WIUM Local

McDonough County children with autism might get more recreational opportunities if a pilot day camp is successful.

The Special Recreation Association will offer the camp August 6-10. It's open to children from kindergarten through third-grade who have autism.

Program Coordinator Nikki Gray says the staff will tailor the camp to meet the unique needs of the children The staff  will meet with each child and their parents or caregivers.

Burlington residents still have plenty of opportunities to weigh in on a new “blue-print” for the city.

Development and Parks Director Eric Tysland says it has been at least 15 years since Burlington updated its comprehensive plan.  He says this type of document is crucial to future planning and development.

“It looks at all aspects of the city,” says Tysland, “from land-use to streets to infrastructure and public services (police & fire).  Basically every aspect of the city is addressed in the plan in one way or another.”

BURLINGTON, IA

The Burlington School District has wrapped up contract negotiations with its teachers.

The school board and the Burlington Education Association have each ratified a new one-year contract for the 2012-2013 school year.

The agreement calls for a $1,006 increase in the base pay.  The result is that entry-level teachers will start out at around $31,000/year.

Teachers are also in line for pay raises based on their experience and education.

The McDonough County Drug Court has begun operation. It's goal is to keep habitual drug users from going to prison by offering intense monitoring and support to help them beat their addiction.

Burlington’s new city manager says he will spend his first few weeks on the job getting to know as many people as possible.

Jim Ferneau comes to town via Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, where he served as city administrator.  He has been involved in city government for about 15 years.

Ferneau says he and his wife grew up in the Marshalltown area.  They have nine children and are in the process of moving to Burlington.

Carthage is hopeful a switch of contractors will lead to the end of its responsibility for the old municipal landfill.

Indianapolis-based American Environment will take over monitoring the site. The company was the low bidder at $43,000 per year. It will also try to find a way to bring groundwater pollution levels into compliance with federal EPA regulations

Mayor Jim Nightingale hopes the firm brings " some new ideas out there that down the road we can present them to the EPA and get us out of the landfill business.”

An Illinois House education panel okayed a plan that would change math standards for middle and high school students.

The measure was developed by Democratic Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon. It would require the State Board of Education to develop a curriculum that includes an extra year of math in high schools. Currently only three years are required by the state, though many schools already require four years.

Simon has visited each of the state's 48 community colleges and said she repeatedly heard students lacked math skills.