Double Tall In The Hall Sandpoint School Club Pours On The Java For Students And Staff While Teaching Business Skills
Students and teachers at Sandpoint High School like to start their mornings with a good stiff drink.
“Make that a mocha. And could you use chocolate milk in it?” barks principal A.C. Woolnough to three students manning an espresso machine.
The high school foyer turned into java central last month when a school club opened its own espresso stand. Teachers and students now jockey for position to get their morning mug of black gold.
“We have to go hide when the machine breaks down,” said Nick Cottrell, a student manager.
The portable espresso cart was the brainchild of marketing teacher Brad Judy, better known now as “Latte Man.”
One teacher even penned his own song titled “Latte Man.” He sings it to the tune of the Village People’s “Macho Man” whenever he sees Judy.
The new coffee cart is part of the DECA program, Distributive Education Clubs of America, that Judy started at the school this year.
It’s a national club that teaches students hands-on business skills including sales, accounting and marketing.
Typically, DECA clubs run school stores that sell pens, notebooks, sweatshirts, snacks and pop. But those money-making ventures were snatched up long ago by established groups at the school.
So Judy and his 23 student partners stumbled on the idea of selling coffee drinks.
“It’s a unique operation in the Panhandle schools, but it wasn’t an original idea,” Judy admits. “Others are doing it.”
But not many others. In the Spokane area, Shadle Park is one of the only other high schools with a club running an espresso stand.
Marketing teacher Mike McQuesten said it’s been open for two years. “It works very well for us and even better this year now that people know it’s here,” he said.
Lake City High School in Coeur d’Alene is considering a similar operation.
Sandpoint students said it wasn’t easy getting the business running, and they have to follow strict school guidelines. Coffee is only sold in plastic insulated mugs with lids to cut down on spills in the carpeted hallways. They also can’t open at lunch because of competition with clubs selling other items. The group even endured a few complaints.
“I had one individual call me a drug dealer because we are a supplier of caffeine,” Judy said. “I understand the concerns but I don’t think we are doing anything too drastic. Students already have access to pop machines.”
Students open the coffee bar at 8 a.m. and sometimes after school. It’s also hauled to football games and other sporting events.
“It’s been a real success so far,” principal Woolnough said. “They aren’t reaping mass amounts of profits, but are hanging in there.”
The stand brought in about $2,400 its first month. Out of that, the club has to pay $340 a month to lease the espresso machine. It also has to buy coffee, milk and flavorings.
“The main idea isn’t making money. These kids are learning a ton, about business, responsibility, communication and marketing,” Judy said.
“This is like real life. We are treated like partners not students,” chimed in junior Thea Dreisbach. “We get to make the decisions and have to deal with the problems.”
Problems like machine breakdowns and running out of milk. Coffee drinkers overwhelmed the group at its first football game. Dreisbach had to run to the store for milk three times. When the water tank went dry, Judy went into the locker room showers and got soaked trying to refill it.
The ultimate goal for DECA is to raise enough money for students to compete in regional and national DECA programs this spring. Regionals are in Boise and winners there go on to Orlando, Fla.
The club needs to raise about $9,000 to afford the trips.
“We are going to make it,” Dreisbach said. “This is only the beginning.”
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