Board studies vending deal

By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- New Castle School Board is considering renewing an agreement with Pepsi that allows the beverage company to have its vending machines on school property.
At a caucus on Monday, board members, discussed the details of a revised pact Pepsi is proposing. The board intends to vote on whether to accept the agreement at its public meeting today.
The company is looking to continue distributing beverages in the school district for the next 10 years. In exchange, the school district would receive $6,500 a year plus a 35-percent commission on product sales.
A previous contract between the school district and Pepsi expired in August. That agreement called for Pepsi to pay the school district $4,000 a year plus the 35-percent commission.
Board members said they would like the vending machines to provide a variety of beverages including bottled water and fruit juices.Administrators noted there are no vending machines in the cafeteria and the machines are turned off during lunch to deter pupils from drinking carbonated beverages during lunch.
The school board plans to consider today whether to seek bids for transportation services. The district pays Laidlaw Transit between $1.2 million and $1.5 million a year to bus pupils.