New Castle schools pick Pepsi

January 13, 2006

PAT LITOWITZ
plitowitz@ncnewsonline.com

The New Castle School Area School District has accepted the Pepsi Challenge.

However, the $65,000 deal left a sugary aftertaste in the mouths of two school board members.

The board approved a vending contract with Pepsi and DenVend that covers a 10-year period. Starting with the current school year, the district will receive $6,500 a year for 10 years. The district also will earn a 35 percent commission on total sales, which will be paid monthly.

The vote Jan. 11 night was 6-2, with Philip Conti and Donna Donati opposed and Allan Joseph absent.

"I think you send a mixed message to students when you install Pepsi machines," Conti said.

"It's bad business," said Conti, a former consumer education teacher. "I would have been screaming at those kids for buying Pepsi from that machine.

"It's not in their best interest."

Proceeds from the machines will be used to fund student activities throughout the district.

"Every little bit will help, but I don't want to sacrifice the kids' health," district business manager Joe Ambrosini said.

He said drinks other than carbonated beverages may be placed in the machines.

Board member Charlotte Sheffield said students will also have the choice of bottled water, fruit juices and milk.

Donati argued the length of the contract was too long.

She also explained that after July 1, school districts participating in the national school lunch program must have wellness policies in place.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, districts must provide nutrition guidelines for all foods available on the school grounds during the school day; goals for nutrition education, physical activity and other school-based activities; a plan to measure implementation; and oversight responsibilities.

The state will implement its guidelines over the next three years starting this year. By 2008, the state recommends that only water, fruit juice and low-fat or skim milk be served.

"If we're teaching our children to eat well, why is it necessary to have soda in the machine?" Donati asked. "It's not going to hurt children to not have a Pepsi for seven hours."

Copyright (c) 2006, New Castle News