Libertyville High and Vernon Hills High to remain Coca-Cola campuses
Coke will continue to be it for thirsty students and staffers at Libertyville and Vernon Hills high schools, thanks to newly extended - and lucrative - vending contracts.
The Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128 board on Tuesday approved exclusive deals with Great Lakes Coca-Cola Bottling that will keep the soda giant's products flowing at the two campuses through August 2023.
Great Lakes Coca-Cola's contract with Vernon Hills High expired in July 2019. The contract with Libertyville High was due to expire in February 2023. District 128 officials wanted to synchronize the expiration dates for both schools' contracts to be more efficient.
"Two extremely similar contracts don't need to go through full negotiations when one will suffice," said Dan Stanley, the district's assistant superintendent for finance. "This will save the district time and money."
Stanley hopes to merge the two contracts into one in 2023.
Under the deals, no Coca-Cola competitors' beverages can be sold, dispensed or served on either campus.
Schools benefit financially from exclusive contracts with beverage manufacturers.
Libertyville High collected $28,163 from Coca-Cola during the 2019 fiscal year, including a guaranteed $12,000 payment, Stanley said. The rest represented a 20% commission on sales.
For the seven-month contract, Libertyville High will get an additional $7,000 payment plus 20% of sales, the contract states.
Vernon Hills High collected $10,941 from Coca-Cola during the same period, Stanley said. That consisted of a guaranteed $7,000 payment and a 20% sales commission.
Vernon Hills High's annual guaranteed payment will increase to $8,000 under the new deal, documents indicate.
Libertyville High gets more money from the soda company because more beverages are purchased there, Stanley said. Fifteen Coca-Cola machines dispense bottles of soda, water, tea and other drinks at Libertyville High School; Vernon Hills High has only four.
The contracts also cover concession sales at athletic events and other activities.
The revenue goes to student activities accounts at each school that help fund scholarships, food and beverage purchases and other expenses, Stanley said.
Great Lakes Coca-Cola also provides water bottles and coolers for athletic sidelines.
Libertyville High has been a Coca-Cola campus for at least 20 years, Stanley said. Vernon Hills switched from Pepsi in 2014.
The District 128 board isn't alone in securing exclusive contracts with Coca-Cola or Pepsi. So have officials with Mundelein High School, Stevenson High, Warren Township High School District 121, Round Lake Area Unit District 118 and many others.