Goodrich-A deal between the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and several major beverage means change for Goodrich High School.
The May 4 agreement? which includes both Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo Inc.? will soon have the companies selling only milk, water and unsweetened juice in elementary and middle schools. High schools involved in the deal will sell only the healthy beverages and diet pop.
‘We’re going to have to change the machines,? said Dave St.Aubin, high school principal.
Goodrich High School’s deal with Coca-Cola funds scholarships and the purchase of the school’s electronic sign, St.Aubin said. The beverage company is contracted with the school for at least another five years.
St.Aubin said the school’s six vending machines are already stocked with sports drinks and water. Rather than expanding the variety to include those choices, as some schools will do, the school will instead cut out less healthy options.
‘We’ve got to eventually get rid of all the sugar, so to speak,? said St.Aubin.
Beverage machines at Goodrich High School are on a timer that does not allow use during lunch periods.
St. Aubin said the timer was set up so pop sales wouldn’t interfere with beverage sales in the cafeteria, where students can select from juice, milk and water.
A majority of vending machine sales come during basketball season explained St.Aubin.
Goodrich students ‘drink quite a bit of pop? but it’s not a ton,? said St.Aubin.
State Senator Deborah Cherry, (D-Burton) praised the agreement.
‘With an epidemic of childhood obesity, it is good to see that efforts are being made early in a child’s life to promote good eating habits and end bad ones,? Cherry said.
Superintendent Kim Hart also supports the change.
‘We’ve been working with (Coca-Cola Co.) in the last year to try and get more diet (drinks) and water,? said Hart. ‘If this speeds up the process then I’m all for it.?
‘We want to give (students) more options that are healthier,? said Hart.
However, there are some possible negative effects of the change, said St. Aubin.
The money from beverage sales is provides scholarships for high school students. If students choose to not buy the healthier beverages, the decrease in funds will affect those scholarships. ‘I think it does hurt schools in some ways,? said St.Aubin.
Despite the possibility of declining funds, St.Aubin said he agrees with the deal.
‘I think it’s a good thing.?