AUBURN - When local school district heads learned this month of the soda industry's agreement to halt virtually all soda sales to public schools, their concerns leapt to revenue: Would soda sales at athletic events be curtailed?
Jason Rearick / The Citizenn
Jordan-Elbridge student Fred Bush uses the cafeteria vending machine to get his fruit juice. More schools are now switching over from soda machines to juice in hopes of curbing childhood obesity.
Jordan-Elbridge student Fred Bush uses the cafeteria vending machine to get his fruit juice. More schools are now switching over from soda machines to juice in hopes of curbing childhood obesity.
They won't.
The vending machines in teachers' lounges won't be affected, either.
Last week's highly publicized pact - a collaboration between the William J. Clinton Foundation, the American Heart Association and Cadbury Schweppes, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo - addressed the problem of childhood obesity. The agreement falls under the umbrella title, “Alliance for a Healthier Generation.”
“This is an important announcement and a bold step forward in the struggle to help America's kids live healthier lives,” said Clinton in a press release.
But while the agreement broke ground nationally, children's health is an issue county school districts have had at heart for at least two years, since the federal government implemented the Child Nutrition and Women, Infants and Children Reauthorization Act in June 2004.
One provision in the bill mandated local school districts participating in the federal meal programs to establish wellness policies for their schools.
Wellness policies set forth goals for educating students about nutrition and promoting physical activity. School districts are also looking at the kinds of foods they make available to students.
“Everyone's looking at snacks, lunches, sugar content,” said Deborah Bobo, the superintendent for Cato-Meridian schools.
As county school districts prepared years ago to set new standards for their own buildings, the majority yanked soda machines from their cafeterias, or placed them on timers so students could not get at them during the school day.
Cato-Meridian schools pulled soda machines from middle school cafeterias four years ago, according to Bobo. Soda machines exist nowhere in K-12 schools there, though in the high school, students can access juice, water and sports drinks.
Soda machines can be found in most high school teachers' lounges.
“No kids get to the machines in teachers' lounges,” Bobo said.
The national agreement, which allows schools to exercise more latitude with staff, won't stop teachers from bringing sodas in on their own as well. Administrators will have to figure out how to handle students bringing drinks in from the outside.
Auburn High School does not make soda available to students, but students at the school can access Snapple drinks, milk, water, sports drinks and juice from a variety of machines. Revenue from the machines goes to the different clubs or groups that own them, like the Auburn Teachers Association.
The group turns proceeds from the Snapple machine, for instance, over to a fund for students in poverty. The school estimates that machine brings in $3,000 in revenue a year. Overall, the building's machines bring roughly $10,000, split among other groups like the varsity club and the student government organization. Those organizations, in turn, might donate some of the proceeds to charities.
Other beverage choices aside, most school district heads said revenue from soda sales was generally small.
“We don't have much in sales for soda anyhow,” said Philip D'Angelo, superintendent for Skaneateles schools, adding that sports drinks are a more popular choice with students.
The state Department of Education charged local school districts with implementing wellness policies by July 1 this year - a bureaucratic charge that seems to dovetail nicely with the goals soda companies laid out to cap the number of calories available in school beverages at 100 calories per container (except for certain milks and juices whose nutritional value warrants the higher number of calories).
Beverage companies can still stock machines with water, sports drinks and juices deemed to be lower in calories and thus more nutritionally viable.
“It's going to help - it certainly can't hurt,” said Sandra Sheedy of the Child Nutrition Center, an arm of the state education department.
The American Heart Association said that nutrients aside, limiting portion sizes ensures students won't go overboard on calories.
“It reinforces key teachings of portion control,” said Kelly Kenai Grunig of the Association. Grunig also said a combined approach of reducing calories and increasing physical activity is essential to good health.
“All of these initiatives in combination will help to better balance students' 'calories in' with 'calories out,'” she said.
Under the terms of the agreement, beverage industry giants will work to spread these standards to 75 percent of the country's schools prior to the start of the 2008-09 school year. Companies will attempt full implementation prior to the start of the 2009-10 school year, provided schools and school districts are willing to amend existing contracts.
