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Vending Machines At 2 Schools To Offer Meals

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By RONNIE BLAIR, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 16, 2007

Updated: 12/15/2007 10:56 pm

LAND O' LAKES - Students at two high schools soon will be able to head to a vending machine rather than the typical cafeteria line to grab a quick and healthful breakfast or lunch.

The Pasco County School District is teaming with the Dairy Council of Florida to install the reimbursable meal machines at Zephyrhills High and Mitchell High, where students, including those in the free and reduced-price meal program, will be able to make purchases by punching in a personal identification number.

The refrigerated machines will dispense breakfast, lunch and healthful snacks, though students would still have to go through the regular cafeteria line if they want hot meals.

Rick Kurtz, the school district's director of food, nutrition and distribution services, said the machines should be delivered next month, and staff at the two schools will be trained to operate them.

"I'm hoping by the last week of January they will be up and running and ready to go," Kurtz said.

Breakfast items students might find in the machines would include cereals, yogurt, whole-wheat muffins, milk and juice, Kurtz said. Lunch items would include sandwiches, yogurt, fruit, vegetables, cheese and a variety of milk products.

Students will be able to choose multiple items as they create their meals.

"This is going to be very, very cool," Kurtz said.

The machines cost $8,995 each. Half the cost is being paid with a grant from the Dairy Council of Florida; the district's Food and Nutrition Services Department is paying the other half.

The school board approved the agreement with the Dairy Council on Dec. 3.

In addition to using a PIN connected to their cafeteria accounts, students can make cash purchases.
Kurtz said the goal is to have the machines in all middle and high schools in Pasco County.

The district also received a Dairy Council grant for two additional machines that will dispense milk, other dairy products and healthful snacks. The cash-only machines will be placed at Long Middle School and Ridgewood High School.

Those machines cost $4,590 each and, once again, the cost is split between the Dairy Council and Food and Nutrition Services.
Kurtz said a long-term possibility would be to have school clubs assist with stocking vending machines in exchange for a portion of the proceeds.

Reporter Ronnie Blair can be reached at (813) 948-4218 or rblair@tampatrib.com.

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