Utah School Fined $15,000 for Accidentally Selling Soda During Lunch

[Pandora]

A Utah high school is learning the hard way that the government is serious about nudging students away from food it doesn’t want them to consume.

Davis High School in the Salt Lake City area is having to fork over a whopping $15,000 in fines to the Feds because it accidentally sold soda through a vending machine during lunch.

Federal law requires the school to turn off its soda machines during the lunch period, which is 47 minutes a day. And Davis High school did turn off the machines in the lunch room. However, the school didn‘t realize that there was another machine in the school bookstore that wasn’t being turned off. And when the food police realized it, the school was hit with a $0.75 fine per student for the duration of the offense.

Now the school is going to have to cut money to fine arts programs to make up the cost.

But here’s where things really get nutty, so to speak. Davis High School Principal Dee Burton said that the law is disingenuous. For example, while students can’t buy soda, they can buy sugar-loaded sports drinks and even Snickers bars because they contain, you guessed it, nuts. In addition, students can buy soda earlier in the day before the machines get turned off and drink it during lunch.

And simple economics is at play, too. The ban isn’t forcing students to stop drinking or eating the sugar-laced food and drink. It’s just driving them to places where they can get it.

“The misconception is if we don’t let kids buy candy and pop, we drive them to the cafeteria, it doesn’t drive them to the cafeteria it drives them off campus,” Burton told KUTV.

One commenter on the KUTV website picked up on that.

“The principal is right, the kids will leave campus. What are you going to do? Close Walmart and Quick Trip for 47 minutes every day?” the commenter wrote.

Federal law?  A law was actually passed by Congress or is this another Department of Education regulation?

I swear, I do NOT know where the live I live anymore .........

H/T Drudge

[Libertas]

Yup, just bend over and pay the fine...those damned taxpayers will get the increase in the next levy, no skin off the indoctrination center you see...

Just another beautiful morning in the People's Paradise...

 

 

[BMG]

If I recall, there is a significant switch from public to private schools - this is a great example of why that is happening.

[EW1(SG)]

If I recall, there is a significant switch from public to private schools - this is a great example of why that is happening.

Yup.  And the increasing popularity of homeschooling.

/Hmm.  I stayed at a hotel last year that was hosting a homeshoolers convention.  My first thought entering the lobby to check in was "Uh oh...that's a lot of kids, it's gonna be a b*tch this stay."

Happily, I was wrong, they were uniformly delightful.

And polite.

[BMG]

I've joined my state's homeschooling association even though I don't have children being home-schooled at this point in time. Why did I join them? So I could pay the fee - in essence so I could 'donate' to their legal fund and to the expansion of homeschooling in Florida.

[LadyVirginia]

I've joined my state's homeschooling association even though I don't have children being home-schooled at this point in time. Why did I join them? So I could pay the fee - in essence so I could 'donate' to their legal fund and to the expansion of homeschooling in Florida.

 

[IronDioPriest]

I've joined my state's homeschooling association even though I don't have children being home-schooled at this point in time. Why did I join them? So I could pay the fee - in essence so I could 'donate' to their legal fund and to the expansion of homeschooling in Florida.

Ya know... that's a damned good idea.

[John Florida]

I've joined my state's homeschooling association even though I don't have children being home-schooled at this point in time. Why did I join them? So I could pay the fee - in essence so I could 'donate' to their legal fund and to the expansion of homeschooling in Florida.

 I know I probably asked before but wher in Fl. are you?

[BMG]

I know I probably asked before but wher in Fl. are you?

High Springs - about 30 minutes north of Gainesville.

Incidentally, here's the Florida Parent Educators Association (FPEA) link if you wanted to join or just check it out JF.

Also;

Here's a link to the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). You can also donate here or join the organization. Monies received through donations and membership go toward defending parents/families that find themselves in legal trouble with the authorities on a national level.

Home School Legal Defense Association is a nonprofit advocacy organization established to defend and advance the constitutional right of parents to direct the education of their children and to protect family freedoms. Through annual memberships, HSLDA is tens of thousands of families united in service together, providing a strong voice when and where needed.

HSLDA advocates on the legal front on behalf of our members in matters which include conflicts with state or local officials over homeschooling. Each year, thousands of member families receive legal consultation by letter and phone, hundreds more are represented through negotiations with local officials, and dozens are represented in court proceedings. HSLDA also takes the offensive, filing actions to protect members against government intrusion and to establish legal precedent. On occasion, HSLDA will handle precedent-setting cases for nonmembers, as well.

[BigAlSouth]

When the Feds outlaw Cola, only outlaws will have Coke . . . during lunch period.

[Sectionhand]

When I was in school we didn't candy or soda machines and we weren't allowed to leave school grounds . Sh*t like this never came up .

[Pandora]

When I was in school we didn't candy or soda machines and we weren't allowed to leave school grounds . Sh*t like this never came up .

We had a student-operated school store which opened during lunch.  I can't remember ever buying much.

The high school in which I spent my freshman year allowed us to leave.  As it was close to town, we'd usually go to one of the local luncheonettes or the pizza parlor, but the cafeteria had really good food - hot meals and great sandwiches on hard rolls.

[Charles Oakwood]

When I was in school we didn't candy or soda machines and we weren't allowed to leave school grounds . Sh*t like this never came up .

Yeah, we were allowed, if we brought a sack lunch, to go eat on the grounds
under the trees where it was cool.

[LadyVirginia]

This is what happens when you institutionalize large numbers of people for years.  More and more rules.  If it wasn't this it would be something else.

Who wants to fight these types of battles...not me.

[Pandora]

This is what happens when you institutionalize large numbers of people for years.  More and more rules.  If it wasn't this it would be something else.

Who wants to fight these types of battles...not me.

Because you wouldn't get much help?  That's why I wouldn't.  Too many of the institutionalized -- the parents -- already.

[LadyVirginia]

This is what happens when you institutionalize large numbers of people for years.  More and more rules.  If it wasn't this it would be something else.

Who wants to fight these types of battles...not me.

Because you wouldn't get much help?  That's why I wouldn't.  Too many of the institutionalized -- the parents -- already.

I would get strange looks for even suggesting its the parents who decide what kids eat.  Because they parents would dutifully nod that of course they want to improve the kids eating choices.  Who would be against that?