The machines will stay as it is a middle school and the school is only required to keep students from drinking these beverages during meal times. Now - we do have machines that have 20 oz bottles - and those will have to be phased out according to the regulation that says that students in middle school cannot buy a container of more than 12 ounces. WOW - and while candy cannot be sold or "made available" - Ho Ho's, Twinkies, Cupcakes and Honey Buns were still offered for sale in the lunchroom today. I have read and re-read these guidelines . . . looks like as long as the kids don't sell candy bars during meal times that the school doesn't have to discontinue their sale altogether. Not necessarily the spirit of the law, but the letter of it the way I read it anyway. As a side note - tried to explain this Minimal Nutritional Value thing to my 6th grader today who asked me exactly what nutritional value that burned cardboard pizza she had for lunch had in it. (Fiber, of course! But she's too young to see benefit of fiber either, right?)
Are they going to leave them there for the kids to look at? Our elementaries do not have soda machines. There are machines in the workroom/lounges for the adults but the kids do not realize they are there.
Well, I guess it's official . . . while I was at school this morning I heard the morning announcements which included that timers were installed on all soda machines available to the kids and they would not be able to purchase sodas during the school day.
Thank you for all of your suggestions! They are helpful!
Rockne: Our district office told us brochure sales of candy and the like as well as cookie dough sales are OK since we are not giving / selling to the child, but adults and they won't / can't be eaten on campus or at any school function.
Critter: It was announced and began on August 1, 2003. It has been in the planning for some time.
I sure wish the TDA (Texas Dept Of Agr.) would keep in mind that our kids will get more of these items at home than they would in school.
I don't know what to say! (Just please don't tell the legislature in Michigan..) Anyway, getting to your original question: our PTO sells fresh bagels every Friday morning. In a year's time with 400 students, we make about $1,400 profit. The kids buy them as they come in the building and are allowed to eat them now or save for snack. Find a good bagel vendor and they'll deliver to the school - no cream cheese required!
We also have a "store" of trinkets where kids can select items using purple slips they accumulate for showing good character traits (ex: respect, honesty, integrity, etc.). Teachers and paras can award purple slips. The kids "shop" during lunch.
IMOVEPEOPLE: The changes were only announced a couple weeks ago, and it takes time to implement anything. You'll have to keep us posted as to what changes (if any) you see.
