| Principals: Vending contracts essential for school programs |
| Feb. 28, 2001 |
"This is a wonderful notion that we can avoid commercialism in the schools, but I have to find a way to fund activities," Shea said.
Winston Churchill High School has an exclusive five-year contract with Pepsi, said business manager James Shovlin. He said the $2,500 the Potomac school makes every month from its 16 drink machines ensures the school can take care of its students.
"If there's a kid who needs a workbook, we'll provide it. If there's a student who can't pay the activity fee ... can't afford a bus trip, we'll take care of that. The revenue generated goes back to the kids. We're not frivolously using it," Shovlin said.
Churchill is in the midst of a 2 1/2 year modernization and is looking to update all of its equipment, even that which is not covered by the overhaul.
"We needed [four] score boards. Pepsi sponsored them ... $42,000 worth," Shovlin said.
Shovlin, who said he "IVs Mountain Dew," doesn't have concerns about whether the accessibility of soft drinks has any negative impact on students' health.
"My argument is it's like coffee. It's the same thing. It's just warm," Shovlin said.
Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda has a three-year contract with Pepsi.
The school receives a 30 percent to 44 percent commission from the Pepsi machines, according to Tom Stup of Walter Johnson, who helped to negotiate the contract for the school.
Pepsi provided $18,000 for lights in Walter Johnson's softball field, Stup said. The company also agreed to support the school's after-prom breakfast and give multi-media drug and alcohol presentations.
Principal Kevin Maxwell said the school has used the Pepsi money for field trips, the athletic program, the Middle States evaluation, and teacher training.
Without the contract, there would be fewer field trips, less professional development for teachers, and reductions in spending for other areas of the instructional program, Maxwell said.