David Roth, the Auburn High School principal, initially said the Alliance guidelines seemed restrictive, as its limits students' choices.
Still, he understood the concerns behind the pact.
“Given our nation's problem with obesity, I can see why this issue is at the forefront,” he said.
Staff Writer Olivia Goldberg can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or olivia.goldberg@lee.net
Olivia Goldberg
The Citizen
AUBURN - When local school district heads learned this month of the soda industry's agreement to halt virtually all soda sales to public schools, their concerns leapt to revenue: Would soda sales at athletic events be curtailed?
They won't.
The vending machines in teachers' lounges won't be affected, either.
Last week's highly publicized pact - a collaboration between the William J. Clinton Foundation, the American Heart Association and Cadbury Schweppes, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo - addressed the problem of childhood obesity. The agreement falls under the umbrella title, “Alliance for a Healthier Generation.”
“This is an important announcement and a bold step forward in the struggle to help America's kids live healthier lives,” said Clinton in a press release.
But while the agreement broke ground nationally, children's health is an issue county school districts have had at heart for at least two years, since the federal government implemented the Child Nutrition and Women, Infants and Children Reauthorization Act in June 2004.
One provision in the bill mandated local school districts participating in the federal meal programs to establish wellness policies for their schools.
Wellness policies set forth goals for educating students about nutrition and promoting physical activity. School districts are also looking at the kinds of foods they make available to students.
“Everyone's looking at snacks, lunches, sugar content,” said Deborah Bobo, the superintendent for Cato-Meridian schools.
As county school districts prepared years ago to set new standards for their own buildings, the majority yanked soda machines from their cafeterias, or placed them on timers so students could not get at them during the school day.
Cato-Meridian schools pulled soda machines from middle school cafeterias four years ago, according to Bobo. Soda machines exist nowhere in K-12 schools there, though in the high school, students can access juice, water and sports drinks.
Soda machines can be found in most high school teachers' lounges.
“No kids get to the machines in teachers' lounges,” Bobo said.
The national agreement, which allows schools to exercise more latitude with staff, won't stop teachers from bringing sodas in on their own as well. Administrators will have to figure out how to handle students bringing drinks in from the outside.
Auburn High School does not make soda available to students, but students at the school can access Snapple drinks, milk, water, sports drinks and juice from a variety of machines. Revenue from the machines goes to the different clubs or groups that own them, like the Auburn Teachers Association.
The group turns proceeds from the Snapple machine, for instance, over to a fund for students in poverty. The school estimates that machine brings in $3,000 in revenue a year. Overall, the building's machines bring roughly $10,000, split among other groups like the varsity club and the student government organization. Those organizations, in turn, might donate some of the proceeds to charities.
Other beverage choices aside, most school district heads said revenue from soda sales was generally small.
“We don't have much in sales for soda anyhow,” said Philip D'Angelo, superintendent for Skaneateles schools, adding that sports drinks are a more popular choice with students.
The state Department of Education charged local school districts with implementing wellness policies by July 1 this year - a bureaucratic charge that seems to dovetail nicely with the goals soda companies laid out to cap the number of calories available in school beverages at 100 calories per container (except for certain milks and juices whose nutritional value warrants the higher number of calories).
Beverage companies can still stock machines with water, sports drinks and juices deemed to be lower in calories and thus more nutritionally viable.
“It's going to help - it certainly can't hurt,” said Sandra Sheedy of the Child Nutrition Center, an arm of the state education department.
The American Heart Association said that nutrients aside, limiting portion sizes ensures students won't go overboard on calories.
“It reinforces key teachings of portion control,” said Kelly Kenai Grunig of the Association. Grunig also said a combined approach of reducing calories and increasing physical activity is essential to good health.
“All of these initiatives in combination will help to better balance students' 'calories in' with 'calories out,'” she said.
Under the terms of the agreement, beverage industry giants will work to spread these standards to 75 percent of the country's schools prior to the start of the 2008-09 school year. Companies will attempt full implementation prior to the start of the 2009-10 school year, provided schools and school districts are willing to amend existing contracts.
