One Colorado school district actively sought out corporate sponsorships, proudly declaring that it had over 50 such contracts. For both partners, the lure is money. The public now accepts the fact that school sports teams receive support from corporate sponsors, which offer lucrative contracts. Even school textbooks and book covers carry advertising and logos. Soda companies have followed the same path.
Contracts are common in many school districts in Ohio and across the country.
Even affluent school districts in this state have formed alliances with soda companies. Often, incentives are tied to sales. Even if the ethics of commercializing our schools is put aside, we should still oppose these lucrative contracts. So, soda contracts represent an important health choice. The presence of a vending machine in the hall outside the classroom is a far more powerful statement than whatever is said within the classroom.