Lately, FVHS students have been finding problems with the vending machines at the school. Criticism has been raised about everything from the selection of products to the prices. There have also been numerous complaints about the machines not being turned on or working properly.
As of Monday, Feb. 24, the vending machine in the atrium is plugged in, but inactive. The two outside of the cafeteria are working, but one of them doesn’t display the prices of the drinks. All vending machines currently at the school sell drinks only. Those drinks include water, Pepsi Zero Sugar, various flavors of Gatorade Zero Sugar, Mountain Dew Zero Sugar, Orange Sunkist Zero, Starry Zero Sugar and various flavors of sugar free Nature’s Twist.
All drinks being sugar free is actually a part of federal legislation called the Healthy, Hunger-free Kids Act of 2010. This act requires all school lunches to be healthy and affordable, with authorization of federal spending on lunches for kids with low-income families. This act also encompasses all snacks and drinks offered, including the vending machines. The vending machines are also turned off during school hours to further comply with the federal guidelines.
Junior Stephany Ortiz said, “They need more choices; Nature’s Twist is bad, and I miss the snack vending machine.” With Nature’s Twist taking up about one third of the drink selections, if it’s bad, then it’s a waste of space that won’t get used. The lack of a snack vending machine has also raised many questions, especially since there is such a demand for one.
Repeated flavors in the vending machines is a problem as well. In one, water has four buttons and two different Gatorade flavors have two buttons each. The repeat buttons have been criticized as redundant and a waste of space. However, the vending machines have also received praise.
Junior Laurel Feldner said, “The selections are good. I was surprised we have so many drinks.”
While thoughts on the kinds of drinks offered vary, they still lack many popular soda brands, such as Dr. Pepper, Coca-cola, Sprite, Cheerwine and A&W Root Beer. Nonetheless, the drinks still help provide hydration and good flavors for students.
Feldner said, “I use them once every practice or rehearsal.” The vending machines seem to get a lot of business during extracurricular activities, especially musical and athletic ones because of all of the students’ hard work.
The vending machines at the school have proven themselves to be helpful and liked by the students, though they have concerns. Students should be vocal with their criticisms so they can make the change that they want. The principals are only an email away for any thoughts that students may have.