David Roth, the Auburn High School principal, initially said the Alliance guidelines seemed restrictive, as its limits students' choices.
Still, he understood the concerns behind the pact.
“Given our nation's problem with obesity, I can see why this issue is at the forefront,” he said.
Staff Writer Olivia Goldberg can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or olivia.goldberg@lee.net
Soda machines can be found in most high school teachers' lounges.
“No kids get to the machines in teachers' lounges,” Bobo said.
The national agreement, which allows schools to exercise more latitude with staff, won't stop teachers from bringing sodas in on their own as well. Administrators will have to figure out how to handle students bringing drinks in from the outside.
Auburn High School does not make soda available to students, but students at the school can access Snapple drinks, milk, water, sports drinks and juice from a variety of machines.
Revenue from the machines goes to the different clubs or groups that own them, like the Auburn Teachers Association.
The group turns proceeds from the Snapple machine, for instance, over to a fund for students in poverty. The school estimates that machine brings in $3,000 in revenue a year.
Overall, the building's machines bring roughly $10,000, split among other groups like the varsity club and the student government organization. Those organizations, in turn, might donate some of the proceeds to charities.
“We don't have much in sales for soda, anyhow,” said Philip D'Angelo, superintendent for Skaneateles schools.
The state Department of Education charged local school districts with implementing wellness policies by July 1 this year - a bureaucratic charge that seems to dovetail nicely with the goals soda companies laid out to cap the number of calories available in school beverages at 100 calories per container (except for certain milks and juices whose nutritional value warrants the higher number of calories).
Beverage companies can still stock machines with water, sports drinks and juices deemed to be lower in calories and thus more nutritionally viable.
The American Heart Association said that nutrients aside, limiting portion sizes ensures students won't go overboard on calories.
“It reinforces key teachings of portion control,” said Kelly Kenai Grunig of the AHA.
“All of these initiatives in combination will help to better balance students' ‘calories in' with ‘calories out,'” she said.
Under the terms of the agreement, beverage industry giants will work to spread these standards to 75 percent of the country's schools prior to the start of the 2008-09 school year.
Companies will attempt full implementation prior to the start of the 2009-10 school year.
David Roth, the Auburn High School principal, initially said the Alliance guidelines seemed restrictive, as its limits students' choices. But he understood the concerns behind the pact.
“Given our nation's problem with obesity, I can see why this issue is at the forefront,” he said.
The vending machines in teachers' lounges won't be affected, either.
Last week's highly publicized pact - a collaboration between the William J. Clinton Foundation, the American Heart Association and Cadbury Schweppes, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo - addressed the problem of childhood obesity. The agreement falls under the umbrella title, “Alliance for a Healthier Generation.”
“This is an important announcement and a bold step forward in the struggle to help America's kids live healthier lives,” said Clinton in a press release.
But while the agreement broke ground nationally, children's health is an issue county school districts have had at heart for at least two years, since the federal government implemented the Child Nutrition and Women, Infants and Children Reauthorization Act in June 2004.
One provision in the bill mandated local school districts participating in the federal meal programs to establish wellness policies for their schools.
Wellness policies set forth goals for educating students about nutrition and promoting physical activity. School districts are also looking at the kinds of foods they make available to students.
“Everyone's looking at snacks, lunches, sugar content,” said Deborah Bobo, the superintendent for Cato-Meridian schools.
As county school districts prepared years ago to set new standards for their own buildings, the majority yanked soda machines from their cafeterias, or placed them on timers so students could not get at them during the school day.
Cato-Meridian schools pulled soda machines from middle school cafeterias four years ago, according to Bobo. Soda machines exist nowhere in K-12 schools there, though in the high school, students can access juice, water and sports drinks.
Soda machines can be found in most high school teachers' lounges.
“No kids get to the machines in teachers' lounges,” Bobo said.
The national agreement, which allows schools to exercise more latitude with staff, won't stop teachers from bringing sodas in on their own as well. Administrators will have to figure out how to handle students bringing drinks in from the outside.
Auburn High School does not make soda available to students, but students at the school can access Snapple drinks, milk, water, sports drinks and juice from a variety of machines. Revenue from the machines goes to the different clubs or groups that own them, like the Auburn Teachers Association.
