Many parents cringe at the idea of having sugar-laden soda pop and
candy and fatty potato chips readily available in the hallways of their
child's middle or high school. But the reality is, vending machine
commissions and student store profits are often the major sources of
revenue for student activities.
Recognizing rapidly rising rates of childhood obesity, the Washington
State Legislature last year passed a bill mandating that school
districts create nutrition guidelines for the food they sell on campus
through vending machines and school stores.
To meet the Legislature's Aug. 1, 2005 deadline, many Puget Sound
school districts are making drastic changes that mainly affect high
schools and middle schools, banning the sale of pop and sport drinks in
vending machines and removing candy and chips from student stores.
In September 2004, the Seattle School Board unanimously approved a set
of comprehensive nutrition guidelines that are among the strongest in
the nation, including a policy that prohibits the sale of junk food and
pop on all Seattle School District campuses.
"The Seattle School Board has taken a critical step toward creating a
school environment that supports and promotes healthy eating
behaviors," says Shelley Curtis, Nutrition Outreach and Food Policy
Manager for Seattle-based Children's Alliance, a non-profit advocacy
organization for children and families. "Hopefully their policies will
serve as a model for other districts across the state."
Many schools making healthy changes to meet the new nutrition policies
are now also scrambling to find other ways raise funds. Curtis says
that schools can meet their funding goals while also meeting the new
nutrition guidelines, but parents and educators will have to start
"thinking outside the box" and be more creative about fundraising
activities. And implementing the changes, she says, will take time and
may receive initial resistance from the students.
In May of 2004, the Olympia School District adopted a new school
nutrition policy that banned the sale of candy and pop at Olympia's
middle schools. The policy took effect this school year. Michael
Cimino, principal of the Jefferson Middle School in Olympia, says while
the policy had the best intentions, the financial ramifications were
significant. Profits at Jefferson's student store were "wiped out" and
vending machine commissions dropped.
Both the student store and the commissions from vending machines were
major sources of funding for student activities, says Cimino --
everything from "text books to benches to uniforms." Cimino says his
school is making adjustments, including holding "test marketing"
sessions with the students to determine what foods that meet the new
guidelines will make it into the student store. But he points out that
the profit margin on a now- banned candy bar purchased at Costco for 35
cents and sold at the store for 75 cents is much higher than an
"approved" piece of jerky that must be purchased for 85 cents and sold
for a dollar.
Jeff Moore, Director of Finance and Budgets for the Everett School
District, reports that recent changes to the nutrition guidelines have
reduced funding for student activities in his district as well. Prior
to the start of this school year, all pop was removed from all district
vending machines. Now the machines provide only water and 100-percent
juice products.
Commissions from pop machines -- averaging $24,000-$35,000 per high
school annually -- provided funds for student activities and athletics
as determined by each school's Associated Student Body (ASB). Since
this year's removal of pop, commissions are down by as much as 80
percent, Moore says.
At West Seattle High School, teacher Shirley Linvog is chair of the
business department and DECA club adviser. In this year of transition
to the new nutritional guidelines, profits from the DECA-run student
store, which supports leadership opportunities for DECA students, have
definitely been reduced. Initially, she says, the students who run the
store looked at the new nutrition guidelines and said, "We can't do
this." But she coached them to use their problem-solving abilities, and
over time they are figuring out what they can sell that meets the new
guidelines and -- equally important -- that students will buy.
"We've been able to find candies that are fruit-based and items for
niche markets such as nuts and sunflower seeds," Linvog says. Her
students have learned about pricing, discovering that "Luna bars would
not sell at $1.50" and expanded their product line to offer items like
fruit smoothies.
While Linvog is proud of the students' accomplishments, she
acknowledges their store's healthy offerings often can't compete with
the temptations of several fast food places surrounding campus. As soon
as the lunch bell rings, she says, "Students stream across the parking
lot toward McDonald's and Starbucks like a line of ants."
Michael Cimano also sees shortcomings in the new policies, and is
frustrated that much of what was banned by the policy is still showing
up at his school -- in the lunches Jefferson's students bring. His
school is working on teaching students to make healthier choices but
ultimately, he says, "kids don't get fat at school" -- lifestyle
choices, lack of exercise and poor eating habits at home have far more
influence.
Shelley Curtis acknowledges the challenges. "There is no single factor
that is causing kids to become overweight and we clearly need to make
changes at all levels and in all environments," she says. "However,
schools remain a critical place to educate kids about healthy
lifestyles and support healthy behaviors."
Kathleen Miller is a Sammamish-based freelance writer and mother of two.
Creativity key to health-conscious fundraising
Some area schools are already meeting the challenge of complying with
district nutritional policies though creative sales that don't involve
selling cookie dough or candy bars.
PCC Natural Markets offers a scrip program where schools can purchase
gift certificates for 95 percent of their face value, then sell them as
a fundraiser at full price and keep the 5-percent difference. Diana
Crane, PCC's Community and Public Relations Manager, says that last
year the program raised more than $56,000 for the 98 schools and non
profits that participated in the program. And she points out, "everyone
has to buy groceries."
Kirkland's Environmental & Adventure School (EAS) Middle School has
used the Chinook Book to help raise funds for 55 students to go on
traveling adventures. The Chinook Book is a like an Entertainment book
for the healthy lifestyle crowd. It features coupons for a variety of
stores, attractions, restaurants and activities including yoga, Pilates
and kayak and bike rentals. Depending on their level of sales, schools
can keep up to 50 percent of the book's $20 face value.
According to EAS teacher Eileen McMakin, "We chose Chinook Books as the
fundraiser of choice because the stores that are sponsored in the
coupon book generally have environmentally friendly and healthy
products." Marion Mehrer's 13-year-old son Riley sold the book to help
fund a trip for himself and 17 other EAS students to Baja, Mexico last
spring. Riley sold the book outside Larry's Markets, one of the book's
sponsors.
Children's Alliance Nutrition Outreach and Food Policy Manager Shelley
Curtis says that school fundraising a new way, as the Mehrer family did
for Riley's trip, will become more popular in time. "Selling candy and
junk food was easy and the new ways will require more effort, but the
end result will be healthier kids." Resources
Northwest Healthy Foods Expo
May 6, 2005 10 a.m.-5 p.m., The Pavillion at the Puyallup Fair.
Sponsored by Kids First, this event will offer the opportunities for
school food buyers to connect to health food suppliers.
PCC Scrip Program
For a fundraising application or more information, contact the PCC
Community Relations Department at 206-547-1222 or email
Stonyfield Farms
Stonyfield Farms, the world's largest organic yogurt maker, provides
healthy vending machines to schools filled with organic and natural
snacks. A portion of the profits can go to fund student activities.
More information at www.stonyfield.com/menuforchange
Chinook Book
For
a phone consultation to begin the sales process, call 206-281-1122.
Sign up your school by June 30 to fundraise with the Chinook Book this
fall and receive a guaranteed 50-percent return. The new edition will
be available in late August 2005. www.chinookbook.net
Schoolpop.com
This web portal makes a donation to your school every time a parent
begins Internet shopping trips through the site. Pre-registration of
your school is required. More information at www.schoolpop.com
USDA Make it Happen -- School Nutrition Success Stories
This online site shares success stories from 32 schools that have
improved the nutritional value of food sold on school campuses while
meeting funding goals. www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Resources/makingithappen.html
Ages & Stages 
