PRINT THIS PAGE | E-MAIL THIS PAGE

San Angelo schools consider making Coca-Cola their official drink

SAN ANGELO, Texas (AP) - The Dallas Cowboys have an official soft drink. So why not San Angelo High School?

The San Angelo Independent School District is working on a proposal that would make Coca-Cola the school's official soft drink.

San Angelo students may not get as wide a drink choice from school soda machines in the future.

But for sacrificing variety, they could get new athletic facilities, such as higher-ceilinged weight rooms and fields to accommodate the district's expanding sports activities.

Coca-Cola Bottling Company of San Angelo has made a preliminary proposal that would net $300,000 for the school's athletic facilities. In return, only Coca-Cola's products would be sold in concession stands, snack bars and other places.

The deal also could get the district more than $52,000 in additional funding for non-athletic projects. Which projects get funded would be determined by the school board.

"There's not anything sketched in concrete as yet," athletic director Jim Hundley told school board members Tuesday night.

Hundley said Thursday he did not want to talk about a plan until school administrators put together a specific bid proposal package.

The school board voted 5-1 Tuesday night to develop bid proposals for exclusive beverage vending rights.

Trustee Joe Munoz voted against the measure, and board president Jim Carter abstained from voting. Munoz said he has nothing against Coca-Cola, but is concerned about giving any business exclusive selling rights within the district.

"We get a lot from other businesses in the community," he said. "It bothers me that we may be cutting out some businesses."

Janie Giddiens, administrative coordinator of community relations, said the school district currently is involved in numerous business partnerships. But she said her office "puts a special effort not to put those businesses in direct competition with one another."

"I'm concerned about excluding anyone from participating with our schools," she said. "I would say before we jump into this, we really need to give this some thought."

But trustee Sam Sparks said the district needs to find ways to fund needed projects.

"I think we desperately need some athletic facilities," he said.

Sparks noted that the weight room for San Antonio Central High School has only a 6-foot ceiling, which is not enough to allow taller athletes to perform military presses. He also said the district has no softball field for girls and has only one soccer field and one baseball field.

<P>