The Austin Independent School District recently distributed vending machines to all high schools in the district. While Bowie doesn’t have any direct involvement with what is contained in the vending machines, students have expressed their various benefits and disadvantages of this new addition.
“The district provided them for all high schools, and one day they just showed up,” Academic Director Kaylin Brett said. “They are managed by the district and the company provider.”
There are four vending machines located throughout campus for student convenience. Two are in the fine arts hallway, and the other two are in the athletic Building. These locations make it efficient for the use of students in sports or extracurricular activities.
“I use the vending machines mostly after volleyball practice,” junior Ella Scott said. “Them being in the fine arts hall makes it easy for a quick grab-and-go snack, it’s convenient that it’s not really out of the way.”
The addition of vending machines has been long awaited by students at Bowie. Previously, the only place to regularly buy snacks and drinks at school was the lunch line.
“I’m glad they decided to put in vending machines,” Scott said. “There used to be empty vending machines in the academic building. I had always wished they would come back, and I’m sure other people hoped so too.”
Bowie High School is required to provide a nutritious breakfast and lunch for all students, and the AISD board restricts schools from providing items that are competing with the cafeteria. Due to these regulations, the vending machines cannot be in service during lunchtime.
“I think that the vending machines shouldn’t be closed during lunch,” Scott said. “When people want to quickly grab a snack they are forced to wait in the long lunch lines just to get one, which they might not always have time for. Also, the snack options in the lunch line are much more limited compared to the vending machines”
Despite some complaints, the overall reaction from students has been positive. Students are excited about the new variety of snack and beverage options that are available.
“I think vending machines are a great idea for Bowie and all schools overall because kids have more options of what to eat for a snack,” Scott said. “They give lots of options of snacks that were not available in the lunch lines and it’s definitely something students use.”
