Week in Review: School Budget Woes, Garden Grows

The Council Rock School District unveiled this week that it's facing a significant budget deficit for next year, 2011-2012. Officials say that they will be working to make reductions in the coming weeks. Also this week, the campaign to stop a proposal for a McDonald's at the Village of Newtown East continues.

Here’s our recap of the past week (March 14 through 18):

Monday: Council Rock School District announced Monday that it has scheduled a public forum to give the community an opportunity to learn about the 2011-2012 budget. The forum is scheduled for Wednesday, April 13 at 7:00 p.m. at the Chancellor Center.

Tuesday: Residents who oppose a proposal for a McDonald's restaurant in the Village of Newtown East began a petition to mobilize against the project. Petition organizers say they already have a few hundred signatures to date and are hoping to gather a couple thousand in total. They are seeking signatures from people 18 and older who are clearly opposed to a fast food restaurant with a drive-through window at the Office Place East site, which is adjacent to Wachovia Bank and across the parking lot from Pier 1 Imports.

Wednesday: On Wednesday, Patch reported on the Council Rock girl's varsity basketball team loss to Catholic league power house Cardinal O'Hara in the state playoffs. The Lady Indians lost to O'Hara 40-21 in a season-ending game Tuesday night at Norristown High School.  They finished the season 26-3.

Thursday: A reduction in state subsidies and a loss of revenue has left Council Rock School District facing a $14.2 million budget deficit for fiscal year 2011-2012, officials announced Thursday. Earlier this month, Governor Tom Corbett unveiled his $27.3 billion spending plan, which reduces state funding for Council Rock by more than $3.75 million.

Friday: On Friday, Patch reported on Newtown Elementary School's organic vegetable garden. The school is gearing up for its second season of Veggieville – a 37-foot by 43-foot organic vegetable garden planted on the school’s grounds. Newtown Elementary School parents Kathy Skalish, Cheryl Gilmore, Rhonda Lichter, and Kim Burton founded the garden last year.