The group turns proceeds from the Snapple machine, for instance, over to a fund for students in poverty. The school estimates that machine brings in $3,000 in revenue a year. Overall, the building's machines bring roughly $10,000, split among other groups like the varsity club and the student government organization. Those organizations, in turn, might donate some of the proceeds to charities.
Other beverage choices aside, most school district heads said revenue from soda sales was generally small.
“We don't have much in sales for soda anyhow,” said Philip D'Angelo, superintendent for Skaneateles schools, adding that sports drinks are a more popular choice with students.
The state Department of Education charged local school districts with implementing wellness policies by July 1 this year - a bureaucratic charge that seems to dovetail nicely with the goals soda companies laid out to cap the number of calories available in school beverages at 100 calories per container (except for certain milks and juices whose nutritional value warrants the higher number of calories).
Beverage companies can still stock machines with water, sports drinks and juices deemed to be lower in calories and thus more nutritionally viable.
“It's going to help - it certainly can't hurt,” said Sandra Sheedy of the Child Nutrition Center, an arm of the state education department.
The American Heart Association said that nutrients aside, limiting portion sizes ensures students won't go overboard on calories.
“It reinforces key teachings of portion control,” said Kelly Kenai Grunig of the Association. Grunig also said a combined approach of reducing calories and increasing physical activity is essential to good health.
“All of these initiatives in combination will help to better balance students' 'calories in' with 'calories out,'” she said.
Under the terms of the agreement, beverage industry giants will work to spread these standards to 75 percent of the country's schools prior to the start of the 2008-09 school year. Companies will attempt full implementation prior to the start of the 2009-10 school year, provided schools and school districts are willing to amend existing contracts.
David Roth, the Auburn High School principal, initially said the Alliance guidelines seemed restrictive, as its limits students' choices.
Still, he understood the concerns behind the pact.
“Given our nation's problem with obesity, I can see why this issue is at the forefront,” he said.
Staff Writer Olivia Goldberg can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or olivia.goldberg@lee.net
Olivia Goldberg
The Citizen
AUBURN - When local school district heads learned this month of the soda industry's agreement to halt virtually all soda sales to public schools, their concerns leapt to revenue: Would soda sales at athletic events be curtailed?
They won't.
The vending machines in teachers' lounges won't be affected, either.
Last week's highly publicized pact - a collaboration between the William J. Clinton Foundation, the American Heart Association and Cadbury Schweppes, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo - addressed the problem of childhood obesity. The agreement falls under the umbrella title, “Alliance for a Healthier Generation.”
“This is an important announcement and a bold step forward in the struggle to help America's kids live healthier lives,” said Clinton in a press release.
But while the agreement broke ground nationally, children's health is an issue county school districts have had at heart for at least two years, since the federal government implemented the Child Nutrition and Women, Infants and Children Reauthorization Act in June 2004.
One provision in the bill mandated local school districts participating in the federal meal programs to establish wellness policies for their schools.
Wellness policies set forth goals for educating students about nutrition and promoting physical activity. School districts are also looking at the kinds of foods they make available to students.
“Everyone's looking at snacks, lunches, sugar content,” said Deborah Bobo, the superintendent for Cato-Meridian schools.
As county school districts prepared years ago to set new standards for their own buildings, the majority yanked soda machines from their cafeterias, or placed them on timers so students could not get at them during the school day.
Cato-Meridian schools pulled soda machines from middle school cafeterias four years ago, according to Bobo. Soda machines exist nowhere in K-12 schools there, though in the high school, students can access juice, water and sports drinks.
Soda machines can be found in most high school teachers' lounges.
“No kids get to the machines in teachers' lounges,” Bobo said.
The national agreement, which allows schools to exercise more latitude with staff, won't stop teachers from bringing sodas in on their own as well. Administrators will have to figure out how to handle students bringing drinks in from the outside.
Auburn High School does not make soda available to students, but students at the school can access Snapple drinks, milk, water, sports drinks and juice from a variety of machines. Revenue from the machines goes to the different clubs or groups that own them, like the Auburn Teachers Association.
