By Sara Quam
Luverne students who enjoy pop and the money it generates will still have access to it for now.
The proposal to restrict soft drink sales in schools was defeated by the Senate Education Committee last week. With a 26-6 vote, the bill's chances were squashed by lawmakers.
It called for an end to the sale of pop on school grounds during the day, and Luverne Student Council President Abbey Franken is glad the bill all but died.
"We get all our money from pop. That would've really hurt us," Franken said.
Soda sales generated about $8,000 for Luverne schools last year. Franken said the school council discussed the bill but took a "wait and see" approach.
Although financial reasons dominated most schoolsÕ opposition to the bill, Franken said it's also one of personal choice. "Without pop, all we have to drink is water."
Luverne Superintendent Vince Schaefer agreed. "Whatever we do with our pop or any other soft drink is up to us." He said state legislators have more important issues to discuss than soda machines, and their votes reflected that.
Critics of the bill said it was an issue of local control and personal choices and responsibility. If schools needed the money and parents and their children thought it was fine to drink pop, the state shouldn't interfere.
Supporters of the bill said it is a public health issue that goes beyond the boundaries of local control and personal choice.
Supporters said beverage companies shouldn't have a stronghold on schools looking for additional revenues.
Others said dental problems and calcium deficiencies would be greatly reduced with less pop available to students.
The Minnesota School Boards Association and the Minnesota Soft Drink Association were major adversaries of the bill, and the only major group in favor of it was the Minnesota Dental Association.
Coca-Cola Co., which has an exclusive contract with Luverne Schools, announced that it is changing its marketing in schools by adding healthier drinks.