Date: Wed, 05 Aug 1998 11:44:54 -0700 From: Eros Publishing Subject: Press Release Dear Sisters & Brothers in Solidarity, Many of you are familiar with the book, "When Corporations Rule the World." A good example of how "When Corporations Rule the School System" is playing out in the Seattle Public School system. In the dog days of summer when the administrators thought no one was looking, they are trying to ramrod through an exclusive deal with Coca-Cola (details below). I encourage you to e-mail, fax, or call the school board on this issue (numbers below). ---- Sarah SsarahT@aol.com SEATTLE SCHOOL DISTRICT PLANNING TO PUSH COKE Remember the student suspended for wearing a Pepsi t-shirt on 'Coke' day? This could never happen in Seattle...or could it? High-level Seattle School administrators have been working in secret over the summer to make a deal with the Coca-Cola Corporation. Ignoring the committee they appointed to develop a new policy on advertising in schools, district staff have negotiated a 10-year contract to sell exclusive access to all Seattle middle and high school students to the Coca-Cola Corporation, starting on Sept. 1. "This is unbelievable!" says Andrea Okomski, parent of an elementary student. "I can't believe the schools are trying to sell junk food to my son-- it contradicts everything we try to teach him about nutrition and taking care of his body." Just 15 months ago, the Seattle School Board rescinded a controversial new policy of allowing paid advertising in schools after a public outcry. Superintendent Stanford appointed a committee of stakeholders, including parents, principals and community members, to develop a new policy on commercialism. These recommendations will not be available before August 19, when the School Board is scheduled to vote on the proposed Coke contract. This contract is not just about selling pop at school, but about advertising and building brand loyalty. According to School Board member Don Nielsen, "This is the single biggest thing we'll do in advertising". District lawyer Ron English says the logos on the vending machines are an integral part of the deal. "If the logos are removed from the machines, neither of the two vendors is willing to enter into the contract..." The School Board will hear public comment on the Coke contract at their next regular meeting, Wed. August 5, at 7 p.m. at the A&S Center, 815 4th Avenue N. To sign up to speak, call 298-7040. For more information, contact the Citizens' Campaign for Commercial-Free Schools at 206-726-4142. Please call, write or email your local School Board member and let them know what you think about this, or come to the meeting on Wednesday and speak out against this plan. Barb Schaad-Lamphere (bschaad@is.ssd.k12.wa.us) Don Nielsen (dnielsen@is.ssd.k12.wa.us) Scott Barnhart (sbarnhart@is.ssd.k12.wa.us) Michael Preston (mpreston@is.ssd.k12.wa.us) Jan Kumasaka (jkumasaka@is.ssd.k12.wa.us) Ellen Roe (eroe@is.ssd.k12.wa.us) Nancy Waldman (nwaldman@is.ssd.k12.wa.us) Tel: (206) 298-7040 FAX: (206) 298-7101 http://www.wolfenet.com/~aubrey/aubrey.htm