On December 1, the school store, which sells snacks during lunch and is located in the lobby of the 200s, will officially be closing. This announcement has upset many students, especially those who help run the store.

The store is closing due to school contracts with Chartwell’s Dining Services, which don’t allow other businesses or clubs to sell food during the school day because they create competition with the 
cafeteria.

The school store has been successful in helping fund activites  for the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). It has funded field trips, and at the end of the year, it helps the FBLA send students to a state leadership conference. Last year, two students, then-juniors Tyler Landle and Jon Arons, won scholarships at this competition. Arons, co-president of FBLA, estimates that the group makes a profit of approximately $1,000 per week from the school store.

The school store helps students gain business experience. Senior Academy of Finance student, Tajhanique Copeland said, “They’re taking away school education by closing the store. The whole point of the school store is to learn about business and how to interact with people in a business environment.”

Many students are attracted to the school store because of its relatively cheap prices and wide variety of lunchtime snacks. Both Snapple and potato chips are sold at lower prices in the school store than they are in the cafeteria.

The school store is only open for about 15 to 17 minutes each day, because students aren’t allowed to leave the cafeterias during the lunch waves.

“I’m sad for our club and the students in Westhill’s community,”  FBLA adviser Mrs. Kurtz said.