Schools, students lean toward less soda and junk food
Mary A. Castillo
The issue of removing soft drinks and junk food from school
campuses made its way to the Laguna Beach Unified School District
board of education at its last meeting.
Board member Jan Vickers put the issue on the agenda, citing the
recent decision made by the Los Angeles Unified School District, as
well as the passage of state Senate Bill 19.
State Senate Bill 19 established a deadline of Jan. 1, 2004, for
elementary and middle schools to have certain prohibitions on the
sale of soda drinks and to have nutritional standards on the types of
food that are sold to students at breaks and through vending
machines.
“This has been a concern going back a long time,” Vickers said.
“There was no movement because of the funds generated from vending
machine and soda sales benefit athletics programs.”
However, measures have already been taken at the individual
schools to provide students with healthy drinks.
“Our food service director has taken initiative to change drink
selection that now offers water, Gatorade, fruit juice and iced tea,”
said Chris Duddy, principal of Thurston Middle School.
Although Duddy does not yet know how the wider drink selection
will affect soda drink revenues, he was pleased that steps are being
taken in a healthier direction.
“Students probably won’t think it’s a problem,” said David Bean,
student representative to the board and a senior at Laguna Beach High
School. “I see students that already prefer water and sport drinks
over soda.”
“We got approximately $9,000 in revenue from the vending
machines,” said Dawn Mirone, president of the Laguna Beach Unified
Faculty Association and Laguna Beach High School teacher. “The money
goes to student yearbook, newspaper, assemblies, dances and
athletics.”
Board member El Hathaway commented that if there is a demand among
the student body for healthier drinks and snacks, then they simply
wouldn’t have a problem meeting students’ needs and revenue needs.
The district’s contract with Coca-Cola expires sometime next year,
and the schools may simply be able to switch products, said Nancy
Shelton, chief business officer.
“I would like to see what the student bodies think,” Hathaway
said. “It may not be an issue at all.”
Principals Nancy Blade and Duddy agreed to facilitate a joint
student body survey to determine the products students would like to
see.
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