The group turns proceeds from the Snapple machine, for instance, over to a fund for students in poverty. The school estimates that machine brings in $3,000 in revenue a year. Overall, the building's machines bring roughly $10,000, split among other groups like the varsity club and the student government organization. Those organizations, in turn, might donate some of the proceeds to charities.
Other beverage choices aside, most school district heads said revenue from soda sales was generally small.
“We don't have much in sales for soda anyhow,” said Philip D'Angelo, superintendent for Skaneateles schools, adding that sports drinks are a more popular choice with students.
The state Department of Education charged local school districts with implementing wellness policies by July 1 this year - a bureaucratic charge that seems to dovetail nicely with the goals soda companies laid out to cap the number of calories available in school beverages at 100 calories per container (except for certain milks and juices whose nutritional value warrants the higher number of calories).
Beverage companies can still stock machines with water, sports drinks and juices deemed to be lower in calories and thus more nutritionally viable.
“It's going to help - it certainly can't hurt,” said Sandra Sheedy of the Child Nutrition Center, an arm of the state education department.
The American Heart Association said that nutrients aside, limiting portion sizes ensures students won't go overboard on calories.
“It reinforces key teachings of portion control,” said Kelly Kenai Grunig of the Association. Grunig also said a combined approach of reducing calories and increasing physical activity is essential to good health.
“All of these initiatives in combination will help to better balance students' 'calories in' with 'calories out,'” she said.
Under the terms of the agreement, beverage industry giants will work to spread these standards to 75 percent of the country's schools prior to the start of the 2008-09 school year. Companies will attempt full implementation prior to the start of the 2009-10 school year, provided schools and school districts are willing to amend existing contracts.
David Roth, the Auburn High School principal, initially said the Alliance guidelines seemed restrictive, as its limits students' choices.
Still, he understood the concerns behind the pact.
“Given our nation's problem with obesity, I can see why this issue is at the forefront,” he said.
Staff Writer Olivia Goldberg can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or olivia.goldberg@lee.net
Soda machines can be found in most high school teachers' lounges.
“No kids get to the machines in teachers' lounges,” Bobo said.
The national agreement, which allows schools to exercise more latitude with staff, won't stop teachers from bringing sodas in on their own as well. Administrators will have to figure out how to handle students bringing drinks in from the outside.
Auburn High School does not make soda available to students, but students at the school can access Snapple drinks, milk, water, sports drinks and juice from a variety of machines.
Revenue from the machines goes to the different clubs or groups that own them, like the Auburn Teachers Association.
The group turns proceeds from the Snapple machine, for instance, over to a fund for students in poverty. The school estimates that machine brings in $3,000 in revenue a year.
Overall, the building's machines bring roughly $10,000, split among other groups like the varsity club and the student government organization. Those organizations, in turn, might donate some of the proceeds to charities.
“We don't have much in sales for soda, anyhow,” said Philip D'Angelo, superintendent for Skaneateles schools.
The state Department of Education charged local school districts with implementing wellness policies by July 1 this year - a bureaucratic charge that seems to dovetail nicely with the goals soda companies laid out to cap the number of calories available in school beverages at 100 calories per container (except for certain milks and juices whose nutritional value warrants the higher number of calories).
Beverage companies can still stock machines with water, sports drinks and juices deemed to be lower in calories and thus more nutritionally viable.
The American Heart Association said that nutrients aside, limiting portion sizes ensures students won't go overboard on calories.
“It reinforces key teachings of portion control,” said Kelly Kenai Grunig of the AHA.
“All of these initiatives in combination will help to better balance students' ‘calories in' with ‘calories out,'” she said.
Under the terms of the agreement, beverage industry giants will work to spread these standards to 75 percent of the country's schools prior to the start of the 2008-09 school year.
Companies will attempt full implementation prior to the start of the 2009-10 school year.
David Roth, the Auburn High School principal, initially said the Alliance guidelines seemed restrictive, as its limits students' choices. But he understood the concerns behind the pact.
“Given our nation's problem with obesity, I can see why this issue is at the forefront,” he said.
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