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Capitalism in the Schools


SALEM, Ore.--Andrea Boyes thought she had a great fund-raising idea for her cheerleading squad at West Salem (Ore.) High School--creating and selling Titan brand bottled water at school events.

Last summer, Boyes got a donation of $750 for startup costs, designed a label bearing the Titans' school logo, had 6,000 printed, found a supplier and ordered 15 cases, which were delivered last month.

But her plan hit a snag when beverage giant Pepsi got wind of it. The company's exclusive contract with Salem-Keizer Public Schools allows only its Aquafina brand water to be sold on school grounds. . . .

Because West Salem High School just opened this year, the squad doesn't have funds built up from previous years to pay an assistant coach's salary or travel to competitions, she said. The water would have netted 55 cents in profit for every $1 bottle sold.

''I guess now we'll just have more car washes,'' she said.

Four years ago, the school board inked a 10-year, $5 million deal granting Pepsi a monopoly at all Salem-Keizer schools, giving Pepsi the right to stock its full line of products in the schools, including juice drinks and bottled waters. . . .

West Salem High Principal Ed John said he will help the group look for other fund-raising activities, but warned future fund-raisers to run ideas past the school district, which also has exclusive contracts with food service, furniture, athletic equipment and computer dealers.

John Borowski, a science teacher at North Salem High School, has written online and newspaper commentaries harshly critical of cola contracts like Salem-Keizer's. In these tough economic times for school programs, Borowski praised the West Salem cheerleader for having an innovative idea to raise money for her team. But he's not surprised that Pepsi was unmoved.

''Isn't this a clear case of exploitation, that they get wind of this girl and they fear it's going to cut into their profit margin?'' Borowski said. ''It shows their true colors; it shows their true motive.''


— Tracy Loew
Pepsi topples cheerleaders' fund-raiser
Chicago Sun Times
Nov. 6, 3003
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-raise06.html

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