The Collector Store

The School Vending Machines will Now Turn Off On a Timer at 7:15

On Nov. 17, a vending machine stocker stocks the machines in the school by the cafeteria.

Credit to Hannah Simmons

On Nov. 17, a vending machine stocker stocks the machines in the school by the cafeteria.

Due to a high influx of tardies and students leaving class, administrators have made the decision to turn off vending machines at 7:15 a.m. This is also when the five minute warning bell rings, giving students five minutes to get to class. The vending machines don’t turn back on until the first lunch begins, then once all the lunches have completed, the vending machines turn back off. Once the school day ends, they’re back on for those staying for after school activities to be able to use them.

“As I’ve walked the halls for the first quarter, there’s a lot of kids standing at the vending machines after the bell rings or they are leaving in the middle of class going to the vending machines,” head principal Jeffrey Fletcher said. “So, the kids are missing class time because of the vending machines.”

The decision was put into place, and while most teachers are appreciative of this decision, student’s felt the opposite. The students who didn’t leave in the middle of class to go to the vending machines are now suffering the consequences of those who did.

“When [students] find out, I’m sure they would be very agitated at the choice that the school has made without consulting the students,” junior Maddie Murphy said.

Fletcher has high expectations that this change will help with tardies and the issue of students leaving during class.