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.