHS students on Friday

Maj. Michael Pazdernik will be the guest speaker on Friday at Brainerd High School.

The Veterans Day program, which is open to all veterans and the public, is at 10 a.m. Friday in the high school gymnasium. Saturday is Veterans Day.

Work on bridge should be completed by middle of next week

Construction work on the Laurel Street bridge is expected to be completed by the middle of next week, according to officials with Short Elliott Hendrickson, the project's engineering firm.

West Laurel Street and Fourth Street Northwest are now open to traffic.

Pine River-Backus to implement Q-Comp

PINE RIVER - Minnesota Commissioner of Education Alice Seagren announced that the Pine River-Backus School District will implement Minnesota's Q-Comp performance and professional pay program.

Pine River-Backus will receive $276,120 in state aid for the 2006-07 school year for implementation efforts.

Q-Comp, proposed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty and approved by the Legislature last year, is designed to advance the teaching profession by providing structured professional development and evaluation, as well as an alternative pay schedule that compensates teachers based on performance, not just seniority. The plan is voluntary.